Coming up in January

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour may have sold out, but there are still plenty of things going on in around around the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. Here are some highlights:

• There's still just time to sign up for our Youth Survival/Leave No Trace workshop on Saturday the 9th. Registration closes on Thursday the 7th for this fun and informative look at winter camping for youths ages 11 - 15.
• Learn about the winter sky with Family Planetarium on Sunday the 10th. $3 person/$10 family. Show starts at 1 pm.
• Kids 5 years and under and their caregivers can learn about nature through songs, hands-on exploration, and interactive walks on Earth Play Saturday, January 16th. Things start at 10:30 am; $5 per couple/ $10 family of five.
• Learn to repurpose sweaters with our Fantastic Felt Workshop on Sunday, January 23rd. Preregistration is required by January 21. 1 - 4 pm; $15 + GST members/ $17 + GST non-members. All materials are provided.
• Feel like just getting out for a stroll? Come down For Random Snowshoeing on the 17th and the 30th. 1 - 4 pm; $3 person/$10 family. Dress for the weather, and please no high heels on boots.

Have questions about our events or workshops? Call us at 403-346-2010, drop us an e-mail at general@waskasoopark.ca, or as us on Twitter (@NatureCentre) or Facebook!

Quick quiz

 I went out with the camera for a little while at noon, and I thought that it might be a good opportunity to see what our visitors know about the park. So, here's the first question: Where in the Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary would you find this, and what caused it?

For anyone who's not sure, here's a pretty big clue:

I'll leave it to you to guess what did the chewing, though. Next question: Which of the following plants will we be discussing during my next Edible Plant Walk?

 (Ok, honestly? I took this photo more for the leaf gall than the plant. But bonus points if you can tell me what made the gall.)

And what are the answers? Well, if you think you know feel free to comment below, or you can answer on Twitter @NatureCentre.

Oh, and if you're interested in the plant walk, we'll be going out at 1 pm on July 28, 2013. Admission is by suggested donation of $3/person or $10/family. I look forward to seeing you there!

An extremely lucky salamander

This very small (you can see the curve of the ice cream bucket it's in, to give a sense of scale) Tiger Salamander was found by City workers in a dirt pile that was shortly to be moved by a Bobcat. Amazing that it was seen at all, since it was pretty well camouflaged in the mud.

We'll be releasing this little one in the Sanctuary, but if you'd like to know more about Tiger Salamanders come down to the Nature Centre and visit Boris, Natasha, and Lucky.

Yep. We've had two lucky-to-be-alive salamanders brought to the Nature Centre in the past couple of years. They sometimes don't pick the best places to hang out.

If you're thinking of a Canada Day long weekend visit, our hours will be 10 - 8 on Saturday, 10 - 5 on Sunday, and 1 - 8 on Monday. And if you'd like to join me on Monday, I'll be leading an edible plant walk at 1 pm. Phone us at 403-346-2010 for details.

And, um, bring bug spray. The mosquitoes are pretty persistent at the moment.

Nice day for a walk

It's ironic, given that title, that I haven't had time to get out of the office today. Yesterday, though, I went out for a while to see if I could find spring. These photos won't look especially springy considering all the snow that's still out there, but the melted-out tracks show that it's coming.

I caught a glimpse of one of last year's Red-wing Blackbird nests amongst the cattails on the West Gaetz Lake. It seems hard to believe, but it won't be too long before the blackbirds are back at our feeders.

The Nature Nursery kids were having some fun playing on the snow pile beside our staff parking lot.

If you look closely at the centre of this shot, you'll see the hole in the lake ice amidst the tracks.

When there are lots of Waxwings around the trees almost look decorated. How many can you find in this picture? I see four, but there may be more than that.

This isn't a Sanctuary photo (obviously), but it is a reminder that it's worth looking up at night even in the city. Last night from my balcony I was able to find the constellations Orion (to the left, with the line of three stars for his belt) and Taurus (the v-shaped Hyades cluster as the bull's head, the two "horn" stars above, and to the far right the Pleiades cluster that makes the bull's shoulder). The bright "star" above the Hyades -- the brightest thing in the shot -- is actually the planet Jupiter. This was taken after 9:30 pm looking WSW. Why not try having a look for yourself on our next clear night?

Our next Family Planetarium show isn't until April 14th, but if you're looking for some fun before then don't forget about our Easter Spring Fling on (oddly enough) Easter Sunday. There are crafts, activities, prizes and a nature egg hunt. It goes from 1 - 4 pm on March 31. Give us a call at 403-346-2010 for more information.

International Visitors

As I sit here at 10:30 pm on a Wednesday night, I happened to look at the Live Traffic Feed widget on the left hand side of the screen. In the last day we've had visitors from Seoul, South Korea and Surabaya, Indonesia.

So, for those of you just getting up on the other side of the world. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you learned something. I noticed that you were both looking for information on screw-pilings, of the type we used to anchor the viewing deck and boardwalk. I also noticed that you both took the time to read (thanks Google Analytics)  the blog post that had the link to the picture of the screw-piling driver.

We are tremendously proud of the two projects that made use of this eco-friendly technology. If you'd like to discuss it with us, feel free to email us at general@waskasoopark.ca. We'd be happy to talk to you.

For the rest of our international, Canada-wide, and local blog readers, keep coming back to the blog. We've always got a story to tell, information to share, and questions to ask and answer.

Watch this space, as well as our Facebook and Twitter. There is some really cool stuff coming up. Starting with our Family Day event featuring the return of... Peter Puffin!!! This Juno-award winning singer/songwriter is a longtime friend of the Nature Centre. Peter brings great nature-based family entertainment. His signature songs feature the plants, animals, and process that make the world go 'round. With props and costumes for his younger audience members, Peter ensures that there is something for people of all ages. If you want a truly family-friendly Family Day event, the Nature Centre is the place to be!

Our thanks to The City of Red Deer for helping to fund this free-to-you community event.

For more information on Family Day or any of our upcoming programs and events, please don't hesitate to call us at the Nature Centre, 403-346-2010.

Snow in the Sanctuary

We've been a lot busier with Twitter than the blog lately (you can follow us at @NatureCentre), but today I thought I'd take a quick walk on the Dr George Trail to see what I could find after our recent snowfall.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm most definitely not a fan of snow or cold, but there's no denying that a covering of snow can give an interesting insight into what's sharing the trails with our human visitors. As always, click on the photos to see larger versions:

Our deer population likes to sneak snacks from the bird feeders when no one's watching.

Deer tracks down the sides of the path; humans down the middle.

Red squirrels tend to use the same runs over and over as they go from tree to tree.

I found moose tracks down the trail to the bird blind.

If you keep your eyes open, you may even see bird tracks in the snow.

Here's a track I'd sooner not see. Please remember, everyone, that dogs aren't allowed in the Sanctuary. There are plenty of other great places in Waskasoo Park to go walking with your dogs, but in the Sanctuary the wildlife should always come first.

I hope you'll take a moment in the next day or two to see what other tracks you can find. In the meantime, Halloween is coming quickly, and Kathryn has some fantastic things planned for our Family Drop-in Halloween on Saturday, October 27. It runs from 6 - 8 pm, and admission is $3/person or $10/family. Dress up, and come explore the spookier side of nature. Call us at 403-346-2010 for more information.

Holiday Hours

Di you know that Christmas Day is the only day all year that Kerry Wood Nature Centre closes? It's true. Here are our hours for the holiday season:

Dec 24th: 10:00 - 5:00
Dec 25th: Closed. Merry Christmas!
Dec 26th: 1:00 - 5:00
Dec 27th: 1:00 - 5:00
Dec 28th - 31st: 10:00 - 5:00
Jan 1st: 1:00 - 5:00
Jan 2nd: 1:00 - 5:00

And don't forget... if you're looking for a fun way to burn off some of those holiday calories, come down and join us for an afternoon of snowshoeing on December 31st. Call 403-346-2010 for details.

Kids' Bird Feeding

Kids’ Bird Feeding Program:
Place: Kerry Wood Nature Centre
6300 45 Ave,  Red Deer
Sunday, November 20, 2011 2:00 pm

Bring your children aged 6 to 13 to the Nature Centre for this hands-on program. We’ll look at and identify winter birds and learn what and how to feed them. Kids will construct a bird feeder and be given bird feed to take home. The seed and the feeder have a retail value of $14.95.

The program cost is $7.00 per child for Friends of the KWNC members and $8.00 for non-members. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

To register call the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, 6300 45 Ave, Red Deer, telephone 403-346-2010.
Please register by 4:00 pm November 15, 2011.

For information call Bob at 403-346-2010 ext 103

A quick note about Sunday's edible plant walk

For anyone wondering, my edible plant walk on Sunday, July 24th will be going ahead as planned. As of today the weather forecast for Sunday looks good, so we should have a decent day for walking.

Here comes the "however", though:

However, the recent rains we've had have flooded out a few parts of the trails we'll be using. It's not impassible, but if you're planning to come down I'd recommend wearing suitable shoes for wading.

The walk goes at 2 pm down here at the Nature Centre. Admission is by suggested donation of $3/person or $10/family.

I hope to see you there!

Canada Day weekend in the park

If you're looking for something a little different to do for the long weekend, why not join us out at Fort Normandeau for a Family Sleepover? The sleepover goes from 5 pm Saturday (July 2nd) to 12 pm Sunday, and meals will be provided. Bring your tent, and we'll bring the activities, games, and campfire. The cost is $35 + GST per family. Please preregister by 7:30 pm on Thursday, June 30th.

If you'd like something that isn't overnight, join me at the the Fort on Sunday, July 3rd for an edible plant walk. We'll be talking about some of the historical and modern uses of our native plants, plus I'll point out a few useful weeds that might be helpful on your summer camping trips. We'll be starting at 2 pm. The cost is by recommended donation of $3/person or $10/family.

For more information on this or any of our other upcoming summer events, give us a call at 403-346-2010.

It's That Time of the Year Again

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is coming back to Red Deer. January 13 & 14, 2011.

Tickets are $20 +GST per night or $36 + GST for both nights. This is the Nature Centre's biggest fundraiser of the year. Get you tickets early for the best mountain-nature, mountain-culture and mountain-sport films from around the world.

Many thanks to our local sponsors - who are selling tickets at their shops: Valhalla Pure Outfitters and Purearth Organics.

Here's a taste of this year's show. Turn your speakers up to eleven!

Christmas at the Nature Centre

Just a reminder to anyone looking for something a little different for Christmas gifts this year that tickets for the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour (January 13th & 14th at the Memorial Centre) are now available at the Nature Centre, Valhalla Pure Outfitters, or Purearth Organics. Tickets are $20+GST for each night, or $36+GST for both nights.

As well, the Nature Centre Bookstore is a great source of local nature books, bird feeders and seed, and a wide array of unusual stocking stuffers. Looking for planispheres? Pocket Naturalist Guides? Chocolate-covered Insects? We've got them here!

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If you're looking for Christmas/winter activities, consider participating in the Christmas Bird Count on December 19th. Potluck supper to follow at the Nature Centre. Please call the Red Deer River Naturalists at 403-347-8200 for more information.

For some old-fashioned Christmas fun, come out to Fort Normandeau and join us for Christmas at the Fort (Sunday, December 19th from 1 - 4 pm). There'll be snowshoeing, crafts, activities and a bonfire. It's a great afternoon of fun with the family. $3/person or $10/family at the gate.

For more information on any of our winter programming, please call us at 403-346-2010.

Build a bird feeder

The Friends of the Kerry Wood Nature Centre is offering a Children's Winter Bird Feeding Program on Sunday, November 28th at 2:00 pm. Bring your children aged 6 - 13 down for this hands-on program. They'll get a chance to identify winter birds and learn what and how to feed them. Participants will construct a bird feeder and be given seed to take home. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Program cost is $7/child for Friends members and $8/child for non-members. For more information or to register, please call Bob at 403-346-2010 ext 103.

The Red Deer river canyon

Hey-O to everyone out there in Blog land! It's time I introduce myself and finally blog. I am Avery, one of the interpreters for W.E.E.S. I have had the pleasure of working with them for almost a year now and that's how long it takes me to Blog I guess!

The Red Deer river canyon is an often overlooked asset to our landscape! Formed millions of years ago, this amazing canyon gives us a direct look into the past. The different rock and silt layers are clearly visible in parts and show us what is really under our feet! (all the way down to the Paleocene era Paskapoo sandstone, our bedrock)

The canyon is also home to diverse wildlife like Eagles, Osprey, White Tail and Mule deer as well as coyotes and other scavengers! Both winter and summer the canyon offers amazing vistas (and learning opportunities).

Accessing the canyon can be difficult as trails are hard to come-by and the walls can get quite steep, but there is a better way to see it than by foot:

By Raft!

W.E.E.S will once again be offering raft trips down the Red Deer river during the summer months and would love to accommodate you and/or your group! Float down the river and enjoy the sights and sounds with an Interpreter guiding the way. Please call for more information and prices!



In other wonderful nature news, spring once again provided a surprise to the Rocky Mountains in the last few days, over 60cms dropped all over Rockies and Columbia's with more in the forecast! With this exciting news it is certain that many will head out to enjoy this new snow by ski's, snowshoes and snow-machine but please update yourself with the Avalanche conditions! It is very dangerous with all this new storm snow so please check the Canadian Avalanche Association page for condition updates before you head out into the uncontrolled areas.

Adventure Safely!

Avery

Find Us On Facebook

I'll be posting this link in the nav bars over to the right side of the screen. However, the Nature Centre now has a Facebook group.

Find it by clicking this link. It's an open group. Anyone can join. It's another great way to keep on top of what we've got going on, and how to connect with environmental education activities in our community.

The joys of yarrow

I'd like to thank everyone who came out for my edible plant walk this afternoon, even after the sudden change of venue (Fort Normandeau was going to be a busy place so we moved the walk to the Nature Centre).

For those interested in edible plants (or those who would like to know what the post title above means), I have one more scheduled walk coming up in August. This one will be at Fort Normandeau -- really -- on Wednesday, August 6th, at 6:00 pm.

Give us a call at the Nature Centre (403-346-2010) to pre-register.

Seen at Fort Fest:

Red Deer Aboriginal Dance Troupe

Earth Day Ecology Lesson

It's Earth Month, and I hope that everyone's as excited about the impending Earth Day as I am! We have a special treat here at the Nature Centre on Earth Day: Abrah Arneson, a local Certified Herbal Therapist and owner of The Green Clinic, will be presenting on the Ecology of Herbal Medicine. It will be an enjoyable evening of ecologically-friendly refreshments and conversation, with all proceeds going to support the Kerry Wood Nature Centre and its many environmental initiatives.

Sounds like something you'd like to go to? Here are the details:

The Ecology of Herbal Medicine: Plants for the Health and Well Being of All, Tuesday, April 22, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. Admission is $20/person + GST, in advance or at the door. Call 346-2010 for more details or to register.

No matter what you do this Earth Day, remember to keep in mind why you're doing it. Our planet is important, not just for our own offsprings' survival, but for that of every species' offspring, and their offspring, and their offspring ad infinitum.

Make every day Earth Day!

Out on the lake

If you're willing to brave the mosquitoes on the Dr. George Trail, you'll find that the high water levels this year have led to some interesting sights.

The beavers have recently started taking down a few trees in a normally dry part of the forest. I was sort of surprised that they waited this long to start feeding there, but I'm assuming that the high water has made lots of different trees more accessible to them and we just haven't noticed the busier areas yet.

You can find these chewed trees close to the Nature Centre as you first enter the forest on the Dr. George Trail.

One of the nicer things about the flooding has been that it's much easier to watch our muskrats at work on the West Lake from the viewing deck. Usually you'd need binoculars to see whether the brown thing swimming in the water is a muskrat or a beaver, but this year it's not uncommon to see muskrats feeding on cattails right beside the deck.

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I thought I'd end with a quick note about the edible plant walk I mentioned below. The program is definitely a go, so if you're interested in learning the basics of safe grazing give us a call at (403) 346-2010 before July 14th to pre-register. We'll be meeting at Fort Normandeau at 6:30 pm on Saturday the 14th. Hope to see you there!

Seeing stars

I thought I'd remind everyone that our brand new Starlab portable planetarium is up and running. Well, not literally up and running (we don't keep it inflated at all times, of course), but it is available for school and youth group bookings. We can do star shows here at the Nature Centre or, if you have several groups and a suitable space, we can take the shows to you.

Please give us a call at (403) 346-2010 for information on rates and space requirements.

We are planning to offer public shows in the upcoming months as well, so if you'd like to see the planetarium in action keep an eye on your local papers and this blog for dates and times.