Group of teens get together to build turtle nest protectors as species face endangerment
In a display of environmental stewardship, a group of passionate youth in Waterloo region has taken action to protect endangered turtle species by constructing innovative turtle nest protectors.
“Well, ever since I was very young, I was in a school that was pretty nature directed, so it's kind of always been a part of my life and I think that our nature and our climate is pretty important,” said participant, Sydney Johnstone.
“We have a group of 14 to 18-year-olds here today and we've gathered them from all across the Kitchener-Waterloo area,” said Youth Leadership Specialist, Scout Skirrow. “And we're building turtle nest protectors because turtles are endangered in the KW area.”
Amid growing concerns over the decline in turtle populations due to habitat destruction and other human and animal-induced threats, the young conservationists have stepped up to make a difference in their local ecosystem. Led by a local youth program, Saturday’s event took place at the RARE Charitable ECO Centre in Cambridge. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about the plight of turtles and promote active conservation efforts among youth.
“Turtles are a very important native species that we have here in Canada and all eight of the species that we have here are at risk,” said participant, Mahnur Mehdi.
“It's just four planks of wood with some mesh on top and they go right over top of a turtle nest so predators like raccoons, unleashed dogs, anything that would try and get at these animals, including humans, we just kind of protect them,” Skirrow explained.
The nest protectors are meant to create a safe environment for turtle eggs to incubate and hatch successfully.
“They’re working with our charitable organization to build turtle nest protectors and all these turtle nest protectors they're building will go into the KW area as they find nests to protect them this year,” Skirrow said. “When they are not making nests, we have leaders within our group, all 14 to 18, who have taken a special interest in turtles. So they're leading turtle specific games, turtle specific trivia, they're leading different webinars to kind of educate youth about turtles and why this is so important.”
The construction of turtle nest protectors serves as a tangible example of the importance of involving youth in conservation efforts.
“It helps connect us to like minded people and also brings hope for the future,” Mehdi said.
“I feel like it's a pretty big problem right now, and it probably should be talked about a lot more than it is,” Johnstone said.
Skirrow emphasized the importance of nurturing a sense of environmental responsibility and fostering a connection to nature from a young age.
“I've noticed a lot of climate anxiety, a lot of, you know, end of the world thoughts, thinking there's nothing that they can do, that things are the way they are and nothing's going to change. But I find that doing something small that you can go out in the community and actually see some change happening, that's giving a little bit of hope and something to work towards.”
As the turtle nest protectors are deployed across Waterloo region, they serve as a beacon of hope for the future of wildlife conservation.
“These youth are really passionate and they're what are going to mold the future for us,” Skirrow said.
For additional information on turtle nest protectors specifically in KW, you can visit RARE’s website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.