|
Nature Central's Past Event Highlights
Educational events and activities |
|
SATURDAY, MARCH 11 - Lockerby Snowshoe Trip
Had a fun Saturday snowshoeing near Pinelake. It was a beautiful blue bird day with perfect temperatures. We didn't end up exploring Lockerby, but instead explored a new section of land in the area with the permission of the landowner. Photos to be uploaded soon! SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
What an amazing event to wrap up our summer programming! The Youth-focused and Family Friendly Junior Biologist for a Day educational event was attended by approximately 50 participants of all ages. Young biology fans gained first-hand experience through a series of active learning stations including a Pond Dip, Owl Pellet Dissection, and demonstration of Horns, Antlers, and Skulls. Thank you to all that participated and the station leaders: Myrna Pearman, Claudia Lipski, Tim Schowalter, Gabriela Ibarguchi, Graeme Gissing, and Caitlyn Howard. Special thanks to DNA Gardens for hosting this great event. |
|
|
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21
What an amazing Morning Nature Paddle we all had on Magee Lake. This was a Family Friendly event and we were thrilled to have nearly 30 paddlers participate with 15 boats on the water. Special thanks to David Delafield (Assistant Professor of Outdoor Leadership - Burman University) who did an incredible job leading this adventure and provided fascinating information throughout the journey. Thank you to all that participated in this wonderful event. |
|
|
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
When fire swept through the Kinvig Natural Area earlier this year, who knew that it would bounce back in such a magnificent way. We would like to thank Eileen Ford and Maureen Carey for providing an outstanding guided tour to experience Revival After Fire first hand. This nature walk was definitely one of the highlights of Nature Central and the Red deer River Naturalists summer programming. Thank you to those that made the journey out to the Kinvig Natural Area to experience this engaging and highly educational event. |
|
|
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27
A dozen nature and kayak/canoe enthusiasts participated in the Nature Central Lacombe Lake paddle on the evening of July 27th. The event started with a short presentation by Anto Davis, who is actively involved in the Lacombe Lake Watershed Stewardship Society. She described how this volunteer group assists with water and aquatic plant monitoring of Lacombe Lake, and described their recent efforts--lobbying to ensure that water from Whelp Creek (which is susceptible to agricultural runoff) is not diverted into the lake and raising concerns that a major stormwater project in Blackfalds has the potential to allow runoff to reach the lake in flood conditions. The group then paddled the lake, enjoying a picture-perfect evening and brilliant sunset. Wildlife highlights included watching Black Terns and Forster's Terns fly overhead, enjoying Red-Necked Grebes feeding their young along the water's edge, and the frequent serenading by Common Loons. |
|
|
SUNDAY, JULY 24
Over a dozen people joined biologist Charity Briere (Instructor, Biology - Red Deer Polytechnic) on for a guided afternoon "Pollinator Walk" on Saturday, July 24, at Barrett park in Red Deer to learn all about bees and other pollinating insects. In addition to catching (and releasing) several different insect species, Charity covered a wide variety of topics, including how we can support native insects (especially native bees) in our yards and gardens. Thank you to those that attended, and to Charity for leading such a fascinating, informative, and highly educational outing! |
|
|
SATURDAY, JULY 16
Nine enthusiastic participants joined Nature Central for the first "Wetland Critter Caper" of the season at Kuhnen Park. Hosted by Environmental Educators Joey Temple and Janessa Matthew, participants got a first-hand look at the little critters that live and thrive in healthy wetland ecosystems. It is always such a pleasure to see the next generation of nature enthusiasts participate in these events. Thank you to all of those that attended and to Joey and Janessa for making the Pond Dip such a fun and educational event! |
|
|
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13
What an amazing evening! The Red Deer River Naturalists / Nature Central helped celebrate Nature Alberta’s Family Nature Night on July 13th at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre in Red Deer, Alberta. Fifty attendees learned all about Incredible Ecosystems by taking guided tours of the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, investigating the difference between antlers and horns (and herbivores and carnivores) with the Red Deer River Naturalists, and got to meet a live Great Horned Owl with the Medicine River Wildlife Centre. We were thrilled to participate in this wonderful event and highly recommend it for next year as a great family fun and educational event. Photo credits: Abigail Stosky-Rahman and Stephanie Weizenbach
|
|
|
SATURDAY, JULY 9
Nine participants joined Nature Central / Red Deer River Naturalists for a fascinating “Parasite Walk” where we learned all about parasitic relationships in nature. One of the main discoveries was that parasites are everywhere in nature! Special thanks to Anne Dempsey (Instructor, Biology - Red Deer Polytechnic) who really brought the amazing variety of parasites to life by pointing out many example throughout the walk. Just to mention a few: black knot fungus, spittle bugs, and rose galls. Join us next year as this is definitely a Nature Walk you should attend. |
|
|
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
We kicked off the 2022 event calendar with a wonderful interpretive Nature Walk at the Nova Community Nature Trail with 8 enthusiastic participants. Created in 2015, this nature trail winds through a variety of early successional forest and wetland habitats. An excellent example of a wetland ecosystem that is bouncing back and, once again, providing all the ecosystem services that healthy wetlands do such as cleaning and purifying water, flood mitigation, and providing wildlife habitat. Well worth a visit for a trail walk of up to 4 km. Thanks to all of those that attended!     |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
