The Grand River Conservation Authority has presented it's 2016 Watershed Award to a volunteer-based event that's been running for 15 years.
It's called the Youth Outdoors Day, and takes place in September at Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, north of Fergus.
It started in 2001 with about 50 kids going to a handful of stations to learn about different aspects of the outdoors. Now, 250 young people attend, along with a parent. It's become so popular, there is a waiting list.
The goal is to introduce kids - ages 9 to 15 - to the outdoors through fun and interactive activities so they develop a life-long passion for nature and an understanding of stewardship.
The coordinator of the event is Joel Pegg, who is originally from the Wingham-area, and is a conservation officer with the Guelph office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
"We want to ignite that spark of passion that is inside kids and show them good environmental stewardship and what wildlife conservation is all about," says Pegg. "We want kids to put down their phones and electronics, step outside and enjoy the outdoors."
Pegg estimates that 85% to 90% of attendees are urban kids who are exposed to outdoor interests and skills for the first time. They learn about butterfly banding, fish identification, and how to use a crossbow.
The 150 volunteers who help out on the day of the event have specialized skills that they want to pass on to the younger generation. It's become a model for similar programs in other areas, including the Get Outdoors Youth for Conservation program in Peterborough, and another event near Owen Sound.