Youth Ambassador Workshops and Events

Creating Resilient Communities: Invasive Species Management and Ecological Restoration

Hunter Jarratt is a local conservationist who graduated from the Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection Program at Vancouver Island University in 2023, and is currently a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems Certificate Program at the University of Victoria. In recent years, he has worked with a number of local environmental organizations in both workplace and volunteer capacities, and now owns an ecological restoration consulting business. He is known as the "Invasive Species Guy" on social media where he creates educational content focusing on invasive species management, particularly in Garry Oak and associated ecosystems. Hunter was the recipient of the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia's 2025 Together in Action Rising Star Award, and helped lead the advocacy efforts last year that resulted in the City of Nanaimo being officially tasked with drafting a bylaw banning the sale of invasive species.

Location: Bowen Park Clubhouse (behind lawn bowling, 500 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9R 1Z7)

Time: 4 - 6 p.m.

Need a bus pass to get to the event? Email youth@rdn.bc.ca to request a free bus pass to get to the workshop! 

Please email youth@rdn.bc.ca if you are dropping into the program so we can buy the correct amount of pizza :)

We will have registration forms at the event, see you there!

Workshop 4 will be all about checking in on your project progress and helping you with any roadblocks - stay tuned for the date!

Tips on how to sign up online:

• Parent/guardian creates RDN Recreation account.
• Add the Youth as a Family Member in the parent’s account.
• Go to the Program Registration Page.
• Select the Youth as the participant when registering.

Youth Ambassadors will host a booth at our Earth Day 2026 Event and share the learnings and successes of their projects!

Workshop 3 will be a field trip to see how larger environmental projects help shape our daily life - stay tuned for the registration link!

Tips on how to sign up online:

• Parent/guardian creates RDN Recreation account.
• Add the Youth as a Family Member in the parent’s account.
• Go to the Program Registration Page.
• Select the Youth as the participant when registering.

Our last event will be all about giving back to you! We'll look over the progress in the previous 5 months and celebrate your success - stay tuned for the date!