Contact – Steve Schiller
(780) 954-3708
General - Introduction
The Initiative: To acquaint our youth with the fascinating world of geology and gold prospecting, which offers not only an opportunity to fully appreciate the need for continued mining but also to learn environmental stewardship, while they hone their skill in the fundamentals for recovering gold and other precious metals from river gravels, beaches and benches along a watercourse. Through hands-on experience, our youth might then discover and appreciate the importance and continuing role the prospector plays in finding new metal and mineral deposits, so vital to today’s world. For those who do not pursue further studies in this fascinating field, the experience will have implanted a fond and ever-lasting mark in their childhood memories.
Children ‘are not permitted’ to pan outside the designated ‘Children-Only’ zone.
‘KEEP WHAT YOU FIND’
Note: PAN, SHOVEL, CLASSIFIER AND BUCKET are the ‘only’ equipment permitted on this site, and, panning is only permitted through a written agreement by the tenure owner or, his Agent or representative. No detectors, sluices or any other form of recovery devices permitted. Individuals are required to bring their own equipment.
Attending adults are ‘not’ permitted to partake in any gold panning activity whatsoever, beyond an initial ‘how to’ demonstration for aiding the child or children’s group.
The tenure owner, at his own discretion and at any time, reserves the right to revise these Regulations, Conditions or other consideration, and may, at his sole discretion, terminate the program.
No person shall enter upon this tenure for purpose of engaging in any form of gold panning or other mineral recovery activity, without the explicit written consent of the tenure owner or its Agent or other designated representative. Though this area is open to the public as a camping site, any person found on this tenure with panning or prospecting gear not secured ‘within’ their vehicle, will be construed to be in violation and subject to legal recourse. All violators ‘will’ be prosecuted under Section 9 (2) of the Mineral Tenure Act of the Province of British Columbia, and if removing any mineral from within the tenure area, for Theft under the Criminal Code of Canada. This designated portion of the tenure is intended as primarily a controlled Children’s Only Gold Panning Reserve. There will be ‘no exceptions’ to this ruling.
Pre-Authorization Required
WRITTEN PERMISSION IS REQUIRED prior to an activity on the Whistle Creek Panning Reserve. For consent to perform a panning activity, each group or family-unit is required to firstly register with the tenure owner or its authorized Agent. The names of all attending parties, including the children’s, must be entered on the Permit.
For Permitting Please Contact – Steve Schiller - (780) 954-3708 – fbroker@telus.net
Each ‘Panning Permit’ shall be valid for only the date or dates entered there upon.
Registered guests are not permitted to invite or otherwise include in their party, non-registered guests.
Children’s Panning Regulations
All children partaking in gold panning activities may do so Free of Charge.
There are no restrictions which limit the number of days registered individuals may enjoy this Gold Panning Reserve, provided those dates are endorsed on the Panning Agreement.
A child panner is defined as any registered youthful guest who is under the age of 14 years and accompanied (chaperoned) by an adult responsible for him or her, whether the child is a member of an organized group or a member of a family unit.
At all times all chaperones must remain within 7 metres (21 feet) of the child or children under their charge.
All toddlers playing around water frontage must be closely monitored by an adult at all times. An adult tending to toddlers, is not permitted to also chaperone children engaging in a panning activity, at the same time.
A ‘Chaperone’ is defined as, any responsible adult person over the age of 20 years, who is either the parent, guardian or acting custodian of an attending child or group of children under his or her charge, and if other than the legal parent or guardian, or Court appointed custodian, had previously obtained parental or guardian consent, enabling such child or children to partake in the panning activity.
A minimum of one chaperone is required for every four children.
Chaperones must be wholly attentive to ‘all’ children under their charge, at all times. If the chaperone leaves the immediate area of the panning activity, so must the children. No child shall be left unattended at or near the waterfront, nor is permitted to return to the waterfront in the absence of their chaperone.
A child panner ‘Shall Not’ be permitted to enter into the main stream flow of water in the river, nor into water deeper than 35 centimetres (14 inches), and only in areas where there exists no concerning force or current.
At minimum, one chaperone in the group or other person in attendance, must possess sufficient First Aid knowledge so as to respond to an emergency situation should one arise.
Each Group Leader or other person in charge of a child or children, must ensure that a First-Aid Kit is present with the group, or attendees.
It is preferred that at least one chaperone in the group carry with him or her, a usable cell phone, in case an emergency arises. It should be noted, Princeton, lying 20 minutes to the west, is the closest centre with medical facilities. Penticton, the next closest with adequate medical facilities lies approximately 45 minutes to the northeast, via Keremeous to Hwy 3A, thence Hwy 97 north.
Following An Activity
Each Group Leader in charge of a child or children panning on the site, and each individual adult engaging in a panning activity himself/herself, is required to file with GPEX, within 14 days following attendance, a brief written report of the activity, outlining: (a) their name, postal address and contact telephone number; (b) the panning date/s and duration of the attendance; (c) the number of children and adults under their charge, including, each child’s first name and last name initial; (d) an estimate of the volume of ore (gravel/earth) matter processed; (e) an approximation of the amount of precious metal recovered (a photo of any gold, gold with black sand, or other mineral recovered, would be appreciated); and (f) such report must include (in their own words and preferably written by them) each child’s comments on their gold panning adventure.
LEGAL
All persons entering upon the Whistle Creek Panning Reserve and engaging in a panning activity, accepts full responsibility and liability for the child or children under their charge, and for themselves, and by virtue thereof, holds Steve Schiller, his associates, heirs, successors, assigns and other legal representatives, harmless and free from any and all claims for any loss, loss of life, injury or property damage incurred, regardless of nature.
 Whistle Creek Panning Reserve |
Whistle Creek Kid’s Panning Reserve |
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