The historic Captain Angus J. Walters House in Lunenburg is more than a museum dedicated to the captain of the Bluenose, it is also the home to the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (BCAF), a charitable organization that addresses the environmental concerns in the South Shore region.

BCAF was established in 1993 and it has grown to an internationally recognized organization. BCAFs goal is to promote the restoration, enhancement and conservation of the ecosystem through research, education and action. BCAF is involved in many environmental projects, including species at risk, watershed-based and environmental education projects. The organization receives direction from a volunteer board of directors supported through a full-time executive director Brooke Nodding.

Nodding is quick to point out that BCAF concentrates on research and the collection of scientific data. The organization is not a lobby group and while they partner with other organizations and groups that may have vested interests, BCAF focuses on the collection and analysis of accurate data which is often made available to community groups and various levels of government.

We are not an issue-focused group, nor are we a lobby group or an advocacy group, Nodding says. Our basis is science. We have worked hard to develop the trust of several groups and to form good working relationships with several local and provincial organizations, including all levels of governments.

Education is an important part of BCAFs mandate and one component are Earth Adventure Camps, held every summer at the Morton Centre on Heckmans Island. The camps being offered in 2017 include:

1. Nature Detectives for children ages six to eight. The afternoon camp will run from July 10 to 14. Children will be asked to help solve a mystery. Natures clues will be used to understand habitats and discover what all creatures need to survive. Children will be encouraged to use their sneaky detective skills to solve the puzzle of the shapeshifters.

2. Wild Adventurers is a full day camp for children ages nine to 12 and will take place July 31 to Aug. 4. Children attending will learn skills from wild animals about how to live in harmony with the natural world. Those skills will be put to the test when the attendees build and sleep in their own forest shelters.

3. Eco Scientists, scheduled for Aug. 14 to 18, is designed for children ages six to eight. They will be encouraged to become a scientist who conducts experiments, explores the natural world, and uncovers the beauty and mysteries of the great outdoors.

There will also be family events that are suitable for all ages and are free of charge. More information on the upcoming camps is available by emailing education@coastalaction.org.

When you are attending the local farmers markets or the summer festivals in our South Shore communities you may see a booth or display distributing information about BCAF. This is another method that the organization uses to get information about the projects and events that are currently underway at BCAF to interested individuals.

There are 14 projects listed as current on the BCAFs website http://www.coastalaction.org, from the American Eel project to Microplastic Debris Research to Stormwater Management. Another current project is the study of the Atlantic Whitefish, which is related to salmon and trout. The endangered Atlantic whitefish is not found anywhere in the world except for Nova Scotia. Historically, this fish has been found in only the Tusket River and the Petite Riviere watersheds. Many factors, including over-fishing, acidification, inadequate fish passage, and the introduction of non-native species are believed to have contributed to the loss of this species on the Tusket River. The introduction of invasive species including smallmouth bass and pickerel add to the unknown factors in recover planning for the Atlantic whitefish. BCAF has found partially digested salmon in the stomachs of pickerel. And in one case there were two living baby snap turtles removed from the stomach of a pickerel.

BCAF is looking forward to staffing three additional term positions for the summer months. Some of the positions at BCAF are long-term and permanent while others are term positions and depended on funding.

While most of the projects that BCAF staff are working on are in the Lunenburg County area, the organization has worked on international projects, provided information to various government departments at all levels and studied specific environmental issues in various parts of the Maritimes. This diverse group is a well-kept secret that is working every day to learn more about the South Shore ecosystem and how it can can be protected for future generations.

Excerpt from:

Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation :Protecting the ecosystem with a basis in science - TheChronicleHerald.ca