Coastal Caretaker Portal

Recent Coastal Caretaker News

Summer 2026

Seeking Video Submissions

BCMT is creating a short series of videos to help introduce Coastal Caretaking to new recreationists and to share what this work looks like in practice. Rather than only explaining it ourselves, we want to include real Coastal Caretakers in their own words and in the field, showing what you actually do while out on the coast.
 
The most impactful clips will be filmed while you are actively on trips, ideally while you are visiting sites, observing conditions, interacting with others, or doing light caretaking work. These real moments are exactly what will help others understand what this program is about.
 
We are looking for very short, natural clips (about 5–10 seconds each). You can respond to prompts such as:
  • “I caretake because…”
  • “When I’m on the water I always…” “
  • “Every site I visit, I…”
  • “If I find a fire ring, I…”
  • “If a trail is overgrown, I…”
  • “I leave every site I visit better than I found it”
  • “If I’m unsure what to do, I…”
  • “To submit SCRs, I…”

You do not need to film all of these, and you are welcome to speak in your own words instead. These are just prompts to guide you.

Demonstrating actions like dismantling fire rings, clipping trails, taking photos of site features, collecting marine debris, etc. will be of high value to us as well!

  • Please film in landscape orientation on a phone
  • Please double check that audio is clear and adequately loud
  • Wind and outdoor conditions are fine, but if you can find a bit of shelter for clearer audio, that is helpful.

Authentic, in-the-moment footage is more important than ensuring it is fully polished. 

Submit clips here

Playlist

1 Videos

Summer 2026

Seeking Map Photos

Site Condition Reporting can be as simple as photo submission! Check the map for sites without photos, subpar photos, or lacking certain angles or features – then, add them to your next trip! Or, click the button below to see which sites need your help!

Ensure people are not in site photos as this is a requirement to be added to the map. 

List of sites with zero or one photo

May 1st, 2026

Site Condition Reporting Contest Launched!

Our Site Condition Reporting Contest has launched for 2026!

From May 1st to September 30th, each submitted SCR is a chance to win one of three great prizes:

Two people on stand-up paddleboards in a snowy lake, wearing life jackets and cold-weather gear.
Quadra Dry Suit, paired with Essentialist Belt Pack. Mustang Survival. Value of $1,135.
Water sports gear kit: a black Delta bag with straps, four blue NRS tie-down straps, and three white cleaning bottles labeled 1–3.
Spray skirt, cockpit cover, NRS tie down straps, plastic polish kit. Delta Kayaks. Value of $240.
Blue waterproof duffel bag with two black adjustable straps on a wooden table.
25L Widemouth Duffle from SeaLine. Comox Valley Kayaks & Canoes. Value of $174.95.

April, 2026

Record Breaking Gerald Island Cleanup

Read the report from BC Marine Trails on our recent record breaking event on Gerald Island!

News coverage from NanaimoNewsNow.

November, 2025

Stats Released from 2025 Site Condition Reports

Read the report from BC Marine Trails on Site Condition Reporting in 2025. 

November 20th, 2025

Coastal Caretakers Recognized for work on West Ballenas Island

BC Marine Trails’ Coastal Caretakers were recently recognized by the BC Parks Foundation in an article, titled ‘From Users to Caretakers: Volunteers Steward West Ballenas Island’

Coastal Caretakers must sign a waiver annually to participate in the program. Waivers reset on April 1st of each year, and are independent of waivers for individual stewardship events like  Gerald Island Invasive Species Removal, or Vargas Island Marine Debris Removal.

Please note: You are not an official Coastal Caretaker, and do not have permission to act as a Caretaker on behalf of BC Marine Trails until a waiver is signed.

BC Marine Trails Network Association

Volunteer Participation Agreement and Waiver of Liability

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. By signing this document (in print or electronically), you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Volunteer Participation Agreement and Waiver of Liability (“Agreement”). 
The BC Marine Trails Network Association (“BC Marine Trails”) relies on the dedicated hard work of volunteers like you to accomplish our mission, which is to work with First Nations and stakeholders to build, protect, and promote a public network of marine trails allowing safe recreational navigation of the BC coastline with minimal impact on the environment. We appreciate your contributions. 
Occasionally, BC Marine Trails invites volunteers to join a group and engage in physical outdoor tasks aimed at improving the conditions of coastal sites. Working in a remote environment with limited access to immediate medical care, it is essential that you put your health and safety first. More often, volunteers sign up as Coastal Caretakers and plan their own trips to marine camping and day use sites throughout the BC coast. Please plan your trip carefully, follow all health and safety guidelines, and model the BC Marine Trails Code of Conduct. 
Volunteers with BC Marine Trails will be engaged in a variety of volunteer activities, which are undertaken with a BC Marine Trails group or independently as a Coastal Caretaker (the “Activities”). The Activities may include, but are not limited to, paddling in a kayak or other watercraft and building and maintaining BC Marine Trails campsites and day use sites. For clarity, this Agreement applies to any and all Activities undertaken at any time. 
To help ensure that you have a good volunteer experience, and that we all stay safe together, all volunteers must follow the rules set out in this Agreement when participating in any BC Marine Trails Activities. Although we value highly your contribution to our organization, and although we care greatly about your health and safety, by signing this Agreement you understand that you assume the legal risk of what you do when you participate in any BC Marine Trails Activities, and that you agree to waive your right to bring legal action against BC Marine Trails.

Part A – Health and Safety Rules for BC Marine Trails Activities

  1. Before you participate in any BC Marine Trails Activities, whether in a group or as a Coastal Caretaker: 
    1. You must CAREFULLY REVIEW the attached Activity Briefing which outlines additional, but not all, potential volunteer Activities, and ensure that you understand the Activities and the potential risks associated with the Activities. Please ask us if you have any questions about what we will be doing. You must review the Activity Briefing before signing this Agreement. 
    2. You must sign this Agreement. 
  2. Before you participate in a BC Marine Trails Activity, you must complete and submit a Medical Information Form. If you are a Coastal Caretaker participating solely on personal trips, you are not required to submit a Medical Information Form to BC Marine Trails.
  3. When you participate in work Activities for BC Marine Trails:
    1. You must only do what you feel safe, comfortable, and capable of doing.
    2. You must wear safety glasses and take other reasonable safety precautions.
    3. You must wear gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy shoes.
    4. You must not use power tools.
    5. You must stay within the designated work area, and not undertake work on your own or outside of the designated work area.
  4. If you have a safety concern, including with something someone else is doing, you must bring it to our attention right away.
  5. If you are not feeling well, or if you hurt yourself, you must stop working and bring it to our attention right away.
  6. When you participate in an event that includes paddling, you must only participate if you are fully prepared and have completed a float plan and a pre-paddle safety briefing.
  7. When you participate in Activities on your own, or with a group of others, without any direct involvement from BC Marine Trails, such as in the Coastal Caretakers program, you must also:
    1. Begin or continue the paddle only if it is safe and you are fully prepared to paddle.
    2. Follow the linked BC Marine Trails Code of Conduct. 
    3. Review the linked BC Marine Trails First Nations Guidelines. 
    4. Understand that this Agreement and all terms contained within this Agreement apply.

Part B – Assumption of Risk, Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, and Indemnity Agreement

  1. I desire to volunteer with BC Marine Trails and engage in its related volunteer Activities. I am aware and understand that the Activities may be inherently dangerous and may expose me to a variety of foreseen and unforeseen hazards and risks. I acknowledge that I am voluntarily participating in the Activities and have considered these risks. I agree to assume any and all risks, dangers, and hazards involved with the Activities, including any and all risk of injury, illness, harm, death, property damage or loss that I may incur as a result of my participation in the Activities, whether caused by the negligence of BC Marine Trails or otherwise.
  1. I hereby fully and forever waive, release, and discharge BC Marine Trails from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, or causes of action of whatever kind or nature, either in law or in equity, which arise or may hereafter arise from my participation in the Activities. This means that I will not make or bring any claim against BC Marine Trails for any injury, illness, death, property damage, or other loss or damage that I may suffer, whether caused by the negligence of BC Marine Trails or otherwise, and I forever release and hold BC Marine Trails harmless from any such claim or liability. 
  2. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS RELEASE DISCHARGES BC MARINE TRAILS FROM ANY LIABILITY OR CLAIM THAT I MAY HAVE AGAINST BC MARINE TRAILS WITH RESPECT TO ANY BODILY INJURY, PERSONAL INJURY, ILLNESS, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR PROPERTY LOSS THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE ACTIVITIES, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF BC MARINE TRAILS OR OTHERWISE. 
  3. I agree to hold harmless and indemnify BC Marine Trails for any liability, losses, personal injury, damages, judgements, property damage, or expenses, including legal fees, that it may incur or sustain as a result of my negligence, recklessness, or wilful misconduct in connection with my participation in any BC Marine Trails Activities, arising out of any third-party claim. 
  4. I understand that this is a legally binding contract between myself and BC Marine Trails. I understand that I am waiving (ie, giving up) certain legal rights by signing this Agreement. I understand that, if I have questions about this Agreement, I should consult a lawyer before signing it. 
  5. I agree that the term “BC Marine Trails” includes its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, volunteers, and any others authorized to act on its behalf or in any way associated with BC Marine Trails. 
  6. I agree that the following statements apply to me:
    1. I am at least 19 years old, or my parent or legal guardian will sign this Agreement on my behalf,
    2. I am mentally capable and physically able to participate in the Activities, and 
    3. I am not relying on any other statements about the safety of participating in BC Marine Trails Activities, except what is in this Agreement. 
Medical Treatment 
  1. I hereby give consent and authority to BC Marine Trails to obtain medical treatment on my behalf if I am injured or require medical attention during my participation in the Activities. I understand and agree that I am solely responsible for all costs related to such medical treatment, medical transportation, and/or evacuation. I hereby release, forever discharge and hold harmless BC Marine Trails from any claim whatsoever in connection with such treatment or other medical services. 
Acknowledgment and Signature 
BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT AND WAIVER, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT: 
  1. I have read and understood all of the terms of this Volunteer Participation Agreement and Waiver of Liability; 
  2. I agree to participate in all BC Marine Trails Activities, whether alone or with others, according to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; 
  3. I am signing this Agreement freely and voluntarily, without any inducement or duress; and 
  4. I understand that by signing this Agreement, I am voluntarily giving up certain of my legal rights, including my right to sue BC Marine Trails for injuries or damages resulting from my volunteer activities. 
BY SIGNING, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND WAIVER AND THAT I AM VOLUNTARILY GIVING UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE BC MARINE TRAILS. 
Clear Signature

For Parent or Guardian of Volunteer if Under 19

Clear Signature

Witness

Clear Signature

BC Marine Trails Activity Briefing

I. Paddling 
Paddling in a kayak or other watercraft is inherently risky. These risks are enhanced in the marine environment and in cold-water environments, where BC Marine Trails members and volunteers paddle. Paddle trips with BC Marine Trails may involve paddling in Level 3 water over multiple days. The risks of paddling include, but are not limited to: 
Death or injury caused by exhaustion, hypothermia, or drowning from capsizing; being taken off-course by surf, waves, wind, or current; navigating around headlands, rocks, kelp beds, and shallow reefs; becoming lost; becoming separated from the group; inclement weather; injuries from carrying kayaks or other watercraft; collisions with other watercraft or vessels, rocks, or other objects; large waves, sharp rocks, and slippery surfaces during landings and launches; and wildlife encounters.
II. BC Marine Trails On-Shore Activities 
When building and maintaining BC Marine Trails campsites and day use sites, the things you may be asked to do include the following tasks or activities. All of these activities include some risk. 
  • Traveling to and from the event (vehicle travel, loading/unloading personal gear) 
  • Transport to a work site by kayak and/or motorized vessel (including travel in active marine channels) 
  • Launching and landing from beaches or rocky shorelines (including wet exits, surf landings, and slippery intertidal footing) 
  • On-water travel by kayak (where applicable), including exposure to wind, chop, cold water, and rapidly changing weather 
  • Assisted rescues and emergency response actions on the water (self-rescue, buddy rescue, towing, swimming) 
  • Working around boats during drop-off and pick-up (approach, loading/unloading, moving gear near propellers, lines, and surf zones) 
  • Walking beaches and shoreline (sand, cobble, driftwood, slippery rock, uneven surfaces), including when transporting marine debris or tarploads of plants 
  • Moving through intertidal zones (uneven terrain, slippery algae-covered rock, tide timing constraints), including when transporting marine debris or tarploads of plants 
  • Short hikes on lightly maintained or unmaintained island trails (roots, mud, steep slopes, bluffs, and trip hazards), including when transporting marine debris or tarploads of plants 
  • Travel through forested areas and dense vegetation (reduced visibility, uneven ground, minor off-trail travel), including when transporting marine debris or tarploads of invasive plants 
  • Invasive species removal and ecological restoration activities, including:
    • Pulling, cutting, and removing English ivy (including climbing vines)
    • Pulling, cutting, and removing Himalayan blackberry (including thorned canes and root balls)
    • Pulling, cutting, and removing any other invasive species that may be identified during the cleanup, or non-invasive species that may be accidentally removed as a result
    • Digging and prying roots from soil (including repetitive strain and overexertion risk)
    • Clearing vegetation to establish/maintain trails and work areas
    • Flagging or marking trails/work zones
  • Use of hand tools (as provided/approved), including:
    • Loppers, pruners, hand saws, shears, shovels, spades, mattocks, pry bars, rakes and all other basic restoration tools
    • Carrying and working with tools in close proximity to other volunteers
  • Lifting, carrying, dragging, and staging invasive plant material and debris (including heavy tarp loads) 
  • Working in teams to move awkward or heavy loads over uneven ground
  • Handling thorned vegetation, sharp sticks, and hidden hazards in brush piles
  • Working around sharp or irritating plants (puncture and allergic reaction risk)
  • Burning of invasive plant material, including:
    • Building, feeding, and tending burn piles or burn areas
    • Working around open flame, embers, heat, and hot ash
    • Smoke exposure and reduced visibility near burn areas
    • Fire management tasks (shoveling, raking, water bucket use, monitoring, and extinguishing)
    • Increased fire risk during dry or windy conditions, including potential event modifications or early shutdowns
  • Backcountry operations, including:
    • Setting up and packing down group staging areas and/or camp systems o Food preparation and camp kitchen tasks (stoves, fuel handling, hot liquids)
    • Limited access to running water and washrooms, including personal hygiene and sanitation facilities
  • Exposure to weather (rain, wind, cold, heat, sun) 
  • Prolonged physical exertion 
  • Risk of slips, trips, falls, strains, blisters, cuts, punctures, and minor burns 
  • Potential encounters with wildlife (including birds, marine mammals, rodents, stinging insects, cougars, and bears) 
III. BC Marine Trails Coastal Caretakers Activities 
Coastal Caretakers activities are done by volunteer participants alone or in groups generally without any BC Marine Trails presence. The tasks and risks above apply, in addition to the following: 
  • Travel through forested areas and dense vegetation (limited visibility, uneven ground, minor off-trail movement), sometimes while transporting debris or tools 
  • Identifying and navigating around natural hazards (unstable trees, hanging branches, angled trees, slippery logs, eroding banks, cliffs/bluffs) 
  • Observing and inspecting environmental conditions and human impacts (marine debris, fire rings, temporary structures, human waste, site alteration) including potential injuries from dismantling fire rings, or dealing with any of the listed issues. 
  • Inspecting and moving around existing site-user structures (picnic tables, tent pads/platforms, outhouses, shelters, signage) 
  • Noting damage, instability, or unsafe conditions associated with structures and surrounding terrain 
  • Interacting with other recreationists at sites (friendly conversations, sharing low-impact practices, modeling the BCMT Code of Conduct), including the possibility of negative or uncomfortable interactions with other visitors 
  • Dismantling or rearranging small site alterations (breaking down unauthorized driftwood structures, discouraging new site modification) 
  • Dismantling fire rings, scattering cold ashes, and spreading rocks (smoke/ash exposure, contact with sharp rocks, residual heat risk) 
  • Working around campfire areas where hot embers or buried heat may still be present (burn risk) 
  • Collecting and staging marine debris above the high tide line, or packing debris out when safe and feasible 
  • Handling unknown or hazardous debris (sharp plastic, broken glass, metal, fishing gear/line, hooks, ropes, contaminated items) 
  • Potential contact with human waste and contaminated materials while assessing impacts (biohazard exposure risk) 
  • Lifting, carrying, dragging, and staging awkward or heavy debris items (strain and overexertion risk) 
  • Using hand tools for light caretaking tasks (where safe and appropriate), including small saws, loppers, pruners, shears 
  • Removing small branches, brush, and minor windfall to define public use areas and trails without digging or soil disturbance 

V

visiting

a

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O

observing

changes

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I

interacting

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other

visitors

C

caretaking

to keep

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E

exchanging

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BCMT

Visiting Sites

  • If you begin planning a paddling trip using the BC Marine Trails map, you might print out a spreadsheet of the sites you are planning to visit and the information posted about those sites. As you examine the site information, if you notice there are photos missing, make a note to take specific photos while you are there.
  • In the BC Marine Trails monthly newsletter, you may see a notice asking if anyone is planning on paddling in a particular area. If that is you, then respond to the notice. Many of us assume that someone is paid to go out and do Site Condition Reports or the more detailed site assessments. Actually, it’s volunteers like you who keep the map current and who have made it into such an amazing tool for exploring the coastline.
  • When you are out exploring an area, if you see a promising site that is not listed on the BC Marine Trails map, send in a Site Condition Report and photos. You may be the first person reporting on this site or you may be one of many. Either way, your information gets added to our database and becomes part of the conversation with land managers about which sites to list on the map.
  • Before a site can be listed on our map, we have a process we follow. The site must have been assessed for accessibility, safety, and most importantly, we must have permission from the land owners or managers to include the site on our map. This process takes time. While we have over 1400 sites on our map, we have at least as many sites waiting to be discussed. The Site Condition Reports you submit help us to gather the data we need for these discussions. 
  • It’s important to note that BC Marine Trails does not own the sites shown on our map. Our mission is to work with First Nations communities and stakeholders to build, protect and promote a public network of marine trails allowing safe recreational navigation of the BC Coastline with minimal impact on the environment. Through respectful discussions, we are working together with these partners to help secure long term public access to the BC Coast.
  • It’s equally important to respect sites that have cultural significance for First Nations communities. As we work with communities, we explore options for safe recreational navigation while ensuring we are not directing visitors to sensitive ecological areas, bird nesting sites, burial sites or ceremonial sites.

Observing

  • Begin by thinking about what you read from the BC Marine Trails map before coming to this site. Was there something more you would have liked to know about the landing, the camping possibilities, any evidence of trampling? Did you find examples of rare flora and fauna other visitors might like to know about?
  • While you are at a site, what suggestions can you make in your Site Condition Report (SCR) to keep the site pristine for others to appreciate? (e.g. recommending a composting outhouse or green throne may not result in a new outhouse for your next visit, but in heavily used sites, these recorded observations help build a case for preserving the natural site). The same is true for a clearly marked trail in heavily used sites instead of having everyone trample the flowers.
  • Some sites have Visitor Logs and while visitors may have written in the logs, that data may not have been shared. Taking a photo of the contents of the log and sharing it with your Site Condition Report (SCR) is another way to give voice to the site, not just your voice but other visitors’ voices too.
  • BC Marine Trails is able to post relevant information on the map for a specific site so users are aware of potential hazards or issues identified.
  • Depending on who manages the land, action may or may not be taken to address the maintenance concern raised. For example, if the land is managed by BC Parks, Recreational Sites and Trails BC, or First Nations communities, the information is passed along for the land managers to decide what to do with the resources and time they have.

Interacting with Others

  • Absolutely! People may know about our mission and the data on our map, but our members’ actions bring these to life. Without our members, we could not do the work we do and we are grateful you want to do this work with us! 
  • Membership fees, donations, and volunteer commitment allow us to move forward with our mission, so please promote BC Marine Trails in whatever way you can. Your actions lead by example and we love it when you let others know what you are doing!

As a Coastal Caretaker, we appreciate any actions you take to share the Marine Code of Conduct but you are not the Park Warden, land manager, or owner. Friendly conversations work best. Modeling by building your small fire below the high tide line works well, too.

Thanks to a recommendation from one of our Coastal Caretakers, we have business cards with the Coastal Caretakers VOICE acronym on one side and the BCMT Code of Conduct on the other. We also have Code of Conduct decals for putting on kayaks. If you would like to pass these on to your friends or club members or if you are a kayak rental company and want to share these with your customers, send BCMT an email with your mailing address, phone number, and the number of Coastal Caretaker/Code of Conduct business cards or Code of Conduct decals you would like to receive to share with others: volunteer@bcmarinetrails.org.

Yes — find one here you can print and share! We also have tri-fold brochures available — reach out to scutcliffe@bcmarinetrails.org with any questions on physical resources. Please ask the boat launch manager or business owner for permission before putting up posters or dropping off brochures.

  • Write an article on a recent trip along BC’s coastline. 
  • Become a member or donate directly to one of our three pillars or the general operations of BC Marine Trails.
  • Let your friends know why you are supporting BC Marine Trails. Maybe your enthusiasm will encourage your friends to become members, too. 
  • Like our Facebook and Instagram posts; share them with your friends.
  • Model the Marine Trails Code of Conduct in whatever coastal spaces you visit.

Caretaking at a Site

  • If it is a small, manageable amount that can be removed and you have space, remove the debris and put it in with your household garbage or recycling after your trip is complete.
  • If you are leaving the debris at the site, collect and sort the debris, then store it far above the high tide line, in a place well above any logs. You want to avoid the debris being redistributed into the ocean once storm surge and king tides arrive in the winter months. Take photos to submit with your SCR to show the location, quantity and type of debris. This data is shared with cleanup partners and may result in the debris being removed at a later date!
  • A few sites may have a collection sign indicating that debris materials can be stored by the sign for future clean up activities. This is rare at the moment, but kudos to those who are setting up debris collection sites for easy removal at a later date! 
  • Please note in your Site Condition Report if you completed any of the above clean up actions  and include photos of the debris too!

If you come across a ring of stones around a pile of burnt wood, go ahead and toss the stones around the site and toss the wood into the water so the next group on the beach would never know someone had lit a fire in this spot. Caution: If you dismantle a fire ring, use a stick to check for hidden objects (nails, tin cans, glass) and take these objects away with you or add them to your debris pile high above the logs and winter storm surge areas.

Exchanging Data (Site Condition Reports)

Find a video walkthrough of loading the SCR form on the app here. 

To download the Survey123 app, search ‘Survey123’ in the App Store, or Google Play Store. You should see the following icon:

Once downloaded, you will need to download the SCR form to the app. To do so, return to this page, and click ‘Go to form’ above. At this point, the SCR form should be available through the app. 

If preferred, you do not need to use the app — it is always an option to record information in your notes app, notebook, etc. and then fill in the form in your browser from your laptop / desktop computer. To do so, click ‘Go to form’ above, and select ‘Open in browser’.

When using the Survey123 app, report forms can be filled out in the field, and they will automatically upload when you are back in service / wifi!

Alternatively, you can record relevant information in a waterproof notebook, and upload your findings when you are back home!

The printable PDF version of the SCR can be helpful — print off one for each site, or use only one as reference for your notebook.

Absolutely not! Fill out what you are able to. If all you have to submit is photos, that is great! Some information is better than no information. 

  • If an SCR submitter does not consent to have their name and SCR displayed on the BCMT member map, it will not be displayed. 
  • Our Regional Managers review SCRs, and if there is no issue or error, they are published on the BCMT member map. 
  • While we strive for quick updates, the time from SCR submission to publishing on the map is often a couple of days. 
  • BC Marine Trails is able to post relevant information on the map for a specific site so users are aware of potential hazards or issues identified.
  • Depending on who manages the land, action may or may not be taken to address the maintenance concern raised. For example, if the land is managed by BC Parks, Recreational Sites and Trails BC, or First Nations communities, the information is passed along for the land managers to decide what to do with the resources and time they have.

Not yet! If you take a short video of your site, send it to our new communications outreach coordinator, Sam (scutcliffe@bcmarinetrails.org), and he may ask your permission to use it in our social media communications.

  • Minimum size is 1280 x 720 px and under 12 MB.
  • Take photos that provide users with better visuals about what to expect or watch for at a site: views of the approach, the landing, the tent site, geo location of debris and quantity/type, as well as location of any hazards (dangerous trees, buried metal).

At this time, land managers (BC Parks, Recreational Sites and Trails BC, Parks Canada, and some First Nations communities working with us) receive SCR data that is pertinent to their area, including which sites were cleaned and which sites need repairs.

On top of this, marine debris information is shared with cleanup partners like The Ocean Legacy Foundation, Rugged Coast, and Living Oceans Society. 

Sharing as a Coastal Caretaker Community

Yes, there are typically information sessions hosted on Zoom periodically throughout the winter and spring. If you are interested in an info session, reach out to volunteer@bcmarinetrails.org

Yes, request a copy of the session information by sending an email to volunteer@bcmarinetrails.org. Of course, the information presented at each Coastal Caretaking sharing session will depend on the ideas from those participating and will change as the project evolves, so indicate whether you want information from a specific session or simply the most recent updates.

Thank you for being a Coastal Caretaker! It’s great to be volunteering alongside all of you!

Site Condition Report

If intending to report offline on a mobile device, ensure you have the Survey123 app downloaded prior to accessing the form below.
Go To Form

Site Assessments

By filling out the longer Site Assessment form, you can provide more extensive data for a potential site that is not yet on the BCMT map. The Site Assessment form is more detailed and is not on the Survey123 app, but it will provide more information for the Trails Development Team to decide whether the undeveloped site should be added to the BCMT map.

When completing a Site Assessment, think about the types of information you’d like to know when planning a trip or choosing a campsite. See this overview for a detailed reference of what factors to consider. Visit at low tide if possible; it’s helpful for prospective paddlers!

You can print  the overview to take notes in the field, then fill out the online form when you’re home. Alternatively, use a Word or PDF version to complete off-line. 

To convert coordinates to the required decimal format, click here.

Site Assessment

A more comprehensive form. ~20 minutes.This form is for new sites, potential sites, or under-assessed sites. It does not work on the Survey123 app.
Go To Form

BC Marine Trails Application for Coastal Caretaking at West Ballenas and other BCPF sites

The BC Parks Foundation (BCPF) is again collaborating with BC Marine Trails (BCMT) on stewardship of West Ballenas Island as part of BCMT’s Coastal Caretakers' Program. Our aim is to recruit experienced volunteers from BC Marine Trails' Coastal Caretakers who plan to visit West Ballenas Island via kayak or boat during the summer when visitation levels are higher (June to September). Additionally, BCPF has asked if Coastal Caretakers would be willing to submit SCRs or Site Assessments for recently added BCPF sites.

When signing up for this project, select any of the sites in the dropdown menu and select your proposed dates. You can find the site locations by scrolling to the bottom of this form and zooming in on the map.

Volunteers must complete the BCMT Waiver on our website and be signed on as Coastal Caretakers who agree to give VOICE to the sites they explore by:
  • Visiting the site (by kayak or other means)
  • Observing any signs of human impact (e.g. fire activity, debris, trampling)
  • Interacting with visitors (greeting/educating about sensitive ecosystems and responsible recreation)
  • Caretaking (minor cleanups of debris to return the site to its natural state and taking photos of unique plants or patches of vegetation)
  • Exchanging data and photos with BCMT through our Site Condition Reports (SCRs). Thank you!

As West Ballenas and other newly added BCPF sites are a special collaboration, we ask that Coastal Caretakers include in their Site Condition Reports the number of visitors they met, what visitors were doing for activities and the length of time at the islands.

Each volunteer is asked to commit to visiting West Ballenas Island or one of the new sites for one or two days between June and September. We ask that volunteers select the week(s) that works best with their schedule and then choose the best weather day (or days) during that week for their visit. One of the privileges of this project is that Coastal Caretakers for West Ballenas Island and other sites have special permission from BC Parks Foundation to camp overnight while carrying out Coastal Caretaking duties. We ask that you not camp on the bluffs.
Training material on public engagement, how to be a good Coastal Caretaker, and the natural and cultural history of West Ballenas Island is available for volunteers via a Zoom meeting and/or email communication with Karina Younk. Information about additional sites will be a collaboration between volunteers, BCMT and BCPF. Your input will help shape future plans for each site.
 
This partnership with the BCPF is not open to the general public. West Ballenas Island and other recently acquired BCPF sites are still privately held by the BC Parks Foundation and we are keeping our data-collection work low-key by not promoting public visitation. With the help of Coastal Caretakers, BCPF is seeking to have eyes on the ground through the summer months, especially to look out for and report fire activity or other human impacts and to assist with site monitoring of the main habitats of each site. An additional aspect of our work on West Ballenas is that we have permission to: 1) remove English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry when we find patches, 2) continue working on the mid-island trail, 3) camp at small clearing behind the concrete ramp (2-3 tents) at SW beach. For all other sites, please confirm with Karina whether camping is permitted before heading out.
 
Click into the map below to view recently added BCPF sites, and West Ballenas. BCPF is requesting SCRs or Site Assessments for these new sites. 

Please fill in the form below.

BC Marine Trails Experience(s)

Caution: West Ballenas Island is considered both close and remote. Winds can rise quickly and can be strong. Therefore, volunteer paddlers must have a good understanding of wind, weather, and currents and be able to paddle in 15 knot winds.

Coastal Caretaker Experience(s)

Volunteers must have signed up as a BCMT Coastal Caretaker

Participation requirements (all boxes must be checked to apply) *

Preferred Volunteer Week(s) at West Ballenas or at New BCPF Sites

Please check the week or weeks where you think you would be available to visit Ballenas or one of the new BCPF sites for a day or to camp overnight. Remember, you commit to a specific week or weeks and then select the best weather day or days that work for you within your selected week. If you are unable to go or plans change, simply send an email to kyounk@bcmarinetrails.org.

Other Volunteering Opportunities with BC Marine Trails (Optional)

If you would like to be more involved as a volunteer with BC Marine Trails, please let us know your skill areas! We can always use more help!

Coastal Caretakers

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Want to add your VOICE to this page, or our monthly newsletters? Reach out with a short quote and photo to Sam, at scutcliffe@bcmarinetrails.org

Karina Younk

“When I first joined BC Marine Trails I assumed someone was paid to visit sites and update the map. I quickly learned that a small group of volunteers were behind the updates of this incredible resource! I am very proud to report that we now have over 75 Coastal Caretakers, sending photos and reports of coastal sites they have visited during their coastal exploration. It makes me proud to see so many individuals eager to contribute to BC Marine Trails’ vision and mission. Thank you for believing in this work!”

Allan Edwin

 “Apparently there is no word for ‘wilderness’ in the tongues of our Coastal First Nations. When they describe this place, the word they use is “home”. I like that. The Coastal Caretakers program was an easy choice. I take care of my home.”

Ken Sund

“When I paddle the coast, I pile debris above the tide line. Now, I’ll continue the effort and make sure to fill out Site Condition Reporting forms. A word of advice for other Coastal Caretakers: be cautious on slippery logs and tricky landings — remote coves often need kayakers like us to help keep them clean!”

Scott Speakman

“I caretake because it just feels good to leave a place a little better than I found it and make it nicer for the next person who shows up. It’s also my way of helping the coast stay wild and healthy by keeping our impact as light as possible.”

Reed Early

“It’s easy to submit Site Condition Reports. I just did one yesterday! The information is very helpful to regional managers, who keep the BC Marine Trails map up-to-date. With submitted photographs now accessible through the member map it’s even better for members!”

Gene Gapsis

“I have always loved being in the middle of nature, especially that which seems not to have been “touched” by man quite as much. That can be on a trail close to home, or along rugged, inaccessible beaches on the north coast. I find a bit of satisfaction and peace trying to be part of the solution to what are now obvious problems such as the proliferation of plastics or forever chemicals. In every aspect of my life, I try to live simply, and do one small thing for Mother Nature, from which I cannot separate myself. I know the Earth will heal herself once we are gone, but for now, It doesn’t matter where I am, I will pick up garbage, remove styrofoam, line or plastics from the ocean, or change my personal habits. In just the last 40 years, every beach seems to now have plastics becoming part of the foreshore. We can no longer ignore our impact. For that reason, being a Coastal Caretaker is, for me, a way of life.”

Ward Strong

“I love stopping in at remote BCMT campsites to see what sort of shape they’re in, particularly if the descriptions are scanty or there are questions about the site. I enjoy nailing down a concrete description, clearing out seldom-used tent sites or trails, and, if there’s space in the kayak, carrying out marine debris. “

Art Skoda

“I do it for the challenge and to keep our spectacular coast as clean as possible. I don’t like the idea that it is my generation that has created this pollution problem and that the garbage we are so carelessly creating has a far longer lifespan than me. Lately, I’ve been tackling marine debris at the Wya beaches north of Ucluelet.”

Connie Miller Retzer

“I volunteered to be a Coastal Caretaker because I admire and want to support BCMT’s initiatives, even if it seems like a rather small contribution. Most of my kayaking is locally based near Nanaimo, so initially I did not feel I could contribute. But then I realized my local area is new to someone else, and all contributions are useful!”

Donna Harrison

 “Being a kayak guide, I am on the water a lot! As a Coastal Caretaker I have the opportunity to educate other kayakers I meet as to why we need to preserve our coastal environment. Visiting various marine campgrounds each year, I can see that people are really trying, and that makes me happy.”

Smiling man wearing a yellow and red life jacket on a boat, gray sea with distant mountains in the background.
Sailboat moored near a rocky shoreline with two people on board and a paddleboard floating nearby in calm blue water under a clear sky

Gwendal Castellan

“I grew up learning to sail, to windsurf and paddle at the Jericho Sailing Centre in Vancouver. A few years ago the idea of taking my young children with me to explore the BC coastline and BC Marine Trails was part of what inspired me to build a 19’6″ wooden sailboat designed by Iain Oughtred called a Caledonia yawl. With a centreboard and no balast it can be beached just like a kayak but has the benefit of being able to row and sail. I launched the boat in 2021 and since have been rewarded with the confirmation that small un powered craft leave you with a more intimate connection to the ocean, the coastline and the elements. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to a responsible stewardship of the community and the places we visit so that many generations to come will be be inspired by our foresight and care.”

Reale Emond

“I became a Coastal Caretaker because I find it a great way to educate others by example. Eventually, I look forward to seeing the whole world as Coastal Caretakers … (it may be a while before that goal is achieved). However, in the case of BC Marine Trails, we are a good, stable, and well defined organization which makes it very easy to get involved. It is a valid way of communicating and sharing our thoughts, knowledge and our love of our environment with other users. As a Coastal Caretaker, we have a vital role in gathering and dispersing data to other BCMT departments for assessments and further trail development or enhancement.”

Wayne Roberts

 “As small boaters, we share an intimate connection with our environment, making our advocacy crucial for the entire coastal community. We are drawn to the romantic notion of wilderness — this has been challenged, however, as we find evidence of traditional occupation everywhere we go. This inspires us to find new meaning in our relationship with nature and our engagement with all communities.”

Fred Pishalski

“I feel that those of us who use the coast have a responsibility to do what we can to ensure it stays as pristine as possible so that other paddlers and those behind us can have the best experience possible. This is some of the best cold water paddling on earth and and it needs to be preserved.”

John Halliday

“As a paddler who enjoys multi-day trips, I always take advantage of the work done by Coastal Caretakers on the site map for planning my adventures. And, as a Coastal Caretaker, I strive to keep the site information current by reporting conditions that I encounter.”

Susie Youle

“Being a Coastal Caretaker makes you feel as if in some small way you are able to make a difference. You are the voice of that campsite. When you leave it in pristine condition, you have set an example for others to follow. You have made a contribution to the well being of our coast.”

Karen Jensen

“As paddlers, exploring our rugged and diverse coastal environment integrates us within its ecosystem. It’s our responsibility to support its preservation through safe and responsible behaviour, and advocating for others to do the same.”

Andrew Godfrey

“I love the impact of being a Coastal Caretaker. It’s visible, immediate, and meaningful. Often we’re travelling to places that are super remote — there is so little data about some of these sites unless we provide it. It’s a unique opportunity to have an impact that wouldn’t have happened without you.”

Liz Leboe

“We loved coastal caretaking on West Ballenas because it is a place we would otherwise not get to stay. It also was very satisfying knowing that we were helping to make it a better place for future kayakers to land and visit: by fixing some things and submitting an up-to-date site report.”

Evelyn Hamilton

“I really enjoyed my time on Gerald Island identifying and mapping wildflowers & other native species. It is great to do something concrete to help protect these Garry oak meadows, which are habitat for rare species and need the attention provided by the Coastal Caretaker’s invasive species removal program.”