AGM & Family Camp-out (April 22-23) - Registration Now Open

Registration Now Open!  Annual General Meeting April 22-23

Also: National Camp Site Preview and Family Camping Weekend!

Join us April 22-23 at the Hall at Big Stone Park for our AGM, and have your say in the business of the organization.  This is the site of the 2017 National Camp, and a chance for you to see the site first hand, so you will know what to expect when you and your club arrives in July!

This will be a "relaxed" weekend, light on programming, although we will have activities for wardens during the annual general meeting.

Campsite fee $10 per unit per night.  AJFWA is covering the camping fees for the unserviced sites.

Friday arrival is fine.  Bring your own accommodation and food.

Follow this link for further information and registration

Read the agenda, committee reports and minutes which will be posted over the next month

Book Review - "A Window on Eternity" by E O Wilson

What can a handful of determined people accomplish in the face of staggering odds? 

Prepare to be inspired by this tour of Gorongosa National Park in the impoverished country of Mozambique.  Nearly destroyed by civil war, encroaching deforestation and rampant poaching, the park has been restored to its splendid wildness,  Renowned biologist Edward O Wilson takes us inside the park, and inside the lives of some of its fascinating species - termites, driver ants, hippos - and the humans who endeavour to understand and protect it all.

The book comes with a DVD, which follows the story of a park interpreter who is inspired to become a biologist.

A quick and inspiring read!

A Window ON Eternity 

- A biologist's walk through Gorongosa National Park, 

2014, Edward O Wilson, 

Photos by Piotr Naskreski, 

Simon & Schuster, 

ISBN 978-1-4767-4741-5

http://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/A-Window-on-Eternity/Edward-O-Wilson/9781476747415

A quote:

"These final sanctuaries are our transcendent heritage, and we will be wise to hold on to them. We can enjoy surviving fragments of nature on various ways and measures.  Let us first of all take pleasure from the surprise, mystery, awe, wholeness, relief and redemption they offer"

Book and Video Reviews

All members, Alumni and Friends of JFW are invited to submit reviews of books, magazines, documentaries and other publications relevant to the Junior Forest Warden program.

Please send your review to treemail@ajfwa.ca.

National Camp 2017 - Help Raise Funds!

National Camp 2017 is rapidly approaching and your organizing committee is hard at work planning for a week of learning, playing and enjoying.

As the Chairman of the Fund-raising Committee, my goal is to make this event as affordable for all of our members as we can. 

In order to do this we are actively seeking grants from the private and public sector.  In the past, one of our greatest source of fundraising was donations, sponsorship or in kind donations from businesses in our different communities who understand the value of our clubs.

For this reason, I have created the following letter templates in hopes that you will provide them to any business contact that you may have to canvass whether they would support our great group.  Employers also often have grant / donation programs available for the organizations that their members volunteer with, this may be a source for you as well. 

No donation is too small.  In the past we have been able to raise upwards of $20,000 from the $200, $500, $1000 donations from our local businesses.  In most cases, someone had a contact and could make this request on a personal level which enhances our chances of success.

You will find two sample letters on the website: (sign-in required, contact us if you need assistance)

• the first is for general donations and 

• the second addresses any corporate or other groups who would like to support a specific portion of our camp.  

This sponsored portion would be named after the donor and specific mention would be made for them around that event.

The letters are in word format and will allow you to personalize who the letter is being sent to and will allow for your signature at the bottom of the letter as part of our expanded fund committee.

We, as a Committee hope that you will be willing to help your camp be successful; and all moneys gathered will go to  improving the camp and reducing the access fee to members.  Thank you in advance for your help!

Respectfully,

Claude Lebel
Chairman, National Campout 2017 Fund Development Committee
Alberta Junior Forest Warden Association
(780) 235-6912

AC Conference (April 7-9, 2017) - Event Passed

Registration closed
Sign in here and follow the links

Expand your imagination with the AC’s at our Disney themed

2017 AC Conference

April 7-9th, 2017
Goldeye Centre, Nordegg, Alberta

Gather with old friends and new, gain new skills and experiences. Once again we will be having the famous Costume Dance.

There are a few things we would like to make clear to avoid any confusion.

• Wardens get first available spots.
• To attend you must be a registered member in good standing with a current JFW club in good standing.
• Everyone (wardens, parents & leaders) must register and pay the registration fee.
• There must be one leader/parent registered for each group of 4 or 5 wardens attending from the same club.
• Please do not bring children who are not Adventurers or Challengers.
• Sessions are for wardens only. There is no formal program for the adults however you are always welcome to network during free time!
• We will be assigning two “cabin parents” to supervise each sleeping cabin.
• New this year there is only a snack on Friday night - please eat supper before you arrive there will be no pizza.
• Don’t forget your red uniform shirt for Saturday night meal. Red Shirts Eat First!
• Goldeye is not a Nut free and Sunflower seed free facility.

There will be a set of rules for everyone to follow; make sure you understand them and tick the “I understand and consent” box when registering online.

Questions? Contact Randi or Kirsten

Hope to see you there!
The Committee

JFW Challenger Graduation

Graduating from High School in 2017? Please read on....

Graduation Eligibility: All Challengers (or Junior Leaders as in BC) who will be finishing their Warden career this year by either having completed 3 years as a Challenger, or are turning 19 years old prior to fall registration are eligible to apply. The applicants must be registered with a ‘Club in Good Standing’.

• Wardens who have completed 3 years of the Challenger program are eligible for the Full Graduation Package.

• Wardens who have completed less than 3 years in the Challenger program are eligible for the Recognition Package only.

Full Graduation Package:  AJFWA Gift, AJFWA Dog Tags, Letter of Congratulations from the Chief Warden, recognition at the AC Conference, recognition in Tree Mail, photo & write up posted on the AJFWA website in the ‘Grad Gallery’.

Recognition Package:  AJFWA Dog Tags & Letter of Congratulations from the Chief Warden.   Recognition at the AC Conference, recognition in Tree Mail, photo & write up posted in the ‘Grad Gallery’ on the AJFWA website.  Does not include AJFWA gift.

This application form is to be completed & signed by the graduate and returned to the Grad Committee before the deadline indicated on the application. Graduate’s Club Coordinator to provide comments & sign the graduate’s application form as well

Get the application form here.   

Deadline to apply: March 16

Tree Planting

Hello all Club Tree Planting Coordinators! 

It's time to start nailing things down for the 2017 Tree Planting Season... in order to finalize the ordering and delivery of trees through the AJFWA, some information is needed from all Clubs.  

Please email Ken Lewis with the following information.   Deadline is February 28th.  

1) Who is your Club's contact regarding 2017 Tree Planting (with contact info)? 

2 ) Your best estimates regarding:

a) Numbers (and types/species) of trees that you want for 2017, 

b) Date of your Tree Plant (if you don't know yet, even a rough idea, like "May" or "June" is fine for now), and 

c) Whether your planting site is on Private Land or Crown Land (Crown Land plantings will usually have specific seedlot requirements). 

3) How many Tree Planting Site Signs and Tree Planting "Log Books" does your club (or District / Region) require for 2017?

4) For Yellowhead Region Clubs: If you haven't already, please send this information to the Yellowhead Region Tree Planting Coordinator.

5) For Calgary Region Clubs: If you are participating in the annual Calgary Region Tree Plant: Please disregard this email.  

NOTE: If your Club is getting trees from someone other than the AJFWA, please still let me know the information above.  AJFWA likes to report on ALL the trees that all our Clubs plant, regardless of source.  Every tree planted is an amazing accomplishment, we want to celebrate it!

Ken 

Ken Lewis

AJFWA Tree Planting Coordinator