A Rocha Canada

         

In an environmental context often characterized by fear and paralysis, A Rocha is an international conservation organization bringing hope through care of both people and places. We are preserving sensitive habitats and threatened species, growing organic food and feeding people living on low income, inspiring school children and training young people. A Rocha is changing the way people treat the earth.

The Brooksdale Environmental Centre located in Surrey, BC is a place of transformation. The flagship project of A Rocha Canada, Brooksdale is one of the most dynamic Christian environmental centres in North America. Brooksdale’s 18-acre property is a living lab comprised of forests, a threatened river system, organic gardens, and heritage houses. This unique combination of sensitive wildlife habitat and agricultural land makes Brooksdale more than a showpiece, but a place where critical environmental issues are researched, addressed, and solved.

The Buck Creek Hatchery and Nature Centre located in Houston, BC is an A Rocha local project in the beautiful Bulkley Valley. Part of the larger Skeena watershed A Rocha works in Houston doing environmental education through it’s school programs and nature centre, conservation science by raising up to 10,000 coho salmon fry to be released into the Upper Bulkley watershed, as well as monitoring and research in the watershed. We partner with Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Province of BC, Office of the Wet’suwet’en, local organizations and individuals.

Conservation Science
A Rocha is committed to the conservation and restoration of the natural world through both scientific research and practical conservation projects. Our scientific work provides the strong foundation needed for informed protection and management. Our conservation projects are aimed at slowing or reversing the trends of habitat loss that are affecting many species. In practical terms, this means we are lifting binoculars skyward to conduct bird surveys, removing invasive species in order to restore salmon streams, and collecting data on a myriad of species in BC, Manitoba and Ontario.
At A Rocha we appreciate the strong connection between a healthy environment and the health of the human community. Therefore, where possible, we work with local landowners and residents to understand their concerns and collaborate with them in the good act of stewardship.

Environmental Education
A Rocha runs environmental education programs for school and church groups, day campers, families and adults. Our education programs engage people directly in the world around them. This engagement opens windows into wonder that transform mere knowledge into caring action. Therefore, A Rocha’s education programs are experiential. Whether it’s on a week-long day camp or a 3-hour field trip, participants are outfitted with nets for pond dipping, magnifiers for examining bugs, and binoculars for identifying birds.

Sustainable Agriculture
The A Rocha Farm in Surrey, BC has been operating a Community Shared Agriculture program (CSA for short) since 2005. A CSA is a simple and powerful way for people to join in local, seasonal eating. By joining our CSA participants are committing to the farm for the season. Our commitment to our CSA members is to grow a variety of the healthiest and freshest vegetables possible in a way that cares well both for people and the particular patch of earth that we steward!

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LOCATIONS

Canada

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Company History

A Rocha Canada (ARC) became a registered charity in 1999 with a mission to transform people and places into healthy communities through three core programs: community-based conservation science (research and restoration of watersheds), sustainable agriculture, and environmental education. A Rocha’s work in Canada has spread across the country with focused activity in BC, Manitoba and Ontario. In each place, A Rocha staff and volunteers are responding to the call to steward creation through hands-on conservation, education and agriculture projects.

Company Facts

A Rocha is an international conservation organization operating in 20 countries.

A Rocha Canada has projects in British Columbia, Ontario, and Manitoba.

A Rocha Canada’s Brooksdale Environmental Centre has three main program areas: Conservation Science, Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Education.

A Rocha Canada advises and helps manage over 200 hectares of land in BC, Manitoba and Ontario.

More than 350,000 hectares of land benefit from A Rocha Canada’s research and conservation activities in four different watersheds.

A Rocha’s Brooksdale Environmental Centre in Surrey BC includes 10.92 hectares of land.

25 conservation science reports have been posted on the A Rocha website.

A Rocha Conservation Scientists monitor, study, protect, or restore habitat for 10 Critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened species in Canada and as well as many other species of conservation concern in Canada.

A Rocha Brooksdale hosts adult learners from around the world in their 3 month residential internship program.

In 2020 over 2000 children, adults, and seniors participated in Environmental Education programming with A Rocha Canada.

A Rocha Brooksdale’s Sustainable Agriculture Program produced 200 boxes of food each week from June to October in 2020 for households in the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area.