When it comes to accessibility for his favourite pastime, working with special needs students offers a different outlook for a Duchess Park teacher.
Caledonia Rambler hiking enthusiast Nowell Senior needed to make the Ancient Forest inclusive for anyone with mobility issues, keeping his students in mind as he began the Universal Boardwalk project.
A magnificent woodland stream is the destination of the 400-metre boardwalk trail complete with a platform ideal for viewing, said Senior.
"By increasing the number and type of user to the area provides another opportunity for more people to learn about this unique forest," said Senior.
"As they learn of the uniqueness of the forest the increased awareness will hopefully provide a foundation of preservation and conservation.
"We've got a forest with trees between 1,000 and 2,000 years old and with that comes a very special ecosystem. It's globally unique. There is not another inland temperate rain forest on the planet that is so far from the ocean. We want everyone to have the chance to experience that inland rain forest environment."
There are 120 metres of the universal boardwalk built since May 2010 and the remaining 280 metres will be completed by October 2012, he added.
"What we've noticed is since the Ancient Forest trail opened in 2006 it's become a very popular place for families to visit yet it's out of reach for a segment of our population," explained Senior, who works at Duchess Park secondary.
Senior has worked with special needs students for 21 years and said there are 20 students with mental and physical handicaps in the school's program.
The Ancient Forest is not only a summer destination but avid outdoors people hike and snowshoe the trail in the winter months as well. In fact the Caledonia hiking club will host a snowshoe adventure scheduled for Feb. 26, 2012.
The circle route trail at the Ancient Forest is not suited for a wheelchair accessible boardwalk so Senior said at the bottom of the circle if you draw a tangent line, it follows a route that's almost completely flat.
From the parking lot, 400 metres away, is a beautiful stream. After the stream the terrain is too steep to build a boardwalk, said Senior.
"People can enjoy the stream and it's just a very nice place to be," said Senior.
Contributions over the last 22 months including grants and donations total $42,500 and just as important is the 67 volunteers contributing 2,200 volunteer hours, including a recent contribution from Katimavik of 800 hours.
"When people and corporations give generously, it just gives you the incentive to work on a project you believe in and sometimes I shake a little bit because it is such a daunting task," said Senior.
"So knowing that we have so many backers that believe in the project motivates us to keep going when the going gets a little rough."
The Ancient Forest Boardwalk project also has support in principle from the Canadian Mental Health Association, B.C. Paraplegic Association, the Prince George Brain Injured Group, AiMHi Community Living and the University of Northern British Columbia.
"The Ancient Forest is such an incredible place and I need to share it with others," said Senior.
"Since the trail opened people have signed in at the trail head from 27 countries, 12 provinces and territories of Canada and 33 states from the U.S. The comments they've made about the unique area are so incredible and I just like to feel that if the Ancient Forest is so well loved by so many people then I would just like to extend that a little further to those people who. without the boardwalk, could not get in and experience that forest."
Senior's students have been involved with the Ancient Forest Universal Boardwalk project from the very beginning and have made several visits to work and enjoy.
"My students have helped me install all the interpretive signs along the trail," said Senior. "I will definitely be making a special trip with my students on the day that we open the boardwalk."
For more information visit www.caledoniaramblers.ca.
