If you haven't already heard...

...March looks to be a happenin' month here at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre! We're kicking this month off with an Owl Prowl on Saturday the 3rd (spaces are still available and you can register until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2), followed quickly by a bilingual planetarium on Tuesday the 6th for Carnaval!

In fact, there are so many things happening here this month, I'm going to make it easy for you and list the rest of them below:

Sunday, March 11 Birdhouses with Bob (For kids ages 6 to 13 and a parent. Paid pre-registration is required.)

Also Sunday, March 11 Family Planetarium

Friday-Sunday, March 16-18 Rock & Gem Show (Come and learn some great things about rocks or add to your collection!)

Saturday, March 24 World Storytelling Day (Guest storytellers will be here!)

Sunday, March 25 Seedy Sunday (Learn about sustainable food production. Co-presented by ReThink Red Deer and it's affiliates.)

NEW!!!

The last Monday of the month is Monday Melodies, a musically-based social/ nature program for seniors. We have a public piano now; might as well put it to good use!

Of course, April and May are also packed with many fantastic events. If you would like more information about any of the events listed above, or what's coming up, click on the "What's New" link on our homepage, then hit the "Quarterly Programs Brochure PDF" link in the top left corner of the picture. Or, call the Kerry Wood Nature Centre at 403-346-2010 and our front desk staff and volunteers will be happy to help you.

Hope to see you this spring!

Purple Martin Homes

Friends of the Kerry Wood Nature Centre has great Purple Martin homes for sale;raising by a winch & pulley system, 8 0r 12 condo units, call 403 346 2010

Our new arrival

Here at the Nature Centre we're very happy to be able to introduce Red Deer's second public piano.

Our new (well, new to us) piano will be available for gallery openings, public events, and -- most importantly -- any of our visitors who would like to sit down and play.

If you're in our neighbourhood, why not drop by and show us what you've got? We think this should be a lot of fun, and are looking forward to seeing what you think as well!

Sustainable Commuting

We've written before, about Red Deer's amazing Waskasoo Park and its trail system. It's unique among urban parks in that the whole thing is interconnected by multi-use trails. In the summer the trails are heavily trafficked by walkers, runners, cyclists, long-boarders, and in-line skaters. In the winter the trails are taken over by cross-country skiers, early morning dog walkers and the odd (as in rare, not awkwardly different) bicycle commuter.

Winter bike commuting in Red Deer is not a difficult chore. The main arterial roads are kept reasonably free of snow and ice, side walks are wide enough to ride on when the roads are too dangerous - for example there has been lots of black ice this week - and if you're like me and lucky enough to have a North-South commute, the trails are plowed and packed to make winter riding a joy. Imagine that; while others are stuck in cold lanes of traffic, I get to have a little adventure each morning, on my bike, through the park.

On Monday this week, I attached a video camera to my bike helmet and recorded my commute in six parts. You can see them at my own personal blog - along with a running commentary here.

We are in the midst of a nearly perfect winter for bike commuting. The morning temperatures have rarely been below -12C and the afternoon temperatures have been above zero on a regular basis. While this isn't an ideal winter from nature's point of view, for those who want to try winter bicycle commuting, this is the best winter we've had for it in years. Give it a try. I've written two posts on winter bike commuting (you can find the posts under the commuting videos) that will tell you how to dress, how to prep your bike and how to survive a possible wipeout.

So, give it a try. Give yourself an extra few minutes, pack a backpack and ride your bike to work. You just may form a new habit.