Message from new AJFWA President Sandy Evans

 Happy Spring JFWs!

I hope this finds you checking out the new buds and bugs, watching the birds coming in for our northern abundance, taking in our amazing prairie sunshine and exploring puddles in the rain.  Yes it’s been a strange year and feels a bit like we are all bears waking up from hibernation.  It is a time for transition and renewing energy - even within our organization.

In a normal year after the AGM elections there would be a social time to get to know each other.  There would be camps and conferences, tree planting and adventures.  Without the campfires, it has been harder to connect, but we are a resilient bunch.  We have strong committed leaders, passionate parent volunteers and incredible children.  

I often hear that JFW is Alberta’s best kept secret.  And it is!  For over 50 years we have been fostering leadership in our youth to love and respect our natural world.  Reconnecting with the wild is the most powerful way to build health (mental, physical, and social) in our families and our communities and ensures the health of our natural world into the future.  To be able to contribute to such an endeavour is a privilege.  To do so while hanging out by a campfire and adventuring in our natural world with amazing kids and adults is well just plain fun!  

Through this strong community and programs we build youth who are confident, inquisitive and resourceful leaders and caring humans.  Our strength is in our volunteers; parents who have continued to encourage their kids to connect despite the daunting incline of yet another online commitment, challengers courageously stretching their leadership wings and infusing their energy, and alumni who come back to give back.  There are many who work behind the scenes; leaders and board  members planning, administering and creating the conditions to help us all enjoy this amazing program.  We  each contribute in our own ways and every contribution large or small builds our community.  Thank you to you all.  

For all of us it is sometimes work - just like heading on an arduous hike, or planting trees in the bugs and hot sun, sometimes we stumble and sometimes  we question the sanity of our endeavour but we know the result is worth it.    Before you know  it we have  made a forest.   Our super power is each other.  We know how to make the tough times lighter with good connections, humour, kindness, tolerance and knowing that we are creating a darn good story for the campfire.   I am looking forward to sharing the stories and marvelling at all we achieve.  Care to  join me?

Sandy Evans

president@ajfwa.ca