Island View Beach Regional Park was a hub of vibrant activity on Thursday, July 24, as the Capital Regional District (CRD) hosted its annual "Island View and You" event.
The event, designed to promote park stewardship, drew over 300 attendees who enjoyed a day filled with kites, interactive exhibits and educational displays.
Lauren Sherwood, coordinator of interpretation of CRD regional parks, highlighted the event's purpose: "It is really geared towards protecting the plants and the animals here and learning how to be good stewards ourselves, like the Indigenous peoples, who were the original caretakers of the land."
The park buzzed with activity as attendees explored booths from various organizations, including Dino Lab, CRD Environmental Protection Team, Ocean Networks Canada, Parks Canada, SeaChange Marine Conservation Society, Maritime Museum of British Columbia, Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea and Victoria Paleontology Society.
Children were particularly captivated by the massive 11 by 18-meter Ocean Map, which visually emphasized the interconnectedness of the world's oceans.
Fun facts about marine life were displayed along the Mobi-Mat path leading to the ocean, adding another layer of education to the experience.
The next CRD drop-in event, "Slithery, Slimy and Scaly," will be held on August 21 at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park, focusing on native reptiles.
