Young Leaders sought for "Trip of a Lifetime" down the Fraser River!
10 x $9,000 scholarships available

This summer ten young community leaders will travel 1,400 km by raft, canoe and on foot down the Fraser River. From August 6th to 30th the Rivershed Society of BC (RSBC) will host the Sustainable Living Leadership Program (SLLP), anexciting three-week outdoor education program.

"The SLLP is about leadership, sustainability and applying what you learn back in your community," says Fin Donnelly, Executive Director of RSBC and one of the trip facilitators. "The backdrop to this program is the Fraser River, an amazing outdoor classroom and the greatest salmon river on Earth." Donnelly has swum the full length of the Fraser River twice to bring attention to the plight of the Fraser.

The program covers key sustainability concepts like food security, voluntary simplicity, stewardship and green economics. Each student learns how to lower their own ecological footprint and designs a project to take back to their community.

Travelling from the headwaters of the Fraser at Mt. Robson to the mouth of the river in the lower mainland, participants take in the breathtaking scenery along the way, from ancient rainforests through grasslands, alpine and floodplain. Former students rave about shooting the rapids at Hells Gate, for others the highlight was the solo walkabout in the cathedral-like heart of the Fraser Canyon.

The wildlife is abundant too, eagles, bear, big horn sheep and salmon. Camping along the banks of the Fraser, students study the fauna and flora, watersheds, ecosystems, the water cycle, resource management and what a truly sustainable fishery would look like. They meet with the RSBC?s extensive network of First Nation and Non-Native Fraser River community stewards as they pass through their communities.

Sharolise Baker, Fisheries Manager with Stellat?en First Nation, and a long time supporter of the SLLP says, "This exciting program is a great way for our youth to learn about the issues threatening the health of the Fraser River, the salmon and our culture, and how they can become part of the solution."

The RSBC offers $9,000 scholarships to successful applicants covering the majority of the $10,000 trip. Participants must be 19 years of age or older and physically fit. Community volunteer experience is an asset. The application deadline is May 29th.

For more information or to apply visit
http://www.rivershed.com/programs_sllp.shtml

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Media contact:
Spring Gillard
Rivershed Society of British Columbia
Phone (604) 714-1394 Email: spring@rivershed.com 
Photos/video of past trips available. Interviews of
participants will be possible at select stops en route.