Wetland Adventure Days Bring Education And Outdoor Fun To County Of Vermilion River

Residents of all ages had the opportunity to get their feet wet while learning more about local wetlands during the annual Adventure Wetland Days hosted by ALUS and the County of Vermilion River on Aug. 19 and 20.

The two-day event offered a combination of outdoor recreation, hands-on activities and environmental education, with Wednesday’s activities taking place at Lindsay Evans Park and Thursday’s event held at Hazeldine Campground. Both events ran from 2 to 6 p.m. and were open to all ages.

At Lindsay Evans Park, participants were invited to bring their canoes or kayaks and head out onto Earlie Lake for an afternoon paddle with the Battle River Watershed Alliance. Paddlers supplied their own boats and life jackets, while those who preferred to remain on shore could take part in a variety of wetland-themed games and activities, such as willow planting around areas of the lake that does not currently have them.

Bug dipping gave participants a closer look at some of the small creatures that call wetlands home, while the afternoon provided an opportunity to learn more about the important role wetlands play in supporting wildlife, improving water quality and maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Also during the day a surprise presentation was held when Battle River Watershed Alliance board member Greg Smith gave a talk on the very interesting unique artifacts and fossils he has discovered in the area.

The adventure continued Thursday at Hazeldine Campground, where the focus shifted from paddling to an invasive species that has established itself in portions of the Vermilion River — the northern crayfish.

County of Vermilion River Agricultural Services and North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance staff invited participants to pull on their rubber boots and help capture and remove crayfish from the river. At the end of the day 31 crayfish were removed from the river and humanely euthanized.

Northern crayfish are considered invasive in the area and can have a significant impact on aquatic ecosystems. As omnivorous predators, they feed on aquatic insects, macroinvertebrates, small fish and aquatic plants, potentially disrupting habitat and competing with native species.

Crayfish have been discovered in the Vermilion River at Hazeldine Campground during previous years, making the annual round-up both an enjoyable hands-on activity and an opportunity for the public to help reduce their numbers and limit their spread.

For those who weren’t interested in catching crayfish, there was still plenty to do, with wetland games, activities and bug dipping offered throughout the afternoon.

Free food was also provided during both days, giving participants a chance to visit, refuel and enjoy the outdoor setting.

Adventure Wetland Days combined education with recreation, giving families and community members an opportunity to experience local waterways firsthand while learning about the plants, animals and other organisms that depend on healthy wetland ecosystems.

The annual event also highlighted how community involvement can play a role in protecting local waterways — whether from the seat of a canoe, with a bug-dipping net in hand or while standing in the Vermilion River searching for invasive crayfish.