2022 Tree Bagging at the Muttart Conservatory Greenhouse

Arbor Day seedling bagging is around the corner!   JFW has a long history supporting this event hosted by Root for Trees, Edmonton's volunteer tree planting initiative.

Date:  Sunday, May 1 2021

Time:  12:30 p.m.

Activity:  Bagging 10-15,000 seedlings for Grade 1 students

Location:  Muttart Conservatory Greenhouse - West Parking Lot (map pin), Edmonton, Alberta

Attire:  Prepare to work either outside or inside.  The event may be held outdoors or move indoors depending on COVID restrictions.  

Directions:  Travelling westbound on 98 Avenue NW towards the Muttart Greenhouses, turn left after passing the LRT station on the left-hand-side (green arrow below). Follow the large blue "Muttart Delivery Signs" as pictured below. 

    

Parking: is available along either side of the service road west of the Muttart Greenhouse (see highlighted area below). 

 

Update:

Submitted by Terry Garrett, Chief Warden Emeritus of Alberta
On behalf of Root for Trees, the City of Edmonton and myself, I want to thank everyone who came out for the Tree Bagging event at the Muttart Conservatory on Sunday, May 1st.  In about 2 hours the 55+ people in attendance bagged about 12,000 trees for the Grade 1 students.  Many hands make light work of a big project.  Thank you so much for your help with this project.  You are awesome!!

2022 Alumni Summer Family Camp

 

Click here for PDF of camp information and registration 

Spring Message from President Sandy Evans

 Come on Spring!!!

We are nearly to those great moments when the stored energy and rest attached to winter begins to flourish into new growth, reaching out branches to new realms, and easing the webs of support and connection that sustain our world.  Spring brings momentum to start something new and fire up the old.  This year in the JFW world, spring will be a little restrained as we work out the remaining respect we need to give to Covid.  The good news is that we will have some things moving forward and some things will just be very well planned for next year.   Outreach, PT North and PT South are a go. AC graduation will be online.  AC conference and National camp will have to wait until next year - oh how amazing they will be then!!!   

For me the coming of Spring is marked by Winter Outreach.  It was wonderful to see A/Cs and adults returning in person to a provincial JFW adventure.  The pent up energy held in our roots for the past two years truly carried me up (and down) a few hills this weekend.   On Outreach wardens and adults work together to support each other as they take on more challenging adventures.  It is like a microcosm of what happens throughout all aspects of JFW.  As we open up our programming again, getting to hang out with some of our older wardens and some very dedicated parents has infused hope and momentum - Not to mention a great deal of gratitude to those that helped me up from a faceplant mere cms from a pile of porcupine poop.  

It takes a great deal of planning and forethought to make these great events happen.  Much of this work happens in the trunk of our JFW tree (in the event and executive committees and the board) and is really only apparent when the springlike burst of province wide events takes place.  Event planning is only one important aspect of the work of the AJ Board.  The work of the board is also about building and maintaining the roots, trunk and branch systems that give clubs and regions what they need to run amazing programs.   As a board and executive we have been working to make sure our members are well vetted, insured and informed.  We are focusing on the way ahead, documenting what works well (and what doesn’t) in our policies and procedures, creating systems to make the job of organizers at all levels a little easier, and yes, setting the necessary parameters to keep our wardens and our organization safe for many adventures to come.

Our AGM is coming very soon.  We have a few positions to fill for the coming year - committees, board directors and executive officers, and a new administrator.  This year the executive positions to be filled at the AGM are Treasurer and Vice President.   To be eligible for these positions, you will need to have had some council experience in JFW (club, region or AJ board).  

Please consider stepping forward.  While not as fun as falling into porcupine poop, it is a great and rewarding way to support the organization.  

I am looking forward to reconnecting, working and playing with you all!  

Sandy

December Message from President Sandy Evans

On behalf of all of your Board, I want to wish you all the very best of the winter season.  I  hope that  you  are all able to embrace and enjoy this amazing time.   With the cold and longer nights we, like most of our natural world, create our own resilience by gathering together, being kind, working together and adapting to the conditions outside our doors.  Winter is very much a time to take time - to reflect, to prepare before going out, to create cozy spaces to return to, to rest (for some even hibernate), to rejuvenate, and to enjoy each others’ stories and wisdoms.  

One of my favourite  sayings in JFW (likely from Mors Kohanski) is that “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices”.  With colder weather and unpredictable conditions, including covid, we need to be especially vigilant that we are providing activities for our wardens that are safe and respectful (of nature and each other).    We  don’t need to  hibernate, but we do need to make good preparation and choices when we head out and when we  gather.  What a great thing to teach our children. 

For the Board, the scurry of Fall work is nearly complete.  We are working through the last of the registrations and are  just waiting for results on a few vulnerable sector checks.  We very much appreciate the diligence of those making sure all of our adult members, as volunteers who connect with wardens, are all vetted.  Thank you for your patience and good communication  with this task.  It has certainly been a different year with many delays beyond our control, and a lot of learning for those of us in new roles.  

We have some new directors including a recent graduate, and a new Secretary!  I would like to thank you all for stepping forward to represent the members in your regions to guide JFW into the year ahead.  And a special thank you and welcome to Debra Wathen, our new secretary, who is stepping into a significant role within the first few years with us.  This is possible with the support of two of our past secretaries generously sharing their experience.  The depth of experience in our membership is really strong.  At all levels from activity and group leaders, club exec, regional councils to the board, we need to foster new leaders, share our stories and experience so that we can continue the incredible knowledge we have built over the past 90 plus years.   

Happy Holidays and Winter celebrations to you all!

Sandy

AJFWA President

Winter A/C Outreach 2022

 

Visit the AJFWA Store to register starting December 4, 2021

Meeting in a Box Event

 

Well, it appears November has arrived and winter is right behind it.  We are getting closer to our  Meeting in a Box event on November 20th in Red Deer.  Because our Fall Workshop wasn't able to happen, we wanted to host a workshop to build the skills and provide some lesson material that parents and leaders can take back to their clubs.

We currently have 5 presenters that will share their meeting kits and tips on how they present them.  We would love to have more people showcase examples of meetings they have created.

There are over 15 kits so far, including:

fire lighting

fire starters

knife sharpening

animal tracks & scat

tree "cookie" aging

tree identification

predator - prey game

bronze badge knowledge

This event will only be successful if we have people sign up and take advantage of the many years of knowledge and experience that have been put into these Meeting in a Box packages.

There will be a free tree cookie kit for the first 15 people registered.

When:      Saturday November 20th

Where:     Red Deer

Time:       10am till 3pm

You can bring your lunch and mingle or there are fast food places close by.  

Standard COVID rules and regulations will apply as per the meeting venue.

Please RSVP to cody.howitt@ajfwa.ca if you want to present or attend this incredible event.

Map & directions along with the COVID rules and regulations can be forwarded once registered.

Cody Howitt
Chief Warden of Alberta

2021 Christmas Tree Lot

 

2021 JUNIOR FOREST WARDENS

CHRISTMAS TREE CUTTING LOT 

Saturdays and Sundays only from November 27 - December 19, 2021

Christmas Tree Cutting Map.pdf

With Christmas just around the corner, many families are looking forward to a traditional outing into the forest to find and cut their own very special Christmas Pine Tree.

The Christmas Tree Lot is a seasonal fundraiser for Junior Forest Wardens, an outdoor program for youth and their families.. On November 26, 2020, the Government of Alberta removed the $5 permit fee. With the removal of the permit fee and because we cannot operate our traditional concession fundraiser during COVD-19, any donations to our program will be graciously accepted.

The gate to the parking lot will be open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays as noted above, road and weather conditions permitting. Tree cutting permits will be available from our volunteer in our permit shack. 

Each permit entitles you to one tree - Lodgepole Pine only. Keep this Tree Cutting Permit with you while transporting your tree, as it is required to avoid potential fines. The permit is only good for Lodgepole Pine trees (with long 2” needles) within the boundaries of this particular tree lot area.

Directions:  From Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park, travel west on the Trans Canada (Hwy 1) for approximately 35 km.  Take the Hwy 68 exit (Sibbald Creek Trail) and head south for approximately 22 km to the Powderface Trail turnoff.  Turn left and head south on Powderface Trail for 2 km and you’ll reach the Christmas Tree Cutting Lot.  Watch for the JFW signs along the route! 

COVID-19 Restrictions: Please note that this year there will also be no food concession, and campfires are prohibited. There will be no rentals of saws or axes available.  

So, please bring your own preferred food and drink, and enjoy the outdoors with your family.  Hopefully, we’re back to normal operations next year.  We’d love to meet you all and sit by the fire with hot chocolate again!

Off Hours Visits:  If you can’t make it out on the above dates or times, or if the lot is not manned due to weather and/or road conditions, you are welcome to visit and cut a Lodgepole Pine tree at any other time. Please keep in mind that the lot is only staffed on weekends, and the gate may not be open. If you plan to arrive after 4:00 pm, you'll have to park outside of the gate as the gate will be closed & locked at 4:00 pm.

*Please note that, at our location, we cannot accept permits purchased in advance from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. They are for a different area and cover different species. Permits may be available for other areas of Alberta.  Contact your local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry office for more information.

More Information

If you have a question regarding the Christmas Tree Lot, more information is available at these links;   FAQs

If you still have a question, send an e-mail to the 2021 President  of the Calgary District  Tim Watts or phone at:  403-660-7619

Check the local forecast before you head out!     The Weather Network - Kananaskis