Community Learning
The Iris Griffith Centre is pleased to serve as the base for a wide variety of educational workshops led by local and visiting experts. Workshops are offered in a wide variety of disciplines related to local natural history, ecological monitoring and restoration, and sustainable living. They provide hands-on learning opportunities for community members.
In 2008 and 2009 we were pleased to offer a comprehensive “Greening Your Home” workshop series, with sessions on living roofs, alternative energy, geo-exchange conditioning, building efficiency, solar hot water, solar electric, waste water management and more.
In the fall of 2009, we offered our new “Water for Life” workshop series. Participants learned about what they could do in their homes, gardens and community to help conserve water and protect freshwater resources from pollution.
From 2011 to 2013, we offered a series of workshops in conjunction with the development of our Sunshine Coast Biodiversity Strategy Program. Examples included: hands-on workshops at the Tyner Biodiversity Park building trails, removing invasive species, and creating butterfly and bee friendly gardens, as well as native plant propagation classes.
In 2014, with the acquisition of the Wood Duck Bus, we have been able to diversify our workshops by taking them to the road! Examples have included Coastal Mushroom Field Identification courses while exploring the Pender Harbour Area, and trips to the Sechelt theatre to view environmental documentaries like Cowspiracy.
Arts & Culture
Although our organization is not focused primarily on arts and culture, these elements are integral parts of our operations, explicitly identified as two central goals in our Society Constitution:
- To provide displays and programming to encourage appreciation of, and participation in, artistic expression related to the natural environment and local and regional landscape
- To provide interpretive facilities to promote respect for First Nations history, cultural traditions and heritage.
We work closely with local artists and with the support and collaboration of local arts groups to offer diverse arts initiatives at the Iris Griffith Centre. Activities have included story-telling festivals, poetry readings, concerts, arts workshops for children and adults, and community art projects. Sechelt and Squamish Nation members provide special programs about First Nations arts, culture, history and traditions.