Windermere School group from Vancouver visits the Burgess Shale
Students from the Windermere Leadership program graduating class of 2012 were given the opportunity to embark on a wonderful journey to the Rocky Mountains. The group drove 9 hours from Vancouver, British Columbia to Yoho National Park, along with three adult sponsors. The group camped 4 nights in various locations and was given a once in a life time opportunity to go up to the Burgess Shale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The journey up to the Shale was difficult and long but the weather was remarkable and sunny. Our wonderful Burgess Shale Foundation guides, Kathy and Rob Taerum, educated us about many things in the area and the Burgess Shale. The group learned about glaciation and various rock formations around the area such as sedimentary and limestone. We also heard stories about Charles Walcott and his discovery of the fossil bed in 1909 due to his knowledge of Cambrian Fossils.
Henry, a student, exclaimed his enthusiasm for being up at the Burgess Shale once he knew that the area was once completely submerged by water. Marella, which has two pairs of spines that curve around the head, left behind numerous interesting fossils. Ms. Inglis, a teacher, who has a Biology background, and was fascinated by the Anomalocaris fossils. The claws were impressive when put in context with a 50cm long organism. The entire group enjoyed the trip up to the Burgess Shale, hiking and learning along the way.
Not just anyone could hike into the Burgess Shale because access to the Burgess Shale is restricted to groups travelling with a guide. Sites such as the Burgess Shale must be protected and preserved. People are not allowed to take fossils from the site but some still try. Visiting sites like these help us appreciate how much valuable information they contain about the history of our planet. We would like to thank Randall Robertson, from the Burgess Shale Foundation, who gave us the opportunity to visit Yoho National Park and the Burgess Shale.
By Eric Lam and J. Inglis
About the Windermere Leadership Experience Program
For several years now, the Windermere Leadership Program has been an active group within the Vancouver Renfrew Heights community. The program is well established and sees students develop their leadership skills within their community with particular attention paid to environmental issues.
At the start of September this year, some of the Windermere Leadership Graduates of 2012 were privileged enough to embark on a remarkable journey to the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia. After a 9 hour drive, nearing the Alberta border, the students, along with three adult sponsors, began a once in a lifetime journey into Yoho National Park, starting at the pristine Emerald Lake. There we gazed upon the magnificent reflections in the water while we carried our packs up the mountain and into an adventure of unknown proportions. Filled with laughs, blisters, and gorgeous weather, we backpacked for 4 days. Along the way, we visited a UNESCO heritage site, the Burgess Shale, where we were privileged to have a guided tour of the world renowned fossil deposit location. This generous opportunity was offered by the Burgess Shale Foundation, which provided two guides Kathy and Rob Taerum to enrich the activity for students.
Our trip would not have been made possible if it were not for the generosity of Parks Canada, the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation, and our wonderful guides, Rob and Kathy. We arrived at Yoho National Park unaware of the journey we were about to embark on and we continued to question whether or not we could even do it, but we finished our journey at Takakkaw Falls forever changed, and inspired to continue working hard towards creating a sustainable future.
~Written by Henry Lau
