Habitat Improvement Team

Since 1997 Whistler Blackcomb’s Habitat Improvement Team (aka HIT) has taken action to protect, restore, and enhance Fish and Wildlife habitat in the Whistler area. 109 projects have been completed to date.

HIT meets bi-weekly on Tuesday evenings from June until September. The health of the environment is a core concern of Whistler locals and Whistler Blackcomb staff – everyone is invited to get involved with HIT. It’s not glamour work – more like an environmental boot camp. However it is a means of immediately making a difference. Although most of our projects are small the net effect of HIT’s efforts is very noticeable in the Whistler valley. We are grateful to the many locals who have worked with us through the years

What’s new this year?

Voluntourism: We are inviting our guests via our Facebook – Hotels and Tourism Whistler to join in. HIT will provide a truly authentic experience for visitors as they participate in the work and meet locals.

Larger Projects – Ancient Cedars:
We will spend several nights on one project this year. The Ancient Cedars project will require several nights in partnership efforts with Whistler Rotary and the Whistler Community Forest to restore the area as a first class nature based experience.

This year’s projects include…

June 12 –  Planting with the Whistler Fish Stewardship group

• Riparian – riparian wetlands open meadow planting at Baily Park in Cheakamus Crossing.
• Planting 550 plants that will enhance habitat for song birds, Red Tailed Frogs, Coastal Mountain Black Tailed Deer

June 26 – Combination project

• Two teams ;
1. Planting for Bear Habitat Enhancement with the Whistler Black bear working group.
2. Trail maintenance and material transport into the Ancient cedars   

July 10 – Ancient cedars

• Clear and realign trail in the Ancient Cedars Grove
• Place new interpretive signs at trailhead, trail, and Ancient Cedars

July 24 – Romanian Aid

• (Habitat for Humanity project) HIT does one social project per year.
• Continue on our clothing packaging for Mountain Communities of Romania
• To date over 30,000 large winter clothing items have been sent.
• Clothing has also been sent to Nepal, Kashmiri and Chile

Aug 7 – Trail project – Blueberry Hill

• Minor realignments and water bars to eliminate the erosion issues of this well used local trail.  

August 21 – In stream Fisheries Habitat Enhancement with the Whistler Fish Stewardship Group

• Shaping and increasing fish spawning beds in both Crabapple and Gondolas Creeks  

Sept 4 – Trail maintenance BC Parks

• Trail maintenance with BC Parks in Singing Pass
• HIT contributes one session per year in the maintenance of the Lower Singing Pass trail.
• Most of the work involves improving drainage and cutting back overgrowth.

For more information please contact Arthur De Jong at 604.938.7080.