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By Corinne Fitzherbert

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Not only did they “Watch their Paws” but students from Donald Fraser Memorial School had to wash their paws so they could enjoy a pizza party prize from CPAWS or the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society recently. The Plaster Rock School was announced as the winner of the “Watch Your Paws Club” challenge held by the NB chapter of the organization.

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Corinne Fitzherbert photo

Roberta Clowater, right, executive director of the New Brunswick chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), was at Donald Fraser Memorial School on June 19 to host a pizza party for four Grade 3, 4 and 5 classes that won the CPAWS Watch Your Paws Club contest. The classes submitted posters, dioramas and brochures promoting environmentally friendly recreation. Some of the students enjoying the party were, front to back, Avery Sprague, David King and Adam Tomlinson.

The challenge saw classes undertake stewardship activities such as raising awareness in the school or community on the need for environmentally friendly recreation in nature.

“We were really impressed with the content of the Watch Your Paws submissions this year,” Roberta Clowater, executive director of CPAWS NB said. “Hundreds of elementary students from around the province submitted posters, plays, brochures and dioramas to show how much they appreciate natural areas and the ways they make sure that their actions help conserve those special habitats and wildlife.”

Grade three, four and five classes at DFMS sent in their examples of stewardship activities and also submitted videos showing more than 80 students presenting their action ideas to other students and teachers, Clowater said.

Sarah MacMillan, one of the program’s conservation educators from project partner Cogent Consortium, took the Watch Your Paws presentations and activities to more than 1,200 students this year.

“We were so excited to have received the creative and inspiring submissions from all of the students,” MacMillan said.

Honorable mentions were awarded to Grade 3-5 classes at Aroostook Elementary School, Grade 3 and 4 students at Millidgeville North School and Grade 3 and 4 students at Salem Elementary School in Sackville.

“We want to thank all of the children who entered the contest for showing us what an impressive group of future community leaders we have in our schools,” Clowater added.

The pizza party was held for four classes at DFMS on June 19. The empty boxes quickly piled up as the students displayed their appetite for pizza as well as environmentally friendly recreation.

CPAWS established the Watch Your Paws Club to encourage responsible interaction with nature and to recognize the role of children in helping with wildlife and wilderness conservation.

The challenge was made possible with the help of the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund and the Shell Environmental Fund.

A selection of submissions from all of the schools will be posted on the CPAWS NB website at www.cpawsnb.org.