As Jeff Rotin recalled, the idea of holding a 鈥榃ild Moms鈥� event to mark Mother鈥檚 Day came up during planning for the new season at Campbell Valley Regional Park, which usually begins on Victoria Day.

鈥淚 think it was just like, 鈥榣et鈥檚 do something a little different this year,鈥欌�� said Rotin, community development coordinator with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.

鈥淟et鈥檚 do something a week early this year because we can combine our season-opening event with Mother鈥檚 Day. 鈥�

As for the name, Wild Moms, Rotin regarded that as entirely appropriate.

鈥淭here are wild moms [in nature],鈥� Rotin smiled.

鈥淵ou know how they take care of their young in the wild.鈥�

Celebrated on Sunday, May 12, the three-hour event marked Mother鈥檚 Day at the park鈥檚 nature house, and the red barn next to it, with live music from 91原创鈥檚 , as well as theatrical performances, crafts, and activities for the whole family.

Turnout was up, with about 300 visitors, compared to the usual 200 for the season opener.

鈥淥ur park operators said it was one the busiest days in Campbell Valley, irrespective of the event, since before Covid,鈥� Rotin reported.

Among the presenters was First Nations elder Karen Gabriel, who described herself as a member of the Kwantlen Village.

Gabriel brought her 鈥渢rack, scat and skull鈥� program that, among other things, showed visitors how to tell different types of animals based on the look of the poop they leave behind.

It is one of eight programs that Gabriel has designed for school kids.

鈥淚鈥檝e been teaching in the 91原创 school district for the last 32 years,鈥� Gabriel commented.

鈥淚 mean this is my day off, but I鈥檒l work on my day off because I love my job.鈥�

91原创 Environmental Partners (LEPS) had an mother-tree-themed display, as environment educator Garima Wilson explained.

鈥淭he mother tree is interconnected with the roots of other trees and they also communicate with each other,鈥� Wilson explained.

鈥淭hey share that connectedness through their roots.鈥�

OWL (Orphaned Wildlife) Rehabilitation Society brought barn owl 鈥淎lba鈥� who came to the Delta rescue and rehab facility in May of 2011 after falling from her nest as a baby and breaking her right wing near the shoulder.

After her injury, Alba was unable to fly, so she is now a part of the OWL education team that attends schools and offsite events like 鈥淲ild Moms鈥�

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