Children uproot trees behind township offices

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Participants in the Brook Never Sleeps, held last Friday, Nov. 14, look for miniscule bug life in samples of brook water. Photo by John Cavers

Children attending the annual Brook Never Sleeps last week were tearing up young trees by the roots as they learned about ecology and the environment.

What appeared to be plant destruction was actually the uprooting of buckthorns, an invasive species. Using specially designed tools, the students helped instructors with tearing out the trees.

At one of four stations, a table was set up with trays showing all kinds of squiggly critters taken from the brook. Some were barely identifiable, some looked like tiny crayfish. The children learned of their importance to the ecological system.

At other stations, the children were introduced to the art of fly fishing as well as the interrelationship of herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.

Christine McKenzie, organizer of the event, said the event was at capacity, with 40 children aged nine to 13 years taking part.

Part of the day included an Indigenous water ceremony, during which the participants become "water protectors."