Important Notice from AJFWA Board Re: COVID-19

To Our AJFWA Family, 

Our thoughts are with you and with our worldwide community as we all navigate the extraordinary challenges facing us today. Everyone from our National Board, Regional Boards, Club Coordinators and staff empathize with our JFW family trying to cope in these very trying times. 

The AJFWA Board has been monitoring developments with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is committed to the health and safety of all our Wardens and other members. At the March 18, 2020 Special Board Meeting, the Board decided to take the following actions based on the recommendations from both the Provincial and Federal Governments as well as Alberta Health Services:

Effective immediately and until further notice:

• All in-person JFW programming across Canada is cancelled, including all regular meetings, weekend events, regional events and any camps scheduled to take place. This includes AC Conference, AGM and National Camp.

• The Online Store is closed. Any pending orders will be put on hold or cancelled at the buyer’s discretion. Our Office Administrator will contact anyone with pending orders for instructions.

The AGM will be held by way of electronic meeting at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 25, 2020 on a platform to be determined. More information to follow.

AC Conference registrants will receive full refunds by e-Transfer.

The AJFWA Board and staff are working diligently on logistics to manage our organization in these extraordinary times and to be there to support all of our members. We will continue to monitor the situation, and any new information will be sent to you by email and posted on the AJFWA website. 

We apologize for the inconveniences that our decisions may cause you and thank you for your patience and understanding. 

We encourage you to check your local, provincial and federal government websites for more information about how to manage this crisis. 

Please keep posted for some energizing ideas from a JFW perspective on how to keep your outdoor family busy during this time while still practicing social distancing.

If you need any assistance from our Board or our JFW family or have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at office@ajfwa.ca or president@ajfwa.ca. 

AJFWA Board of Directors

Build a Kicksled!

Ever heard of a Kicksled?  

(And would you like to build one?)

Kicksleds are likely a Swedish invention, and have been around for a century or more in the Scandinavian countries and Finland.  In Canada, however, they are almost unheard of.  Not any more!  The Meadow Lake Woodlanders will lead the way to a bright new kick-sledding future!

Commercially-built kicksleds are lightweight, and usually fold for storage.  Here is a sample, in the picture on the right: 

Basically a chair on runners, they look like a cross between a dog sled and a scooter.  They aren't meant for heavy loads, but are a quick, maneuverable means of getting around on packed trails, city streets and parks.   Scoot down to the store for a few bags of groceries, or load up the toddler and go for a jog!

The Woodlanders JFW club inherited a large number of assorted used skis (large, small, cross-country, downhill). Most were not suitable for their original purpose, but the club was loathe to throw them out.  What to do?  Build kicksleds, of course!

Step 1:  Look for a model.   Luckily, our friend Bridget has her very own genuine Finnish kicksled.  She and her family brought it over one evening to demonstrate.  We took careful measurements, and tried it out!

Step 2: Experiment with prototypes.  We build a couple of rough-and-ready mock-ups, just for ideas.

Step 3: Turn the club loose!   Each family was given a challenge: Take a pair of skis, and build something fast and fun.
The results have been inspiring, and cover a wide spectrum of approaches, such as:

• Simple but effective: Bolt a Coleman chair to a pair of skis (bonus: folds for storage!)
• Basic joinery: Build a rigid frame out of 2x2s, use the fabric from an old camp chair as the seat
• Rustic: An impressive willow chair on skis
• Elaborate: Bentwood chair, attached to skis using the original bindings

We hope this catches on, and we will certainly us our new sleds a lot this winter. We also have lots of old skis left - many more kicksleds to come!

2019 Tree Planting - Calgary Black Bears

Melodie Philomena Kelly - Coordinator St. John's Wild Wanderers

Melodie Philomena Kelly

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Melodie Philomena Kelly. For those who didn't have the opportunity to join in on the trip to Newfoundland, Melodie was the Coordinator of the Wild Wanderers JFW Club in St. John’s.  She leaves behind her loving husband Wayne Pearson and her daughter Georgia (8 years old) as well as many family members and friends.  Mel will be greatly missed, but her memory will remain in the hearts of everyone whose life she touched.  The Alberta Junior Forest Warden Association has made arrangements for a commemorative tree plant in Mel’s name at the Bannerman Park in St. John’s this fall. 

Airdrie Hawks celebrated 35 years this year

submitted by Sandra Jiggins

On May 5th, the Airdrie Hawks celebrated the club's 35 Year Anniversary out at Jumping Pound Camp. 

The day was filled with games, cake and a red shirt dinner with many special guests in attendance.  Thank you to everyone past and present that has made the Airdrie Hawks such a success!

2018 Newfoundland Trip Highlights

JFW in the News in St Johns!

A contingent of JFWs and Alumni, led by our intrepid Chief Warden Terry Garrett and Vice President Monica Robinson, just returned from visiting our JFW friends in Newfoundland-Labrador.

Watch for details and photos, coming soon!

Meanwhile, please enjoy this newsreel...

Airdrie Hawks 35th Anniversary

On May 5th, the Airdrie Hawks celebrated the club's 35 Year Anniversary out at Jumping Pound Camp. The day was filled with games, cake and a red shirt dinner with many special guests in attendance.  Thank you to everyone past and present that has made the Airdrie Hawks such a success!

Sandra Jiggins

AJFWA Treasurer

Woodlanders 20th Anniversary Camp March 9-11

The Meadow Lake Woodlanders Junior Forest Wardens are celebrating their 20th year!

JFW families and JFW Alumni are invited to join in the fun at our family camp, March 9-11 2018, at the beautiful Camp Oshkidee on Jeanette Lake in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park (Not far from the site of National Camp 2014)

Please mark the dates on your calendar, and watch for more information.
Costs will be small, fun will be HUGE!
Club contact email: info at woodlandersjfw.org

Along the Trail in Newfoundland

When you’re out on the trail, you never know what’s you’ll find around the bend.  In August, Bev and Dale Wickenheiser, JFW Alumni from Lethbridge, Alberta were hiking along the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland and Labrador, where they saw humpbacks, blueberries, and JFW St. John’s East. 

Two families from the Club, which may soon be known as the Giant Squid, did the 15K leg of the East Coast Trail between Bauline East and Brigus South, with an overnight at Roaring River.   That’s where the two groups met.  The JFW connection was made quickly, after a pleasant exchange about the glory of the trail and the spirit of JFW. 

back row

Lucy Finn, Bruce Drover

front row Bev Wickenheiser, Thomas Drover, James Drover, Owen Finn, Dale Wickenheiser

Sammy the hiking dog is in the foreground.

Newfoundland JFW at National Camp!

The folks from JFW Newfoundland have written a great post about their experience at National Camp 2017. Read all about it here!

Meadow Lake Woodlanders Winter Family Camp (Feb 24 - 26, 2017)

Camp Oshkidee is a lovely camp facility on the north side of Jeannette Lake in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park (click to see map)
Mark your calendars! This camp is for all ages and skill levels! Note that there are warm cabins for sleeping, indoor plumbing and an awesome kitchen for meals.Come prepared for an entertaining and exciting weekend of JFW activities.Fees: $30 per person (wanderers are free) to a max of $100 per family. Includes meals. Registration cut-off will be February 17.

Questions or to register by email holly.wassing@ajfwa.ca or call Holly Wassing at 306.236.2944Friday

• Plan to arrive after 3:00 pm. Room assignments will be posted on the cabins. Sandwiches and snacks will be available for a while. Bring your snow shovel to help clear an area for Saturday’s events, explore on some snowshoes, try the toboggan hill or relax at the indoor craft table. Spend some time around the campfire.

Saturday

• Morning activities – Everyone builds your very own ice fishing rod and create your own lure! Now we will be all set for the afternoon!
• Afternoon activities – Now is the chance to use that new ice fishing rod. On-ice activities, pick your favorite or rotate through all the planned activities: ice fishing, skating, “curling”, hockey, helping to set-up the new parachute tent, tobogganing, roasting marshmallows on the fire pit, build a snow fort or touring up to the chalet to warm up.
• Red Shirt Supper
• Music brings us together! Join together for toe-tapping live entertainment and dancing with Lucas Welsh and friends! (Yes, there will be dancing!)
• followed by campfire time - weather permitting and the desire to cook smores

Sunday

• Team activities – join in the activities guaranteed to bring out the kid in all of us.

Stettler Swift Fox Wreath Making

Stettler Swift Fox JFW had fun last night making wreaths using branches from a downed tree.

Click to see more photos