Annual Report 2016-2017
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LESSER SLAVE Annual Report FOREST EDUCATION SOCIETY September 2016 – August 2017 “WE ARE COMMITTED TO FOREST-FOCUSED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION!” Lesser Slave Forest Education Society (LSFES) ❖ Is a non-profit registered charity and has been in operation since March of 2000 ❖ Offers educational programs to schools, community groups and the general public ❖ Provides curriculum related programs through interactive fieldtrips and classroom presentations ❖ Delivers special event programming to summer camps, community organizations and other special groups ❖ Hosts workshops for educators to help enhance their environmental curriculum ❖ Offers post-secondary scholarships to students interested in pursuing careers in forestry Bridget Dugas’s Grade 3 class from EG Wahlstrom on a winter ecology hike “WE ARE COMMITTED TO FOREST-FOCUSED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION!” Lesser Slave Forest Education Society (LSFES) ❖ Shares resources, materials and professional expertise with other educational organizations throughout the province ❖ Delivers outreach presentations to other groups and communities outside our region ❖ Develops and delivers creative FireSmart Education programs with our educational partner, the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory (LSLBO) Alberta Wildfire Helitack crew leader Tim Engel, teaching FireSmart to a Grade 3 class at St. Theresa School in Wabasca. BOARD OF DIRECTORS ❖ Sherman Horsman, President ❖ Nelson Lutz - Northern Lakes College Tolko Industries Ltd. ❖ Laura Vanderwell-Ross - Vanderwell Contractors Ltd. ❖ Gilles Lacoste, Vice-President Vanderwell Contractors Ltd. ❖ Allan Bell - Tolko Industries Ltd. (Alternate) ❖ Murray Chomokovski, Secretary Alberta Plywood ❖ Corinna Horsman - CJ Schurter School ❖ Diane Smith, Treasurer ❖ Patti Campsall – Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory and Public Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation (BCBC) ❖ Donna Moore, Office Administrator ❖ Leah Lovequist - Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Public ❖ Keith Branting/Kyle Rosychuk - High Prairie Forest Products ❖ Gord Sanders - West Fraser ❖ Sue Deas - EG Wahlstrom School ❖ Bob Jackle/Alison Deas - Slave Lake Pulp Corp. THANK YOU TO BOB JACKLE AND KEITH BRANTING FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE LSFES! Peerless Lake Red Earth Creek Sandy Lake Swan Hills ❖ 10 school boards in the region ❖ 30 schools receive programming OUR REGION including 10 schools in indigenous communities OBJECTIVE 1 TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT FOREST EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOR SCHOOLS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO POST-SECONDARY What is Forest Education? Grade 4 Plant Survivor Plot Study We provide interactive classroom presentations and fieldtrips for students learning about the boreal forest and every thing that makes it tick. Students learn about trees, plants, soil, insects and wildlife. They study plant growth, explore natural forest regions and learn about the healthy role of decomposition in the forest. OBJECTIVE 1 TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT FOREST EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOR SCHOOLS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO POST-SECONDARY What is Forest Education? Grade 5 Spruce Bog Hike They explore spruce bogs and marshes and discover how the forest contributes to a healthy water ecosystem. They learn about the forest industry and what it takes to manage a sustainable forest. We want to inspire youth to become responsible stewards of the environment and to understand the significance of all that goes on in the boreal forest. OBJECTIVE 1 TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT FOREST EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOR SCHOOLS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO POST-SECONDARY What is Forest Education? Forestry Career Fair March 2017 We want students to discover the different jobs in forestry and the complexity of managing for a sustainable forest. Teachers come back time and time again because our programs are relevant and completely enhance the science curriculum. “The field trip to the Jack Pines, that we take every year, with our grade 6 students is really wonderful and truly benefits my students. The day is planned out, and all that we do, is completely connected to our Science curriculum on Trees and Forests set out by Alberta Education. The volunteers, who come out to run each of the sessions throughout the day, are knowledgeable and have fun with the kids. Most importantly, this day makes what I have taught to the kids in class, real for them. I have been taking my students on this trip for approximately 16 years, of the 27 years I have been teaching, and every year, this wonderful Forestry team meets my expectations and enhance my students' learning!” Johanna Murphy, Grade 6 Teacher High Prairie Elementary School SCHOOL PROGRAMMING OBJECTIVE 2 TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT FORESTS AND FORESTRY BY PROVIDING SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMMING Forestry School Tours One special program we deliver is Forestry School Tours, which are held either in the first week of May to celebrate Alberta Forest Week or the third week in September to mark National Forest Week. During this week, we hold Forestry School Tours for students in Grade 6 - studying trees and forests. Students rotate through different stations through out the day and learn about forestry. BearSmart Ecology Walk OBJECTIVE 2 TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT FORESTS AND FORESTRY BY PROVIDING SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMMING Forestry School Tours Teachers say that we teach their entire curriculum during this day and because of this, students excel on their provincial exams. In order to run these school tours we need lots of help from forest industry and the government. We value FireSmart their professional expertise and the time that they donate to run this event. During these school tours forestry personnel see over 350 grade 6 students in three days. Plant and Tree ID Forest Measurements OBJECTIVE 2 TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT FORESTS AND FORESTRY BY PROVIDING SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMMING Enviro-Quest Camp Summer Splash Programming Enviro-Quest campers, ages 11 – 15, checking out the airtanker base and getting a tour of the airtankers. Youth, ages 5 -11, enjoy logger sport activities, to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday Summer programming includes two different day camps for youth. Enviro-quest camp targets older youth and provides opportunities for them to explore different jobs and activities in the boreal forest over three days. Summer Splash programming is for younger ages where they learn about the wonders of the boreal forest. OBJECTIVE 2 TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT FORESTS AND FORESTRY BY PROVIDING SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMMING Forestry Career Presentations with WorkWild For the last five years, the LSFES has partnered with the Alberta Forest Products Association and their Work Wild program to educate youth about the variety of careers available in forestry. For one week in the spring and fall, our two organizations promote forestry careers to all the junior/senior high schools in the region. Caitlyn Low (WorkWild) and Michelle MacMillan (LSFES) teaching forestry careers. Forest Industry Career Fairs with Careers: The Next Generation We also partner with Careers: The Next Generation on forest industry career fairs in Slave Lake and High Prairie. For the last three years, local forest industry works together to showcase careers in forestry, especially in the mills. Junior and Senior high classes are given opportunities to learn about being millwrights, lab technicians, power engineers and other forestry Health and Safety Booth at Slave Lake Career Fair professionals. OBJECTIVE 2 TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT FORESTS AND FORESTRY BY PROVIDING SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMMING Logger Sports 2017 This event was hosted by the Lesser Slave Forest Education Society, with volunteers from the forest industry, Government of Alberta, the Town of Slave Lake and other organizations, as well as many generous sponsors Kat Spencer practicing Swede Saw who provided prizes for the events. Professional Logger Sports athlete and World Champion Pole Climber Kat Spencer also shared her knowledge and expertise to help run the events. Underhand Chop Kids Axe Throw OBJECTIVE 2 TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT FORESTS AND FORESTRY BY PROVIDING SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMMING Logger Sports 2017 Local participants from the forest industry and the public alike competed in various events based on traditional logging methods, including swede saw, double hand Double Hand Cross-cut Saw Wajax Contest crosscut, axe throwing, power saw bucking, accuracy cut, underhand chop, wajax, obstacle course, and log roll. Powersaw bucking Log rolling Special thanks to all of the volunteers especially: Amy Wotton, Shauna Kristoff, Matthew Kristoff, Melissa Schmode Kristoff, Scott Allan, Terry Kristoff, Veronique Boucher, Sherman Horsman, John Errington, Gord Sanders, Pat Potvin, Diane Smith, Monica Durau and Kyle Paulson. OBJECTIVE 2 TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT FORESTS AND FORESTRY BY PROVIDING SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMMING Logger Sports 2017 Five professional teams competed for the title of Best Lumberjack Team 2017. This title was awarded to the Vanderwell Axe Heads: Kevin Hunter, Doug Hawryluk, Josh Schultz, Juanita Schultz, Neal Knoot, and Mike Thernier. Many youth participated in “kid friendly” logger sport activities too and were excited to win some fantastic prizes. Many thanks go out to all of our sponsors for making Logger Sports 2017 a huge success!! Vanderwell Axe Heads with Kat Kids Nail Drive Special thanks to the Logger Sports Committee for all of their hard work: Michelle MacMillan, Holly Florence, Kevin Hunter, Neal Knoot, Diane Knoot, Jacob Couture, Richard Chemago, and Kat Spencer. SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory Many thanks