K’en T’em in the Community: Inspiring the Next Generation of Nature Stewards
At K’en T’em Limited Partnership, our professionals demonstrate their dedication to the community in ways that go well beyond their official commitments.
Take Rachel Riley, Senior Ecosystems Lead, for example. Ever since she moved to Merritt eight years ago, Rachel has been involved with various activities and initiatives with a plethora of environmental organizations to share her knowledge and help people develop a deeper sense about the natural world.
Rachel was invited by NatureKids Merritt, a local chapter of NatureKids BC, a province-wide environmental organization that connects children aged 5–12 and their families with nature through outdoor exploration, education, and stewardship.
The Merritt club gets together once a month to take kids out into nature. This time, Rachel was invited by the club to share her expertise and experience about grasslands and why these ecosystems are essential.
Around 35 kids and parents gathered on Thursday, September 24, to explore the pristine landscape along the Gingers Trail on the traditional lands of Nlaka’pamux territory.
“I had the pleasure of sharing the importance of grassland that overlooks Merritt. I shared some fun facts about grasslands, and talked about how quickly they are disappearing,” she said.
Rachel also highlighted an important fact: only about one per cent of British Columbia’s grasslands remain.
To make the experience interactive, Rachel brought along a one-metre-by-one-metre quadrat, a simple tool used by ecologists to study plants and vegetation. She invited the children to take a closer look at the many different plant species growing within that small square. “Everybody was amazed to find out that there was more than one type of grass. We had three different species of grass right below our feet,” Rachel said.
The group also talked about the role of grazing animals in maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems. “We had a bit of a discussion about how cows can graze in these natural areas and the importance of grazing in keeping grassland habitats intact. It was just a great way for kids to be outside, learning something a little different.”
The morning also offered an opportunity to learn about the cultural history of the Nicola Valley’s First Nations. Lis Jefferies, a longtime naturalist in the valley, shared a traditional First Nations practice associated with honouring the birth of twins.
“When twins were born, members of the First Nations would take two small trees and plant them right next to each other, allowing them to grow together,” Rachel recalled.
“It was so fascinating to learn about the people who were on the land before us and how they honoured the birth of twins in those times.”
For the children, however, nature had one more surprise in store. During their exploration, they discovered a large spider nest tucked into an old log — an unexpected find that quickly became the morning’s favourite moment of play and curiosity.
For Rachel, the outing was about much more than identifying plants or learning about grasslands. It was an opportunity to help young people slow down, look closely at the world around them, and discover that even a small patch of ground can tell a much bigger story.
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