Wrapping up the 2024 session, participants of the Coastal Conservation Youth Corps (CCYC) program feel they’ve made a lasting impact on the Lake Huron shoreline. In July CCYC took a day trip from Kincardine to continue their stewardship efforts in Goderich, focusing on dune restoration, bluff stabilization and biodiversity enhancement.

Early removal of invasives is crucial to prevent from overshadowing native species and disrupting the delicate balance of the shoreline ecosystem. By removing these invasive species, CCYC volunteers helped to create habitat for wildlife as well as preserve the native biodiversity and stability of the main beach dunes in Goderich.
The CCYC participants then visited the pollinator garden nearby to plant new native plants such as Wild Lupin. Planting Wild Lupin is important as it is the only food source for the Karner Blue caterpillar, a butterfly currently on the endangered species list as extirpated, which means they no longer live in the wild in Ontario.
They hope that if they continue to raise awareness around the importance of native plants, we will see more wildlife return to the shoreline. They continued their restoration efforts in Sunset Park with support from the Town of Goderich and the John Hindmarsh Environmental Trust Fund. There the CCYC participants addressed the eroding bluff by weeding invasive species such as Garlic Mustard and Himalayan Balsam. The participants also planted low-lying deep rooting native shrubs like Rosa Blanda and Creeping Juniper to further stabilize the slope and add to the park’s biodiversity.
“CCYC helps us learn more about the environment with topics that we would not have the opportunity to learn about in school. It helps us connect to the environment on a whole new level and even apply the lessons into the future where we can make an even bigger change in our community,” said a CCYC participant,
The Lake Huron Coastal Centre extends its gratitude to the Town of Goderich, the John Hindmarsh Environmental Trust Fund, the Lions Club of Goderich, Enbridge and Howick Mutual Insurance for their support in this conservation effort. Because of them, CCYC continues to empower youth to make a difference in their communities, fostering a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.
The Lake Huron Coastal Centre is seeking financial support to see this initiative continue in the future. Donations can be made at www.lakehuron.ca/donate. Learn more about the CCYC program at www.lakehuron.ca/ccyc.