Parents and their little ones will be able to bank on guided treks through Belcarra and Minnekhada regional parks next year but, after that, the Baby & Me Hiking and Tiny Trekkers programs are up in the air.
"We are a go for 2016, we are very excited," said Shelley Frick, a guide for the past seven years. The programs took parents or caregivers and their babies or toddlers on guided hikes that provided "nature immersion" and a chance for new moms to get outside and connect with others, which helps combat post-partum depression.
Metro Vancouver had cancelled the programs, which are also offered in Vancouver and on the North Shore, early this year but were reinstated for the summer and fall after significant public demand. But a regional parks service review has determined Baby & Me and Tiny Trekkers don't fit the regional government's program model and will not be contracting the guides after the fall of 2016.
"We're hoping we can introduce them to local municipalities or help them find a business model they can continue," said Gudrun Jensen, division manager of visitor and operations services for Metro Vancouver regional parks.
Jensen noted the programs fit with Metro Vancouver board's goal of connecting people with nature but not on a large enough scale. Baby & Me and Tiny Trekkers could reach about 200 people each year but "we're looking to influence or connect with thousands of people per year," Jensen added.
Frick said what happens in 2017 and beyond remains to be seen but the programs have a strong client base now and word is spreading.
The weekly hikes were busy during the summer and completely full through the fall, she added, and Tiny Trekkers had a lengthy waiting list.
Frick believes the programs are a hit with parents and kids because they offer a chance to be immersed in nature away from the bustling sounds of the city and in a supportive group setting, while the little ones are free to explore, touch slugs and ferns and puddle-jump to their heart's content.
"We're right down in there," Frick said, noting kids and parents alike learn about the forest ecosystem during the hikes.
"There's a theme for every week — it's not just a walk in the park."
• For more information search for Baby & Me Hiking on Facebook.
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