The Dauphin Friendship Centre is planning a Youth Culture Day on May 30th, featuring an informational hike, designed to connect youth to nature.
Natalie Gabriel, Dauphin Friendship Centre Community Mentor, said the hike will help to highlight the great nature-based activities here in Dauphin.
"We plan to take a hike in our local Riding Mountain National Park, and as we're hiking we're going to keep our eyes peeled for all of the native plants and trees and animals we might see on our hike," said Gabriel.
The DFC has also invited Shawn Charlebois of Red Road Compass, and Indigenous land-based education organization, to teach youth how some of the Parkland's native plants can be used for various things, like making fishing nets or helping to calm bug bites.
"He is also going to be teaching us and giving us more information on all the plants and animals we will be seeing on our hike, and giving us a presentation about what we might find and what not...he is able to teach me, and so many other adults and youth, about things that we wouldn't normally think about or even bother to learn about on our own time," said Gabriel.
At the end of the hike, they'll head back to the DFC for a lunch and some games to keep the adventure going. Gabriel said she hopes the hike and the day helps youth connect with the Parkland, and helps them learn some of the unique things about our area.
"I hope we can all come together and connect, and appreciate our environment, and what nature has to offer us, because I feel like everybody gets so caught up in school and work, that we forget that we're located 10 minutes from a national park that offers beautiful hiking trails," said Gabriel.
The DFC's Youth Culture Day is open to youth 13 or older. For more information or to sign up, click here to visit the Dauphin Friendship Centre's Facebook page.
