25 ways to celebrate BC Rivers Day
We always boast that there are numerous ways to celebrate BC Rivers Day, and this year we wanted to prove it with a long list of ideas to get you started.
Participate in a local BC Rivers Day event. Check out our events calendar for a growing list of paddles, clean-ups, workshops, and celebrations across the province and online.
Go salmon spotting. From late summer to early winter salmon return to BC rivers and streams. Use the Salmon Spotting Tool by the Pacific Salmon Foundation to find a place to witness this incredible migration.
Educate yourself on the importance of water in Indigenous cultures. Indigenous peoples have been stewards of the land and water since time immemorial.
Head out for a paddle. Whether you're an avid paddler or have always wanted to learn, today is the day to get out there and canoe, kayak, raft, and/or SUP. Try reaching out through community groups to connect with people eager to teach or learn and enjoy beautiful BC rivers together.
Clean-up, green up. Recruit some friends, grab a bag, and help collect garbage along a waterway. Let us know where you cleaned up and what type of trash you were finding so we can include it in our BC Rivers Day data.
Practice your species identification. Download the iNaturalist app and spend some time with friends taking pictures and learning about the different species along a local waterway. Your observations can help scientists and land managers understand more about local ecosystems.
Volunteer with a local organization. There are hundreds of community watershed stewardship groups across BC that could use your help - whether you are helping to monitor water or fish, making posters or social media posts, or selling cookies to raise money, there is always something you can do. Plus, it is a great way to socialize.
Plan or build a rain garden. Rain gardens prevent common pollutants in runoff from entering waterways and allow rainwater to properly soak into the soil. New research shows this can help salmon. Nature Trust BC has a fund for community rain gardens.
Host a river games night. Go Fish, anyone? Bird bingo? The possibilities are endless. Try making your own headbands game with BC species or challenge your family to river trivia (this quiz by BC Hydro can get you started).
Follow the Yellow Fish Road. Trout Unlimited Canada’s award-winning Yellow Fish Road™ program helps to educate people about the importance of ‘only rain down the drain.’ Connect with your municipality about painting the storm drains in your community.
Remove invasives. Learn about invasive species in your community and team up with a regional organization to properly remove them. Make sure you are playing your part to stop the spread of invasive species and ensure your new paddling friends know how to Clean, Drain, Dry).
Replant riparian vegetation. Healthy stream banks shade the water to keep it cool, provide habitat, and prevent erosion. Look online for regional information and best practices for replanting native riparian species.
Support water accessibility in BC. Advocate for inclusive amenities and opportunities in your area such as accessible kayaks, wheelchair paddle boards, adaptive sailing, and/or accessible fishing docks.
Brush up on your angler etiquette. Are you up-to-date on fishing best practices? Read the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC’s guide to responsible fishing to test your knowledge.
Start a Flybrary. A little free library, but for anglers, is an awesome way to share a love of fly-fishing and fly-tying with your community.
Go on a river photography walk. Enjoy the art of noticing along a riverbank and don’t forget to submit your photos to our giveaway for a chance to win.
Get to know your watershed. Look at maps, learn about watershed health, and read about river history and cultural significance. Knowledge is power.
Try birding. Fall migration is going strong. Spend some time along a riverbank with binoculars and the Merlin Bird ID app to look and listen for some winged friends.
Check out a water-themed book from the library. Here is a list of Canadian Geographic’s favourite books about rivers.
Conserve water. Check out these tips by the David Suzuki Foundation on how to save water around the house.
Make an Ecobrick. Did you pick up garbage at a local stream? Try your hand at turning it into an Ecobrick.
Host a river-inspired movie night. Paddling Film Festival has a great collection of films for rent.
Learn how to skip a stone. Practice your skills at this classic pastime. Maybe you’ll be able to break the world record.
Make river art. Rivers have always inspired art. Try these steps to plein air paint a river or use these videos with your family to learn how to draw a waterfall, a person canoeing, or an otter. Send us your art!