BC communities gear up for province-wide celebration of trails
Destination BC | Discover Comox Valley | Jarrett Lindal photo
Outdoor recreation groups and communities from all corners of British Columbia are getting ready to step up for their local trails and outdoor spaces on Saturday, June 4, for the second annual BC Trails Day; BC's biggest trail celebration event.
The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) is leading the charge on the initiative and partners with trail organizations, community groups and land agencies to celebrate and care for BC's trail system, educate about responsible recreation and help more British Columbians enjoy trails and outdoor spaces.
Louise Pedersen, Executive Director for ORCBC, says, "Trails and outdoor spaces offer an incredible number of vital benefits to communities in BC. They support our health, provide opportunities for social interactions on the trail and through volunteering, facilitate connections to community space and nature, and bring significant economic benefits. As a society, we often take these essential community assets for granted. BC Trails Day is an opportunity to stop up and recognize the many contributions trails make to creating thriving communities and a healthy environment."
The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC invites recreation groups and communities to host local events, ranging from group hikes, rides or paddles, trail clean-ups, educational events on responsible recreation and outdoor safety, and guided activities for new trail users. Organizers are encouraged to register their BC Trails Day event with ORCBC, and in return, ORCBC helps with promotion and free resources, including an event host toolkit. Nearly 40 events are listed on ORCBC’s event calendar so far.
Louise Pedersen continues: "Any trail activity that fosters stewardship and community spirit qualifies as a BC Trails Day event, including recreational opportunities, trail maintenance projects or educational events. For those that don’t have an organized event near them, head out on your own outdoor adventure, and if you pick up trash or clear loose branches or small rocks while you are outside anyway, this is a great way to practice stewardship!"
Anyone can join the provincial movement by giving back to the trails and making sure everyone can enjoy the outdoors with two simple actions:
Join: Find a local event or register their event.
Connect: Share how they'll leave the trail and the outdoor community better than they found them by tagging #BCTrailsDay and @orcbc.ca on social media.
More information about BC Trails Day, including a toolkit for event hosts and a calendar of events, is available here: https://www.orcbc.ca/bctrailsday
BC Trails Day is made possible with the generous support of Fortis BC and TD Friends of the Environment. Provincial partners include BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails BC.
