This morning I listened to a wonderful CBC interview with Chilliwack resident Dave Elderkin, founder of a group called Chilliwack Clean Up. Dave organizes cleanups of different camping and fishing spots in the Fraser Valley, and has come up with a creative yet simple magnet system that picks up nails left by people who burn wooden pallets in bonfires. He's picked up 600 pounds of nails and scrap metal with it so far. Check the video below to see how he does it.
As I dug a little further into his Facebook Group I found a recent video of a cleanup they did at Jones Lake, which is actually one of the camping spots I recommended in this segment that I did on Global BC earlier this week. In it I mentioned that you should stick to the managed campsites at the head of the lake because as you go further up the disrespectful party campers have laid waste at various points. I've hauled out the odd bag of other people's garbage during my visits but the sheer quantity of crap that people leave would require a major effort - one that Dave and his crew took on earlier this week!!! Check out the video below of them pulling off a seriously heroic feat.
I was actually at the lake a couple weeks back and drove past the discarded BBQ in the beginning of the clip! I didn't organize a cleanup to grab it, but I donated $50 to their Go Fund Me campaign where they're trying to raise $800 to buy more magnets to pick up more nails and assorted garbage that disrespectful campers leave behind. If you enjoy camping in and around Vancouver I urge you to donate as well, to help Dave and his group continue to do this work maintaining the outdoor places we love!
