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The Lake Huron Coastal Centre (LHCC) is encouraging youth ages 14 to 18 to join their Coastal Conservation Youth Corps program (CCYC) in Port Elgin and Goderich this July, August, and September. In a media release from LHCC, the free outdoor education program uses Lake Huron as a classroom to teach youth about coastal ecology, helping them learn new skills in the field while earning up to 30 volunteer hours towards their high school diploma requirements.

The CCYC program provides youth with an opportunity to learn about topics such as coastal processes, water quality, aquatic ecosystems, low-impact design and development, shoreline history, and coastal economies. Participants gain valuable experience with stewardship activities, like dune restoration, plant species identification, invasive plant removal, shoreline clean-ups, microplastic testing, and community planning.

Spaces are currently available the weeks of July 18 to 22 and July 25 to 29 in Saugeen Shores. In Goderich the sessions are August 8 to 12 and in the fall over the weekends of September 17 and 18 and October 1 and 2.

Interested participants can register or learn more at www.lakehuron.ca/ccyc.

Coastal Education Technician and ecology expert, Kerry Kennedy, will teach participants the practical skills commonly used by local environmental practitioners that help enhance shoreline resilience and reduce the impacts of climate change. "Many threats to the health of our water and shoreline such as temperature and plastic pollution are trending upward,
which can be confusing and scary at times. Participating in the CCYC can be the first step in preparing youth with the skills and knowledge to care for our ever-changing environment," said Kennedy.