Volunteers with Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society's Beach Hero marine interpreter program will be out and about during this weekend's White Rock Sea Festival, raising awareness of local intertidal habitats and helping to mitigate potential sandcastle damage.
The program provides conservation-minded information, as well as important health, safety and fisheries information, to beach visitors and the general public.
Marine interpreters will be manning a tent on East Beach from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Aug. 2 and 3. Those interested can join in on a free beach exploration, to learn about the plants and animals that call the beach home, and how to conserve and protect them.
Guided explorations will leave from in front of the tent – set up near the bear statue – at 1 and 3 p.m. on both the Saturday and Sunday.
At the tent, visitors will be able to view local intertidal animals in an aquarium, play games and learn more about issues and conservation efforts in Boundary Bay, which is top-rated Important Bird Area in Canada (out of 600 sites) and a provincially designated B.C. Wildlife Management Area.
Due to funding limitations, the program has just two part-time interpreters this summer. To donate or for more information, visit www.birdsonthebay.ca