Fredericton Community Foundation Supports Ducks Unlimited

For many students in the Fredericton community Ducks Unlimited is an exciting stop on the field trip list. As a registered Charity they do far more then conserve Wetlands which they are most known for. Now with their Wetland Centre of Excellence Program Ducks Unlimited has the unique opportunity to partner with Fredericton High School to mentor students on their journey to becoming youth ambassadors.

A key pillar in the Wetland Centre of Excellence program is working together with the youth in partnering schools to create a long-term project. This year’s project is the construction of an onsite pond where students can participate in hands-on learning making them better equipped to share their experiences and knowledge at community events.  Though the students are unable to help with the actual construction of the pond there are plenty of opportunities for them to get involved. Once the pond is in, Ducks Unlimited will be relying on School Groups to aid in the beautification process and creation of interpretation signs to identify wildlife that will make the pond their new home. The take away here is that this pond is an educational tool built for the students, by the students.

Thanks to a $3000 grant from the Fredericton community Foundation, the new pond will be an extension of the pre-existing Ducks Unlimited outdoor classroom, a space on the edge of the property where students can take what they have learned indoors and apply it to the world outside. Though the bulk of the project has yet to begin, Ducks Unlimited is already seeing the potential for their project to impact the students to promote the conservation of wetlands by youth for years to come.

With 281 classes visiting centers across the province in this year alone, Ducks Unlimited knows just how important the educational aspect of their work is. It has been said that education is a gift that keeps on giving and with their commitment to educating students through their mentor-ship program, Ducks Unlimited is well on their way to living by this philosophy.

Danielle Brewer