July 15, 2026
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The Lake Huron Coastal Centre's youth corps was back in Kincardine for the third year in a row to learn about the coastal environment.
For three days earlier this month, 12 high-school-aged volunteers learned about plastic pollution, coastal processes, and shoreline ecology. They used what they learned to protect the Lake Huron shoreline and develop their own knowledge and skills.
The youth started off the program with a shoreline clean-up on Station Beach, Kincardine, removing trash, big and small – from microplastics to a degrading beach chair. For many, this was their first time learning about nurdles, which are pre-production plastic pellets, the building blocks of all plastic products. Youth found hundreds of these microplastics along Station Beach, and many were inspired to spread the word on microplastic pollution to their families and friends.
Youth assist with clean-up at Station Beach, Kincardine
Day two of the program began in Inverhuron where participants learned about the rarity and fragility of sand-dune eco-systems, which make up only two per cent of the Lake Huron shoreline. The youth learned how to identify plants, monitor for species diversity in the dunes, and removed invasive species.
Day three took the youth corps back to Station Beach, where the participants began their final project of the program – restoring a section of the dunes. They planted native foredune vegetation to trap sand and encourage development of a new sand dune. They then installed a sand fence to trap additional sand, and used driftwood to indicate where to avoid stepping. Keep an eye out for this restoration site on the south side of the piers at Station Beach!
A group of young people work with the Lake Huron Coastal Centre as part of the youth corps, in Kincardine
The program culminated with a visit from Kincardine mayor Kenneth Craig and councillor Rory Cavanagh, who engaged in a discussion with youth about great ideas on ways to protect the Lake Huron shoreline within the Municipality of Kincardine.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support and encouragement we've received from the Kincardine community and the Municipality of Kincardine," said Alyssa Bourassa, executive director of the coastal centre. "It was wonderful to have municipal staff, the mayor, and council take the time to hear directly from our youth. Together, we're inspiring the next generation of Kincardine stewards.”
Youth work on the dunes at Station Beach, Kincardine
You, too, can take action to protect the Lake Huron shoreline! Join the coastal centre’s beach clean-up, Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to Noon, at Station Beach. This is an opportunity for all community members to make a difference in Kincardine. Learn more and register now at lakehuron.ca/beachcleanup.
Appreciation goes to Bruce Power and the Municipality of Kincardine sponsoring the youth corps program.
This program is offered by the coastal centre, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the Lake Huron shoreline through education, restoration and research. Learn more at www.lakehuron.ca and keep in touch on social media, using @coastalcentre on Facebook and Instagram.
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