Deep Cove Kayaking Reflection
Hi friends,
So after all of our learning journeys that we will be going on this year, Michelle, Britt, and I will be asking you all to do a reflection on your experience. I will be providing you guys with prompts but if you feel like writing without a prompt please feel free. Please write in complete sentences and to write at least 1 paragraph.
We went on our kayaking trip this week and learned about oceanography this week,
- Which of the various testing equipment was your favorite to use and why?
- Why is pH, salinity, temperature, turbidity and nitrates important indicators of water quality?
- We tested the salinity of Say Nuth Khaw Yum (Indian Arm) and we discovered that it was not as salty as we thought, any ideas why this may be?
- Describe your experience kayaking. Was this your first time? Was it easier or more difficult than you believed?
- Free prompt, write about whatever you feel like, any connections you made while kayaking, any cool creatures you saw?
20 Replies
I’d like to begin by mentioning how the entire kayaking experience was so incredibly educational and enjoyable. I relished every single bit of it! This wasn’t my first time going kayaking which gave me a gist of how the experience may be like, but it exceeded expectations! During the experience, I learnt to steer a kayak for the first time. Albeit it took me a while to get the hang of adjusting the footrests when steering however once I did, it was simple. Acquiring neat tips and tricks from the kayaking instructors on how to steer more efficiently was also beneficial. Nearing the end of our time on the water, I did find the paddling to be a little tiring as my arms were quite sore. While kayaking, I did see some pretty cool marine life. To name a few, I saw a huge Lion’s mane jellyfish, some moon jellies, and of course the seals. I think that my favourite highlight of the kayaking experience was seeing the seals and the seal pup sunbathing on the rocks. Lastly, I’d like to thank all of the organizers from Y2S that planned this event and fellow Y2S members for this opportunity- thank you!
Kayaking with Y2S was so fun and such a great experience! I have gone kayaking before, but not for a couple of years. This was also my first time in a double kayak and I had a lot of fun! Something I learned with the double kayaks is that both of you have to be working hard paddling (especially when you are going against the wind!) or else you won’t get far or go fast. One of the highlights of the tour for me was seeing the wildlife. I was fortunate enough to see sea stars and seals! Overall, kayaking with Y2S was such an amazing experience, so thank you to everyone who organized this excursion and thank you to the kayaking instructors who made our tour so enjoyable!
Kayaking with Y2S was super different from the last time I kayaked. I had kayaked, with my parents before, but the last time I kayaked was at camp at school. For some reason, it was super difficult and me and my partner would always be lagging behind. I also feel like we went deep cove to kayak, but I’m not a hundred percent sure. I also remember their not being many animals or cool stuff. However, this time I saw a lot more interesting stuff. Whether the seals that were poking their head up( and pulling it back down once I brought my phone out) or the huge arrangement of sea stars along the shore, it definitely left a better impression on me than the last time I kayaked. On a side note, the sandwich food that was given to us was so good. Y2S is honestly such a great program because not only will you learn so much and go on lots on trips, but everything is free, and you get stuff like merch too.
The kayaking excursion was an incredible, immersive experience. We learnt how to measure various different levels within the sea water, and how their fluctuations affect marine life. My favourite piece of measuring equipment was the salinity scope because using the tiny dropper and looking through the scope was such a unique process. It was my first time kayaking, as well as my partner's; however, we both felt supported and comfortable with the clear instruction and evident care provided. The nature was absolutely glorious. I was fascinated by the abundance of sea stars along the edges of the small islands. I also learnt that a group of sea stars is called a constellation, a nebula, and a galaxy (you can use whichever floats your boat :) . The kindness of our leaders, both with youth to sea, and with the kayak business was expectational. I connected with so many like-minded, wonderful people while I learnt more about caring for what I am most passionate about. An overwhelming thank you to everyone involved with making this day possible! A definite highlight of my summer.
While the kayaking trip was incredibly fun -- getting to try a 2-person kayak for the first time, taking in the sights of deep cove, spotting wildlife such as deers and seals, and of course, eating delicious food -- it was educational as well. In chemistry class, we all learn terms such as “ph levels” and “salinity”, but to write about them in class and observe them in nature are two very different things. I’d used equipment which measured how light moves through a substance before, but I never fully understood the real-life practicality of this method until I used the refractometer to test the water’s salinity. It was also interesting to learn about how different factors such as location and time of year can affect the ocean’s properties, for example how the water of Deep Cove had lower levels of salinity due to the stream of fresh water coming down from the mountains. Kayaking with YouthToSea allowed me to have fun and learn a lot, all while getting a good workout in!
Kayaking with Y2S was an incredibly memorable experience. We started the day learning about the tools used in measuring water quality, handling them, and talking about each factors’ effect on the local ecosystem. While I had heard of these factors before, this experience really made it feel real. What was formerly a table of statistics was now tangible and real data gathered by other people just like us. Physically doing some of these measurements myself helped me realize how much care and time goes into monitoring and protecting the waters around our homes, and it gave me one of those “I’m part of something bigger” moments. The actual kayaking experience itself was equally amazing. We left Deep Cove, followed the west coast of Say Nuth Khaw Yum north for a little while, and then crossed the Arm to Jug Island Beach. We then came back across the Indian arm and into the marina. While this wasn’t my first time kayaking, I have always done so in relatively small lakes. This was different. The water was full of comb jellies, which are these tiny, grape-peel-shaped jellyfish that were (at least for me) very hard to notice at first. However, once I realized I was looking at one, I realized that they were just about everywhere. We stopped on the beach facing Jug Island for lunch, a bit of rock skipping, some photos, and then we were off again. We saw some incredibly cute seals on the rocks, and we ended the excursion with a little race to the boathouse. By the end of it my arms were crusty with sea salt and I was sore from paddling, but it was unforgettable. I learned a few things about proper kayaking technique as well. I learned that instead of using my arms, I could twist from my core instead and produce significantly more power while also conserving my stamina. A few days later we drove past the boathouse again, and I was longing to get right back on the water to share this awesome time with my family. Personally, I think that’s a good indication of a great and memorable experience.
The kayaking journey with Y2S was an awesome and fun experience. My favourite part of the trip was seeing the small family of sea lions resting on the rocks. I learned about what their behaviours mean and how you can tell that a sea lion is happy; when they are wagging their tail and looks like a banana is right in front of them, they're in a good mood. It was also a cool experience listening to them communicate with other sea lions. I also enjoyed the learning experience with the PH test and what the waters' PH was at and what it should be at. This wasn't my first time kayaking, but I found it a little more difficult than expected because of the distance we kayaked. However, I enjoyed enjoying the challenge as my kayaking partner and I encouraged each other to paddle faster. I am excited about our next kayaking and learning journeys in the future!
I had a lot of fun on the kayaking excursion at Deep Cove! learned new things about oceanography and different testing methods, and I also got to meet a bunch of others in the Y2S program! One of my favourite parts of the day was seeing the seals and sea stars, and learning new facts about the wildlife. The kayak leaders at Deep Cove were all very friendly and they taught us many things during our trip. The instructors also gave us tips which helped with our techniques and abilities to move in the water. Over the course of our trip, my partner and I had to work together to paddle smoothly and efficiently especially when going upwind. Something that allowed us to travel father faster was paddling in sync on the same side. On top of the kayaking experience itself, it was also super cool to learn about the different testing methods used when measuring the pH, temperature, salinity, etc. of the water in a certain area. Overall, I enjoyed this experience, and can't wait for future excursions!
As I write this reflection (a month after the excursion) I know that kayaking with Youth2Sea is an experience that I will never forget. I've loved kayaking from the moment I tried it a few years ago and since then sought out every opportunity to get out on the water. I've seen some amazing things while kayaking around British Columbia and even Alaska but kayaking with Youth2Sea offered a perspective that I'd never seen the ocean from before. Learning about the pH, salinity, and other indicators of water quality as well as the tools used to measure them was very interesting and it deepened my understanding of just how fragile and finely tuned the ocean's ecosystems are, and how many factors are at play in keeping the ocean healthy. It was also really nice to spend time in Deep Cove and get to know everyone, and share the experience with them. Seeing the seals was a great added bonus as well! Thank you to all of the leaders that made the trip possible, I'm so grateful to be part of this program.
The kayaking trip was an amazing experience. This wasn’t my first time kayaking but it was my first time using all the testing equipment. It was a cool hands-on experiment. My favorite test was the turbidity test. We all got to watch the disk sink until we couldn’t see it anymore. I thought that was really cool. I also learned about the local wildlife in Deep Cove. I learned that sea stars will eat about anything. I learned that baby seals only stay with there mom for 6 weeks. I also learned how much the heat wave impacted the local wildlife. While we kayaked we saw lots of jellyfish and seals. The baby seals were super cute and they were making weird noises. I really enjoyed kayaking it was my favourite trip so far! I have a kayak at my cabin I am definitely going to start using it more often!
Kayaking is the reason why I joined Youth2Sea. I've always adored the open ocean, but kayaking stirred something in me more than any other kind of boating had. So, It was slightly surreal kayaking with Y2S. This program has already absolutely exceeded my expectations, and this latest excursion sealed how lucky I am to have joined this group. Kayaking is plain and simple; freedom to go in a stunning environment. Y2S is similar. We are offered everything we could need and are given the chance to explore the world of marine sciences. Overall, this program is tailored to fit the kind of student who wants to explore with others. It's a space, vast and exciting, that lets us learn what we usually cant examine. I genuinely can't thank everyone enough, from the leaders to the other attendees; from the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Kayaking in deep cove was by far the greatest thing I have done this summer! One key aspect of the experience that I really enjoyed was learning how to conduct water testing for the first time. As a student who is very interested in the biology field, the scientific water testing we did was right up my alley. Although all the tests were interesting, I’d have to say my favourite was the salinity test. One thing that actually shocked me was that the water was less salty near the shore than out in the open ocean. Due to the fact that water near the shoreline is much more exposed to sand and rock, I initially believed that the water would have a higher salt content. However, after conducting the water testing at deep cove, I learned that due to rain and runoff, water near the shore is frequently mixed with fresh water, making it less salty. I am so grateful to have been given the chance to learn all this about our oceans, as every new learning experience is slowly shaping me into the ocean service leader I aspire to become.
Aside from science, this trip also allowed me the chance to do my favourite thing ever, explore wildlife! Personally, just being present in nature brings me to my happy place. One of my favourite parts of this whole experience was just sitting in the kayak, surrounded by the crisp water and fresh ocean breeze, frequently witnessing the lives of the unique and diverse wildlife that lives there. I absolutely loved looking at the many starfish, seals and birds along the journey. In fact, I loved kayaking so much that my cheeks hurt from smiling so much when I got home! One particularly memorable moment was when my kayaking buddy and I attempted to paddle near the rocky sides of one of the islands to see the starfish parked along the side. As it was my first time kayaking, I was still a bit rusty with my paddling capabilities, so when we approached the rocks, we almost crashed! Luckily, everything was fine, but the moment made for a hilarious story I will always remember. I also loved learning more about the ocean wildlife at deep cove. I found it very interesting and also a bit sad to learn that Indian Arm is no longer a breeding ground for Orca whales, due to the noise pollution of the large ships that pass by. Now, residents are lucky to see one or two Orcas every year, opposed to the many they would have seen if they still lived and bred there. I was also surprised to learn that sea lions don’t reside in the Indian Arm, making the seals the top predator in the area. Overall, through this excursion, I was able to learn new things, attempt new activities, and connect with many new people, making the day one of the BEST EVER!
This kayaking trip definitely has to be one of the most coolest but also most exhausting thing I have ever done. Kayaking is very dear to me though because I love the ocean and it’s a great way for me to see and experience different things about the ocean. Ever since I was little I’ve just always had a deeper connection to our environment and nature and this trip really helped me just love and grow upon my love for the ocean. I also got to see THE CUTEST LITTLE BABY SEAL EVER OMG I was literally dying of its cuteness, I really wanted to pick it up but I would have probably been thrown back to the island by its mother. I also got to learn how to use a kayak better than I use to! I got to learn a lot more new things about them and how they work which I really appreciate! I would also like to thank everyone who made this possible! It’s been a really fun experience and I can’t wait for more!!
Kayaking with Y2S was an amazing experience and I feel really lucky to be able to be a part of this. I had learned the effects pH, salinity, and temperature has on the ocean before I joined this program and I found the ways all of this was measured really interesting. I've been really interested in pursuing something in environmental sciences in the future and so having the chance to see a small part of it and participating in handling equipment has been really fun. This was only my second time Kayaking and I had a great time with everyone there. I really worked out the arm and ab muscles and I saw a baby seal for the first time! I'm usually quite shy and nervous when speaking to new people but since everyone was new, I had the chance to meet and talk to amazing people and I feel really lucky to have been able to meet them all. I want to thank everyone that made this possible and I'm excited for future activities and opportunities. Thank you so much! :D
I had a great time kayaking with Y2S, and it was my favourite activity we have done so far. It was exciting to be out on the water and to see animals like the seal family, starfish, seabirds, and more! I learned a lot about the marine life. I felt connected to the animals around me and was excited to learn about them. I really enjoy activities where we are out in nature and learn in an interactive environment. I connected with lots of lovely people in the program too! It was good experience to learn how to use the testing equipment. Thank you to everyone who made the kayaking experience so enjoyable!
This was my first time going kayaking and I would say that this experience was super fun. The whole day was a new learning experience where I understood how to kayak, and was taught how to use various testing equipment for oceanography. I thought that kayaking would be easy, but I was so horribly wrong, it's a very tiring workout and I very much struggled in general. However, I had an amusing partner who helped me kayak through the pain and made the experience much more entertaining. My favourite equipment to use was the black and white cylinder equipment. I think it's cool that you can use a black and white cylinder and test how deep the water is by the current/wind. I learned that for different weather conditions, however, there would be various outcomes. Salinity, pH, temperature, turbidity and nitrates are important indicators of water quality because they help us learn whether our water quality are up to the "normal" standard. Coming into the trip, I was surprisingly met by new and friendly faces that made me feel welcomed in the group. Also, while I was kayaking there were these cute baby seals that just brightened my day. Overall, this experience taught me a lot, and I would like to thank everyone at Y2S who planned this and letting me enjoy this wonderful opportunity! Thank you!
The kayaking trip in Deep Cove was not only extremely fun, but also greatly informative! I learned about several oceanography instruments and how to use them. My favourite equipment to use would probably be the pH strips because my family uses them at home as well to test the pH level in the fish tank. I must say though, the Secchi disk is pretty interesting because of how simple it is, but I wouldn't want to risk falling into the water to use it properly. In addition to the testing tools, I learned about the various indicators of water quality such as pH, salinity, temperature, turbidity and nitrates. Each of these indicators help oceanographers to identify drastic changes in the water and pinpoint what may be causing these changes, which could affect marine life. When we tested the salinity of Say Nuth Khaw Yum (Indian Arm), we discovered that it was not as salty as we predicted. I think the salinity reading was lower due to the fact that it was low tide when we tested the water. Since the water was quite shallow, most of the salt was probably further and deeper in the water, where we couldn't really reach. As for the kayaking itself, it was both tiring and enjoyable. The last time I went kayaking was when I was very young, so I didn't really know what to expect. Turns out the first twenty minutes or so made my arms feel like they were burning and heavy. However, once I started getting used to it, it felt great to be able to travel around the waters and see different creatures like seals and starfish. The entire trip was refreshing and awesome, so thank you to everyone who was a part of the planning and realization of it!
It was a wonderful day when we went kayaking. The sun shone and the water glistened. My partner and I even got the mint-coloured kayak, which I thought was the coolest one. If we'd been in elementary school, we would have been the target of everyone's envy, haha. I didn't know that we were in the Say Nuth Khaw Yum (Indian Arm)! Ethan told us that, because freshwater rivers flow into the seas and oceans, the coastlines are usually not as salty as we think. I suppose it'd be saltier in the winter when some rivers freeze up. Thankfully, I didn't wind up inhaling the salty water down my throat. I did get doused with sunlight, though, and I had an interesting conversation with Michelle about that; she told me that her sister was allergic to the sun and, internally, my heart rejoiced. Usually, people take it as a joke when I say that, but now I know that someone else in this world besides my mom and myself will get rashes under the sun. HA! I feel for Michelle's sister, though, because I know her struggles. One of many is that we'd have to be covered from head to toe or be slathered with sunscreen. Since I hate sunscreen more than I dislike the sun, I'd opted to completely cover myself with clothing (yeah, okay, black might not have been the best). As a result, every now and then I would reach into the water to feel the coolness and get refreshed. That had to have been my favourite part - how cool the water was. I loved the final race right before heading back to the Kayak Centre too. Getting to dip my arms into the water and really feel the refreshing cool was such a treat, and I'd totally go back just to do that. I had no idea that the outdoor water was always cool - I think I've been avoiding open water activities for too long. It was a really good workout, too, that left my forearm so very sore the next two days. Just bending my hand was a pain, haha! It was so worth it, though - now that I remember the feeling of a good, fun way of exercising, I think I'll be inclined to find something active that I can do for myself more regularly! I'm so grateful for Youth To Sea for giving us the opportunity to go kayaking, to our leaders for putting this together, and to our guides who made the trip educational and safe (I still can't remember who our lead instructor reminds me of!). It was an experience to be treasured. Thank you!
Kayaking with Y2S was such a fun excursion where I got to try lots of new things. My favourite testing equipment to use was the Secchi disk because everyone got to try it by staring at the disk until we couldn't tell the difference between black and white anymore. I was unaware that this equipment existed before this, therefore being able to try it by using it, and also holding to feel how surprisingly heavy it is was interesting. However, the highlight of the day was definitely kayaking until my arms could barely move. Although it was not my first time kayaking, it was the most tiring kayaking experience I've ever had since we were on the water for such a long time. It was more difficult than I remembered as well; it took more strength than I imagined to go at a decent speed as the double kayaks are heavier. Thankfully paddling became easier and took less efforts as I got used to it. I loved being able to have a destination to kayak to rather than simply kayaking in a certain area. Testing the water on the island to compare it to our previous findings was very intriguing for me as well, I really learned a lot! Lastly, I enjoyed seeing so many creatures, including sea stars and of course seals. I was not expecting to see any of those that day but we were lucky enough. Overall, it was my favourite event I've attended with Y2S so far and I look forward to many more fun excursions in the future!
I had such a wonderful time at Deep Cove both kayaking and learning about water chemistry testing. Having recently performed similar water tests for pH, temperature, nutrient levels and turbidity through my school classes, it was interesting to compare the test results from two different areas in the Lower Mainland. I really enjoyed using the Secchi disk and testing the turbidity of the water; I hadn't used this piece of equipment before! Getting out on the water was great. I've been kayaking many times before, but I'd never tried with a rudder before. It was certainly different, but I managed to get the hang of it, and it really helped with turning and directing the course of the kayak. A particular highlight along the trip would be seeing sea stars on the rocks by Racoon Island (so-called because of the HMS Racoon that crashed into the island, which, coincidently, was not carrying racoons, neither does the island have a racoon population) that I learned are named in groups connected to terms in astronomy: constellations, nebulas etc. It was a super experience to be so close to the water, creatures and connected to the ocean!
Kayaking at Deep Cove was an incredibly beautiful and enjoyable experience! I have not gone kayaking in many years, so having the opportunity to go kayaking with Y2S was an amazing opportunity. I was under the assumption kayaking would not be too hard, however I was very wrong! Although it was tiring at times I had an amazing parter that made it much better! Though this experience I was able to meet tons of new and amazing people, and learn some awesome facts. We saw the cutest seals and that was definitely one of my highlights! Everyone at Deep Cove was so welcoming and understanding which made the entire experience even better. They had tons of tricks and tips on how to properly hold the paddles, and how to move faster in the water. Having the opportunity to see the pH of the water was amazing, and I got the chance to learn what it should and shouldn’t be. pH is a measure of the relative amount of free hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in water. Water that contains more free hydrogen ions is acidic, whereas water that has more free hydroxyl ions is basic. If the pH of water is too high or too low, the aquatic organisms living within it will die. pH can also affect the solubility and toxicity of chemicals and heavy metals in the water. This excursion allowed me to feel connected to the world around me. It was an amazing day, and this program as already exceeded my expectations. I am incredibly fortunate to be apart of this group, and am looking forward to many more experiences just like this one!
Kayaking served as the grand finale for the primary focus of the workshop—monitoring ocean water health.
Several water testing instruments were introduced to measure the pH, salinity, temperature, turbidity, and nitrates levels of the samples collected throughout the excursion.
One device in particular, the “power of hydrogen meter”, also known as a pH meter, displays a figure between zero and fourteen—anything less than seven being acidic, anything more than seven being basic. It defines the sample of water on a logarithmic scale (each whole number below seven is ten times less acidic than the number on its left and vice versa, and the opposite logic goes for the more basic numbers). Basically, even minor changes in the water’s pH level can have detrimental effects on species’ chemical communication, reproduction, growth, and overall condition. The acidification of oceans put calcifying organisms—including clams, scallops and corals, as well as starfish, sea butterflies, shell-forming algae and amoebas—at risk of their shells eroding quicker than they can compensate for. Despite some being capable of coping with their acidifying surroundings, the organisms’ overall health is impaired in turn for survival, which deems the acidifying waters an urgent threat.
Hopefully, further education about the various indicants of ocean health—aside from rising temperatures—can bring awareness to just how urgent the problem is. The kayaking excursion conveyed exactly that. It effectively sent forth the purpose of obtaining such data, as well the threats imposed by these changes on its organisms. Thank you to everyone for this invaluable experience.
I had so much fun on the Kayak Trip, I went in a kayak with a rudder for the first time, and met so many new people! As someone who aspires to be an oceanographer (or something similar), this was an amazing introduction to the field. Learning how to use all the different equipment. It was perfectly timed as the week after the kayaking trip I went on a sailing trip with my family, and I used the water sampling kit to take more samples from locations like the Desolation Sound. I think my favorite piece of equipment was the salinity refractometer because it was like looking through a telescope. It also had the most range in between testing locations when I used it later (21ppt - 11 ppt) so I found it very interesting to theorize and predict which locations would have higher salinity and lower salinity and why. A couple ideas I have of why the salinity was so low in Say Nuth Khaw Yum are because we took the sample close to shore, where freshwater may be running into the ocean from underground, and possible because streams, rivers, and glacier melts of freshwater run into the fjord.
I’ve been kayaking many times before, but it pales in comparison to the experience I had with Y2S this July. It was so amazing being out on the water and learning from all of the knowledgeable kayaking instructors as well as Ethan, Brittney and Michelle.
We started the day out learning about water quality testing, specifically all the tools we can use to test for pH, temperature, salinity, turbidity, and nitrates in the water. I learnt that water testing is very important because it can give us a clear insight into the conditions of the water, and subsequently the health of the ecosystems that live within the water and how it is affecting them. Ocean acidification, algae blooms and chemical pollution or runoffs are all examples of events that can directly harm the water and change the factors we are testing for. My favourite tool to use was the salinity refractometer because it was very interesting to go through the process of pipetting the water onto the scope and checking the levels through the lens, as well as seeing the differences in salinity between Deep Cove and Say Nuth Khaw Yum and learning what events can influence salinity (sea ice melting, evaporation and precipitation). Michelle and Ethan are so knowledgeable about everything we covered learning water quality testing, answering every question I had and overall being amazing leaders.
Kayaking was such an incredible experience of the entire excursion. I loved being out on the water, surrounded by beautiful views and wildlife. It felt so tranquil to paddle in my kayak, see the coast passing by us, and feel the breeze as we learnt about the history and biodiversity of Say Nuth Khaw Yum. It was saddening to learn about how the area used to be a huge breeding ground for orcas before noise pollution infiltrated the area. Now, residents rarely see them, considering having 1 or 2 pop into the area as lucky. I have so many memories and favourite highlights from the trip, but a couple that particularly stick out to me are seeing all the adorable seals in the water, paddling close to the edges of islands to be able to see the nebulas and constellations (amazing names) of sea stars clinging to the rock face, and sitting with a group of wonderful people during lunch and getting to know them better. I’m so grateful to everyone who worked to make this trip happen and will definitely always remember this excursion from everything I learnt, all the activities we did, and the awesome people I was able to connect with through Y2S!
This is my first volunteer program that I have been apart of, or at least I think it is. Nonetheless, kayaking down in North Vancouver was quite fun as this is only my second time kayaking, so the experience is still quite new to me. However, I did enjoy the entire day and what it had to offer, from seeing marine life that I hadn't encountered before, to learning about certain tools involving testing of water quality. To focus on kayaking, I knew it was going to be quite tiring but didn't expect the distance we covered to be so long, as a result my upper body needed a rest a lot earlier than I had thought. I still am learning about marine life and the factors that affect it and the setting around marine life, I hope to continue learning more about this topic with Y2S through different opportunities. However, all in all, this was a great experience and I hope to continue enjoying myself with these opportunities, hoping that summer school is not affecting me. Learning about some fun facts about the location we kayaked in was also quite cool, as I did not know the area was once home to breeding grounds for orcas (I think it was orcas).
Kayaking with YouthToSea was a memorable and overall great experience. I had gone kayaking before, but the kayaks we used for the excursion had rudders, which once I learned to use made it much easier to get the kayak around. I also saw a lot of cool things while we were kayaking, my favourite probably being the baby seals that we saw, and the Sculpin I caught when we took a break on a beach. Not only did I have fun Kayaking, but I learned a lot of interesting things along the way. Our tour guide had a lot of interesting facts to share with us (like how a happy seal looks like a banana!), and I also got to see some different water testing methods for pH, salinity, turbidity, and more. It was great to be able to have this experience and I look forward to more in the future.
The kayaking trip was an eye-opening experience where I not only learned how to use several testing equipment, but also had the chance to kayak in Deep Cove! Even though I was familiar about a few characteristics previously, such as pH and temperature, I got the chance to use testing equipment in the outdoors, which I had never done before. My favourite equipment was the turbidity test, as it was something brand new for me, and it was fascinating to observe the disk as it was getting lowered down until it was not visible. I also learned how each factor played an essential role in keeping the marine ecosystem healthy, and how there are fluctuations in salinity levels throughout the year. Although I had gone kayaking before, the kayaking portion was still such a learning experience. I was in charge of steering, so I learned how to adjust and control the foot pedals. Last but not least, I was so glad I was able to meet and connect with many new people on this trip - they made the day go by in the blink of an eye!
My favourite equipment to use was the Secchi disc because it is straightforward but at the same time very effective, which surprised me a lot. I learned that pH, salinity, temperature, turbidity and nitrates are important water quality indicators, because they are essential for animals and plants to live healthy. It is a delicate balance that allows all different species to survive in the water. Suppose the nitrates levels are too high, for example. In that case, it could result in algae blooms, or if the pH is too high, some creatures will die, and oysters and mussels will have a hard time building their shells in the more acidic water. The water at Say Nuth Khaw Yum was not as salty as we thought it would be because we were in an area with many freshwater intakes, which diluted the salt in the water. Kayaking with Y2S was very educational and amazing. We were not only in a beautiful place, but we also learned so much. It was not my first time kayaking, but with the help and tips of the instructors, I was able to paddle a lot more and get less tired. I loved seeing the little seal, the jellyfish and those entire constellations of different sea stars. I didn't know that a group of sea stars were called a constellation; it was cool to learn that fun fact. My favourite thing about Say Nuth Khaw Yum is that it used to be a whale nursery, and it is sad that whales very rarely go back there because of Vancouver's port.
Ruby Pyo
Jul 15, 2021 at 10:28 PM