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Innovative educational project in La Pocatière
In the summer of 2008, visitors who stop at the La Pocatière tourist information booth will have a chance to take a peek into the universe of the St. Lawrence. An interactive exhibit in an adjacent trailer, with artistically decorated information panels on the outside, and naturalist-guides on the nearby beach will help visitors understand the complex ecology that enriches the estuary of the river. And this will be just the first of the concrete achievements of a strategic educational project involving the CEGEP and the municipality of the La Pocatière as well as environmental groups in the region—all brought about by a committee of the St. Lawrence Plan for a Sustainable Development (SLP).
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Photo: Francis Turcotte |
The CEGEP support committee is part of the SLP’s Community Involvement and Awareness Coordination Committee. Made up of members from Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Faune Québec and the Association québécoise pour la promotion de l’éducation relative à l’environnement (AQPERE), the committee is interested in developing a new concept for educational projects on the St. Lawrence that will enable CEGEPs, municipalities and environmental agencies to work together on tangible projects related to the conservation or enhancement of the St. Lawrence, with completion of the work forming an integral part of the CEGEP’s environmental training program.
The pilot project, being developed at the La Pocatière CEGEP, will make it possible to refine the model before it is exported to other college institutions located close to the St. Lawrence, where it could conceivably attract many interested candidates. A project is already being discussed with the Rivière-du-Loup CEGEP and, according to Robert Litzler, AQPERE representative on the committee, others could follow in the Lower St. Lawrence. “Even in Montreal,” he says, “there are up to five CEGEPS that could be interested in urban projects related to the river.”
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The site of La Pocatière will be integrated to the network of marine rest areas. |
In La Pocatière, the project is already integrated with two technical programs: bioecology, in which students are working on the content of the exhibit in the trailer, and visual arts, which takes advantage of students’ talents and what they have learned to produce the decorative panels. Over time, several other activities will be developed and integrated into the courses.
In addition to including the project in its programs, the CEGEP has provided part of the teaching time of two instructors for the students. For its part, the municipality will make the trailer available to the students and could be involved in the hiring of naturalists in the summer. Two environmental groups—the Sud‑de‑l’Estuaire ZIP Committee and the Réseau d'observation des mammifères marins du Bas-Saint-Laruent [Lower St. Lawrence Marine Mammal Ecowatch Network]—are providing information and expertise. As for the SLP CEGEP support committee, in addition to having provided the impetus for the project, it serves as incubator and facilitator.
For more information:
Robert Litzler
Association québécoise pour la promotion de l’éducation relative à l’environnement
Tel.: 514 376-1065
Email: aqpere@crosemont.qc.ca
Date modified: 2008/06/19 – Important Notices
