BC Parks Foundation

BC Parks and BC Parks Foundation Celebrate 5 Years of Discover Parks Ambassadors in Provincial Parks

June 3, 2025 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vancouver, BC – As a child, Carl Diederichs spent countless summer days exploring the forests and shorelines of Miracle Beach Park with his family. One memory stands out: on a nature walk in the early 1990s, a BC Parks nature interpreter pointed out a nurse log—a fallen tree giving life to new saplings.

“That lesson about how everything is connected stuck with me,” says Carl. “I was so proud to receive my Jerry’s Rangers antlers! I felt like I belonged to something important.”

For years, Jerry’s Rangers and other BC Parks interpretation programs helped spark that love for nature in young visitors across the province. Jerry’s Rangers taught environmental stewardship through fun, hands-on activities like wildlife tracking, ecosystem games, and nature-based storytelling. Interpretation started in BC Parks in 1957 and was a central part of BC’s world-wide reputation for great parks. But a new government in 2002 cut interpretation from parks. Volunteers tried to keep it going but in 2011, with no government support, it came to an end. BC Parks was the only park jurisdiction without interpretation in North America, along with Mississippi.

In 2020, that changed. A partnership between BC Parks and BC Parks Foundation helped bring interpretation back to life with the launch of the Discover Parks Ambassador program. What began in just five parks has grown into a thriving presence in 25 parks across the province, reaching more than half a million visitors in just five years.

When Carl learned that guided nature walks, amphitheatre talks, and even the beloved Jerry’s Rangers program had returned, he and his wife Evelyne enrolled their own children, who now proudly don Jerry’s Rangers antlers just like their dad once did. “It’s come full circle,” Carl says.

“Discover Parks Ambassadors are forging a powerful connection between people and BC's incredible natural landscapes,” says Simran Sarai, a long-time Discover Parks team member with BC Parks Foundation. “We've seen how our programs turn casual visitors into passionate conservation advocates. We invite all British Columbians and park visitors to explore DiscoverParks.ca and find out what’s happening in a park near them!”

This summer, Ambassadors will deliver thousands of educational programs and engage tens of thousands of visitors. They’re also contributing to science: by supporting iNaturalist efforts, they’ve helped track more than 80 threatened species and contributed over 13,000 unique biodiversity records to support ecological research.

Donor support for BC Parks Foundation has also made possible key upgrades in parks across the province—from improving trails and docks to building bridges and making parks more accessible—ensuring these treasured spaces remain welcoming and sustainable for everyone.

“For five years, Discover Parks Ambassadors have been at the heart of a renewed tradition in BC’s parks—one that brings learning, stewardship, and connection back to British Columbians,” says Andy Day, CEO of BC Parks Foundation. “It’s an incredible success story—one that benefits people, parks, plants, and animals alike.”

The Minister of Environment and Parks, Honourable Tamara Davidson, agrees: “The Discover Parks Ambassador Program enhances visitor experiences while supporting the sustainability of B.C.’s parks. By providing free, engaging programs, it increases access for families in a cost-efficient way while inspiring stewardship and improving safety.”

Carl and Evelyne encourage more British Columbians to find programming on DiscoverParks.ca and get out to BC Parks. “Some of my best memories as a kid were in BC Parks with my family,” says Carl. “And I know my kids are going to grow up feeling the same way. You’ll never regret time spent in nature—learning how you’re connected to it and spending time outside together.”

Together, BC Parks and BC Parks Foundation are ensuring that BC’s provincial parks remain free, accessible, and protected—so every generation can explore, learn, and create memories that last a lifetime.

To find free interpretive programming near you and plan your next adventure, visit DiscoverParks.ca.

Photos can be found here.

About BC Parks Foundation

BC Parks Foundation proudly acts as the official charitable partner for British Columbia’s world-class system of parks and conservation areas. We inspire and empower you to enjoy and conserve areas in BC, so that they flourish for now, for all, forever.
BCParksFoundation.ca

About Discover Parks

Discover Parks is an initiative of BC Parks Foundation that inspires people to explore, experience, and care for BC’s parks. Through passionate Ambassadors, engaging Discovery Centres, and self-guided Discover Trails, the program connects visitors to the natural world and inspires the next generation of environmental stewards.
DiscoverParks.ca

About BC Parks

BC Parks is responsible for the designation, management and conservation of a system of ecological reserves, provincial parks, conservancies, protected areas and recreation areas located throughout the province. British Columbia’s parks and protected areas system contains nationally and internationally significant natural and cultural features and outdoor experiences. The provincial system of parks is dedicated to the protection of natural environments for the inspiration, use and enjoyment of the public.
BCParks.ca