Sowing Seeds of Change Sowing Seeds of ... - FortWhyte Alive

volunteer corner
it’s 2 pM on a
Sunday afternoon
by Michelle eldridge
group of FortWhyte alive visitors gathers at the Bison
aRubbing a
Stone to begin a guided 60 minute tour with a
volunteer interpreter. Today’s walking tour is northbound
along the carolyn Sifton trail, exploring components of the
Tipi encampment and the Bison prairie. Visitors eagerly
hear about the interaction of First Nation peoples with their
environment as they happen upon the red willow, licorice
root, cattails, galls, bison calves, sweet grass and birds
along the way. The hour passes quickly and the children
have many questions. The final stop is the prairie Sod
House where displays of artifacts convey real-life images of
Manitoba’s first pioneers at the end of the 19th century.
While the north walk focuses on cultural history, the south
trail highlights the flora and fauna of FortWhyte. The
volunteer guide leads the adventure with a reminder that
this land was once an industrial site where clay was mined,
a testimony to the resilience of nature. From there, visitors
explore the “life cycle” of the wetlands as well as the rich
biodiversity of other habitats such as the forest and meadow.
children are taken by the wonders of cattails, coots, wood
ducks, muskrats, and turtles encountered along the ponds and
trails. Nature guarantees variety through the magic of the
seasons. in the winter, for example, a visitor is more likely
to see deer and have the thrill of identifying tracks in the
snow, while spring is the best time of year to observe over
140 species of birds that stop at FortWhyte on their migration
north. in May, canada Goose goslings abound, while autumn
brings thousands of staging geese as they migrate south. in
the summer, your interpreter might point out species of native
plants tucked along the trail, a purple gentian here and a wild
orchid there!
These are 2 o’clock walks as seen through the eyes of
Raymond currie, one of a rotation of volunteer interpreters.
On a given Sunday or holiday, you may meet Barbara
Barnett, Terry Brownlee, lynn Dupuis, Gary Franzmann, lars
Jansson, Sylvia lagasse, Tami Steffensen or Suchot Sunday.
each brings his/her own perspective and expertise to flavour
the walks such that visitors can always learn something
new. come join one of them on your next visit. You are
guaranteed an enhanced appreciation for the countless ways
you can interact with – and within – nature.
left to Right: Volunteer interpreters Terry Brownlee, lars Jansson,
Barbara Barnett, Raymond currie, and Gary Franzmann
AS A FORTWHYTE ALIVE
VOLUNTEER Summer Day Camp Counsellor!
TEENS, AGES 14–19
MAKE FRIENDS | FIND ADVENTURE | EXPERIENCE NATURE
Visit www.fortwhyte.org or call 989-8368 to sign up!
Mark Your Calendars!
ULTIMATE Summer Experience!
The ULTIMATE
Summer Experience!
24 th Annual Sunset BBQ: Wednesday, June 6
Join us for a delicious dinner catered by the Buffalo Stone Café and
served lakeside. Silent, rainbow and live auctions.
18 th Edition Sam Fabro Golf Classic: Wednesday, July 25
Tee up for a great round of golf and camaraderie at Pine Ridge Golf Club.
For more information on these events or sponsorship opportunities, please contact
Mandy Berndsen by phone at (204) 989-8357 or email mberndsen@fortwhyte.org.
Get Outside
Sunday & Holiday
2 pm Walks
Let your nature guide take you
north to the Bison Prairie or
south to the aspen forest for
bird watching; or for a stroll on
the floating boardwalks.
FREE with regular admission
Sod House Pioneers
Sundays, 1 – 4 pm
Canoe & Rowboat
Rentals
(weather conditions permitting)
Rental: $7 for 30 min
$10 for 1 hr
Members: 15% off
Fishing on 4 Lakes
Drop a line for catch-and-release
fishing. Kids 12 and under can
take home 1 fish. Fishing poles
and tackle are available for rent.
Fee: $2, Members: FREE
Pole rental: $5, tackle: $5
Dipnetting on the
Boardwalk
Scoop amazing insects out of
the marsh.
FREE with regular admission
with FortWhyte Alive!
*Prices do not include tax. Rentals subject to availability.
Faces of FWA
Lisa Turner
Tourism and corporate
programs coordinator
Bison Buggy Rental
See all the sites of FortWhyte’s
North Trail! Golf cart seats six.
Rental: 30 min: $8, 1 hr: $12
Members: 15% off
7 km of Forest Trails
All trails lead to FortWhyte Alive,
connecting neighbourhoods
throughout southwest Winnipeg.
Bike or walk the wood chipped
and limestone trails winding
through prairie and forest habitats.
Guided Bison Buggy Tour
Available on a first-come, firstserved
basis, space is limited.
$5 per person
Wednesdays and Fridays in
July & August, 11 am & 2 pm
Rent-A-Naturalist
Enrich your knowledge of the
natural world and FortWhyte
Alive with guidance from a staff
Interpreter. Drop in or call ahead
to book your time. Minimum of 2
people, maximum of 6.
Available July & August
10 am – 4 pm
Reserve at (204) 989-8355
1 hr Walking Tour: $10,
30 min Bison Buggy Tour: $10
Lisa is in her third year of work at
FortWhyte. Before joining our team she
studied Ecotourism in Calgary, with a
Proceeds benefit FortWhyte Alive’s
specialty in Geography. Lisa was drawn education and back
outdoor recreation
programs. Licence Number:
to Winnipeg when she had the opportunity to MGCC-1690-RF
join FortWhyte as a practicum student, and
later came on board to grow and expand our
tourism and corporate programs. Her days
are kept busy with facilitating team building workshops, organizing
scavenger hunts and introducing tourists to the wonders of FortWhyte.
Q. What is your favourite thing about working at FortWhyte?
I am truly blessed to work with an amazing group of people and a team
that I am proud to be a part of. Plus, where else can you work and go for
a canoe ride at lunch?
Q. What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is when I work with a group and am able to watch
them grow as a team throughout the day. I am able to meet so many
amazing people and I believe I learn just as much from them as they do
from me.
Q. What is your most memorable wildlife encounter?
I think my most memorable encounter had to be watching a mother
goose as her goslings were hatching. I just happened to be at the right
place at the right time and got to witness this amazing process from the
shell cracking to the wet goslings emerging and drying off. It was such
delicate process that I couldn’t help but be mesmerised.