Solar Power Can Be Fun

Ahousat and Hesquiaht students take a break after playing with solar-powered trucks at the Tofino Botanical Gardens Wednesday. (Keven Drews Photo)

By Keven Drews

The sun can power toys – even remote controlled trucks.

Students from Ahousat and Hesquiaht learned that hands-on renewable energy lesson during the first annual Ahousat-Hesquiaht Sustainability Camp at the Tofino Botanical Gardens Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re basically showing the kids, physically, the sun is energy and it’s possible to use the energy,” said John Platenius, program director for the Tofino Botanical Gardens Foundation. “It’s an introduction to renewable energy.”

The short afternoon lesson began with a brief description on how solar panels, inverters, chargers and batteries work.

Then the fun began.

Platenius took batteries, previously charged with solar power, plugged them into two remote-controlled trucks, and the students were off to the races.

Jaylynn Lucas, 11, of Hesquiaht, said the races were fun and she learned a valuable lesson.

“The sun and batteries can go together,” she said.

Gabriele Campbell, 11, of Ahousat, agreed.

“It’s fun,” he said, adding solar power could be used in Ahousat.

Platenius said the Tofino Botanical Gardens Foundation recently received renewable-energy equipment worth some $2,000, including an $800 solar panel.

The sustainability camp, one of two, was funded by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, the Clayoquot Forest Communities Program and Uu-a-thluk.