Thursday, July 29, 2010

Snapshots of the last week

It's been a warm week here at FortWhyte Alive.  Good weather means more visitors - and more visitors means more adventures happen!

Last week, during a "Rent-a-Naturalist" program, I did an edible wilds walk.  The idea behind Rent-a-Naturalist: for $15, a group of up to six visitors can hire one of our interpretive staff to do the program (hike, talk, tour, paddle, etc.) the group has always dreamed of!  One gentleman in my group had a keen interest in wild edible plants - so we did a customized walkabout, nibbling as we went.  Though no wild fruit is ripe yet, we found no less than ten tasty wild edibles within twenty metres of the Interpretive Centre.

Loyal followers of the blog know that though I appreciate the aspirin content of willow-bark tea, I'm not a fan of the crushed-aspirin-in-brine flavour...my guest's suggestion:  mix the tea with tomato juice to hide the taste.  I've not yet tried the idea, but it seems like a good one!

This was all happening at the same time my colleagues Dana and Melanie were busy leading a fishing experience for Grandparents and Grandkids.  The fishing line might have only been five-pound-test line, but the memories the participants walked away with are strong enough to last forever...it was great fun to watch that group as we foraged through the forest.

- A fisher, not unlike FortWhyte's!

Just in case you think the action ends with the Education Team, our accountant saw our resident fisher later in the day as she biked home.  We normally see fisher tracks in the winter, but this summer, we've had reports from all over the property, about one a week.  You can go for a lifetime in the forests of Manitoba and rarely, if ever, see a fisher...understandably, we're thrilled to have people seeing them!

We had Bison Safaris on Sunday, I had the thrill of making botany come alive to a group of older adults yesterday, and summer camp is in full swing....whew!

FortWhyte really has been alive these past few days.  Sometimes, I wonder if it sleeps!

-Barret

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Go Fish - Jacks are Wild!

The fishing on Lake 3 (south of the Interpretive Centre) seems to be getting hotter faster than a July morning!

We've had AT LEAST six northern pike (aka, Jackfish, hence the snappy title of this post!) caught in the past 18 hours.

The fishing at FortWhyte can be hit and miss - this is true of fishing anywhere - but six jack in less than two days has not happened in a few years.

The best part: one angler caught three of the fish.  It works out to one fish for every thirty years of life experience for this fellow, who was nearly 90 years old!

Also of note today...wild mint is EVERYWHERE!  We had an afternoon tea in the Biodiversity Garden on Monday afternoon; I must have made at least six litres of wild mint tea.  I followed up my tea-making on Tuesday, when a fellow stopped by for a "Rent-a-Naturalist" wild edibles walk...

...but that's a story for tomorrow!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Outdoor Skills For Everyone

Hello!

We at FortWhyte Alive are pleased to announce a new program: Outdoor Skills For Everyone!

Every Wednesday evening, from now until August 25th, we are offering sessions on how to maximize your enjoyment of any outdoor activity, through sharpening the basics of living alongside nature.

These sessions are geared for anyone with an interest in outdoor activities: paddlers, campers, cyclists, cottagers, fishers...the list goes on!  My colleague Dana and I are running the program in alternating weeks.  The sessions are designed to meet people at whatever skill and experience level they are at, from just discovering outdoor skills to seasoned outdoorspeople.  They are hands-on, and full of fun things to try!  Each session is free with admission - you'll get to practice the skills being taught, and get a nifty newsletter with more information on that evening's topic.

The sessions run from 6-7:30pm on Wednesdays.  Just like the title says, these sessions are for everyone!  Bring yourself, your family, your friends and neighbours - the more the merrier.

Please see the list of topics below. The sessions are designed so you can come for as many, or few, as you would like - each week is self-contained.

See you Wednesday!

Outdoor Skills For Everyone 2010

July 14 Safe Drinking Water Anywhere - keep you and your friends and family healthy and hydrated!

July 21 An Ounce of Prevention - believe it or not, the same basic gear will help in any outdoor adventure.  Find out how to be prepared for anything, anywhere, anytime!

July 28 Beyond the Hot Dog: Cooking Outdoors - fancy salad, gourmet soup, stir-fry over rice pilaf, with banana-toffee pie for dessert...anywhere your adventures take you!  Find out how during this session.

August 4 How to Poop in the Woods: Responsible Waste Management - keep yourself and your favourite wilderness places as healthy as can be!  A vital, yet often overlooked, outdoor skill.

August 11 Don't Tie Lots - Learn Some Knots - with a few simple twists of a rope, you can build shelters, repair gear, maybe even save a life.  Knots can be tricky; our instructor will make them easy to understand.

August 18 Keeping Critters Out Of Camp - many people go into the wilderness to see wildlife; most people do not appreciate it when the wildlife comes to them, and eats their food.  Learn how to make every wildlife encounter a positive one for you and our furry, finned, and feathers friends!

August 25 Land Navigation - you are already a navigator, whether you know it or not.  Come out and tap in to your natural skills - always know where you are and where you're going!

-Barret
 
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