They say there is always something to be learned from our mistakes.
(That being the case, one can only wonder why I am not considerably wiser, what with all the mistakes that I’ve made.)
So I have to ask if there is not something to be learned from the whole kid’s fishery on McGuire Lake debacle.
I still say there is nothing wrong with giving urban kids an opportunity to go fishing. The problem with doing it at McGuire Lake was twofold. First, a lot of people simply dug in their heals and were not prepared it give it a chance. Secondly – and more importantly –too many kids (not all, but too many) did not treat the lake or its inhabitants with enough respect. As a consequence, the project came to an abrupt end.
I will admit that it was a failure. Too bad.
However, it also bothers me that there is such a disconnect between kids and nature.
So, is there something to be learned, something to be gained from the McGuire Lake experience?
I don’t know how many times, in the past 18 years I have lived in Salmon Arm, that I’ve sat on one of the benches alongside the lake, mostly just to be alone with my thoughts, and looked out at the water and its inhabitants.
In the spring there is regrowth and rebirth. In summer, I like to just sit there and feel the warmth of the sun on my face. Sometimes I’ll sit there for the longest time with my eyes closed, listening. There is so much to hear if you concentrate – if you only take the time to actually listen. I’ve even learned to filter out the sound of vehicles coming down the hill on the Trans-Canada Highway, so that I can actually hear the all the different songbirds as they sing out among the reeds and bushes.
With the coming of autumn, I really do enjoy all the colours and the cool, crisp freshness in the air. I derive a simple pleasure from listening to the autumn leaves rustling in the wind. I am reminded of autumn days now long ago when I sat in the boat with my father and watched as the morning mist rose from the surface of the lake.
There is indeed much to learn and experience at McGuire Lake. So my question then, is why can’t this special little gem of a lake not be looked upon as something of a living classroom? Cannot the schools incorporate the lake into their natural science curriculum? Perhaps, if students could study the lake on a variety of levels, depending on the grade, they could have a better understanding and appreciation of nature – and less of a disconnect.
Gee, maybe the Friends of McGuire Lake could spend even a fraction of the time and energy they spent fighting the kid’s fishery to help young people learn more about all the things that make McGuire Lake such a special place. The end result just might be that some of those who failed to show the lake and its inhabitants respect before will learn to respect nature the way they should.
All I know is that I would like to see something positive happen with young people at McGuire Lake.
Besides, some of today’s young people might one day be the ones with the grey hair, sitting on a bench by the lake alone with their thoughts, listening to the songbirds.
Hopefully there will still be songbirds and warm summer days, and hopefully there will be young people too, kids who can relate to nature and all the special things that McGuire Lake has to offer.
