Did the tipi encampment project work out? Were Chantale and Barret able to make the wood and ropes dance together? Are they still out on the prairie, tied in knots?
Yes, Yes, and No. The FortWhyte Alive tipi encampment is home to a new smoking frame/drying rack. We completed work on the new frame in about an hour - and the strong winds gave it a good test, even before work was done! Chantale had learned to use the knots I taught her - which probably says more about her learning skills than my teaching skills, but hey, I'm not going to over-analyze. I'm too proud of the resulting camp improvement to overthink the process.
We even started drying some crab-apples in the...sun? (It was sunny and windy when the apples were tied on yesterday - but today's rain was not great for drying anything). We're supposed to be back into sunshine tomorrow.
Which is good, because a hearth and other improvements to the encampment are waiting.
The tipi encampment is looking good, and will be looking even better soon.
-Barret
PS: Tomorrow's Outdoor Skills For Everyone is "Keeping Critters out of Camp - or, how to make every wildlife encounter a positive encounter." Learn to tree your food pack, what to do when confronted by an angry goose, and many other hands-on, useful tips for maximizing your outdoor experiences. 6 PM, free with admission to FW @ the Interpretive Centre. Call 989-8358 for details!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Tipi Encampment Enhancement
Super exciting morning here at FW!
My colleague Chantale and I are packing up to go and do some improvements around our tipi encampment.
Specifically, we're building a drying rack, meat smoker, and, if time and supplies allow, a hearth. We cut some poles on Friday, have a bunch of cordage at the ready, and are going to lash up some furnishings for the encampment.
This is a test of my skills as an outdoor skills instructor, as well as a living history project. On one level, as the guy here at FortWhyte who taught the knot-tying session of Outdoor Skills For Everyone last Wednesday, I had better be able to lash a basic structure together. On the next level, this is Chantale's first lashing project...ever. I started teaching her late last week.
Will the student surpass the teacher? Have the skills of ropework been successfully transmitted? We shall see in the next hour or so.
-Barret
My colleague Chantale and I are packing up to go and do some improvements around our tipi encampment.
Specifically, we're building a drying rack, meat smoker, and, if time and supplies allow, a hearth. We cut some poles on Friday, have a bunch of cordage at the ready, and are going to lash up some furnishings for the encampment.
This is a test of my skills as an outdoor skills instructor, as well as a living history project. On one level, as the guy here at FortWhyte who taught the knot-tying session of Outdoor Skills For Everyone last Wednesday, I had better be able to lash a basic structure together. On the next level, this is Chantale's first lashing project...ever. I started teaching her late last week.
Will the student surpass the teacher? Have the skills of ropework been successfully transmitted? We shall see in the next hour or so.
-Barret
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.
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
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.
.jpg) |
| - 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!
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
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
Monday, May 17, 2010
Welcome to the World, Baby Bison!
FRIDAY EVENING, FORTWHYTE ALIVE - about ten minutes after uploading my previous post, I was by the front desk here at FW. One of the front desk staff had contacted Ken, our Site Manager, about our close encounter with the bison in labour. Ken's advice: get back out to the paddock, because the mom would have the baby soon!
We did, and though we did not see the actual birth, we got to see a brand-new baby bison licked clean by it's mom, stand on its wobbly legs, fall down when it tried to lift three legs off the ground at once, and finally, gain the footing and confidence to follow its mother (and her milk!) across the pasture to join the herd.
This baby is number seven of the year. It's six "classmates" were playing with it (or, at least running and jumping with it) within about an hour of it's arrival.
I shouldn't need a big event like a bison birth to remind me that this thing we call Life on Earth is wonderful and exciting.
Just because I shouldn't need a reminder does not mean big, wonderful events shouldn't be appreciated!
I don't think those of us who saw the little animal stand, walk, or nurse for the first time will soon forget last Friday. That an animal so tiny and fragile could...work...and have the potential to grow into a creature as awe-inspiring as a bison...awesome.
Welcome, little bison.Continue to remind us of the wonder of Life, and our responsibility to you and the rest of the thing we call Life of Earth.
-Barret
We did, and though we did not see the actual birth, we got to see a brand-new baby bison licked clean by it's mom, stand on its wobbly legs, fall down when it tried to lift three legs off the ground at once, and finally, gain the footing and confidence to follow its mother (and her milk!) across the pasture to join the herd.
This baby is number seven of the year. It's six "classmates" were playing with it (or, at least running and jumping with it) within about an hour of it's arrival.
I shouldn't need a big event like a bison birth to remind me that this thing we call Life on Earth is wonderful and exciting.
Just because I shouldn't need a reminder does not mean big, wonderful events shouldn't be appreciated!
I don't think those of us who saw the little animal stand, walk, or nurse for the first time will soon forget last Friday. That an animal so tiny and fragile could...work...and have the potential to grow into a creature as awe-inspiring as a bison...awesome.
Welcome, little bison.Continue to remind us of the wonder of Life, and our responsibility to you and the rest of the thing we call Life of Earth.
-Barret
Friday, May 14, 2010
Birthing Bison!!!
It's been an exciting couple hours here at FortWhyte this afternoon!
The Bison Prairie is remarkably dry after our recent rains - dry enough to conduct a staff bison safari. Between camp, staff events, and public bison safaris, we only have about one hundred visitors see the herd up close and personal. Each tour, each viewing, is therefore special, unique, and exhilarating!
I had the honour of driving my colleagues into the paddock, and getting as close as was respectful, safe, and comfortable for the herd. Two jackrabbits bounced improbably spring-like away from the truck as we neared the bison. A red-tailed hawk swooped low overhead. Geese and goslings ran around the paddock, first investigating, then retreating from the truck. Life was buzzing around us.
Little did we realize we would see a new life enter the world!
As we approached the herd, one of our pregnant bison had her water break, and we could see she was having contractions. We watched as her belly changed shape, and she got ready to bring a new calf into the world!
We sat in awe and watched as the magnificent animal jumped, kicked, and squatted her way towards having the baby. We did decide to leave the new mother and calf alone for the final stages of birth (after all, the tour was about respect for the bison), but to see the preamble - and the exciting prospect of a new calf, gamboling about the pasture tomorrow - left everyone smiling. We go home tonight with a new experience, one not to be soon forgotten.
"Our" calf will be our herd's eighth of the season. By my estimation, we have another two or three on the way before calving is over.
It's supposed to be a beautiful, sunny weekend - perfect for looking for bison calves!
See you on the trail!
-Barret
I had the honour of driving my colleagues into the paddock, and getting as close as was respectful, safe, and comfortable for the herd. Two jackrabbits bounced improbably spring-like away from the truck as we neared the bison. A red-tailed hawk swooped low overhead. Geese and goslings ran around the paddock, first investigating, then retreating from the truck. Life was buzzing around us.
Little did we realize we would see a new life enter the world!
As we approached the herd, one of our pregnant bison had her water break, and we could see she was having contractions. We watched as her belly changed shape, and she got ready to bring a new calf into the world!
We sat in awe and watched as the magnificent animal jumped, kicked, and squatted her way towards having the baby. We did decide to leave the new mother and calf alone for the final stages of birth (after all, the tour was about respect for the bison), but to see the preamble - and the exciting prospect of a new calf, gamboling about the pasture tomorrow - left everyone smiling. We go home tonight with a new experience, one not to be soon forgotten.
"Our" calf will be our herd's eighth of the season. By my estimation, we have another two or three on the way before calving is over.
It's supposed to be a beautiful, sunny weekend - perfect for looking for bison calves!
See you on the trail!
-Barret
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
