Tree Bagging at the Muttart Conservatory

Tree Bagging at the Muttart Conservatory

1:00 p.m., Sunday, May 2, 2021
Greenhouse Entrance (back of pyramids)

(NOTE:  Newsletter says Saturday.  It's actually Sunday.)

JFW members are invited to participate in this annual JFW event.  The event will follow City of Edmonton COVID protocols, so expect to be working at family grouped tables outside in the parking lot rather than in the greenhouse.  

This year, we have 20,000 trees to put into bags for the Grade 1 and Grade 2 students.  Since everything was closed for COVID last year, the current Grade 2 students didn't receive their trees. With lots of hands, this should not take more than a few hours, so please come and help if you can! 

Some clubs have used this event as part of their community service hours.  Check with your club if this is their option.  In the past, we were able to spend time in the pyramids after our task was completed, but with the Muttart closed this year for renovations and COVID restrictions, that will not be a possibility.  

Root for Trees, the group responsible for Arbor Day in the City of Edmonton, would like to video some of our tree bagging operations and interview a few people as to why they are helping. They want to have a history of Arbor Day on their website.  They will provide the necessary waivers.  

Thank you in advance for your help.  This program was near and dear to the heart of our former Chief Warden, Ernst Klaszus, and I am proud we are continuing in his legacy.

Submitted by Terry Garrett, Chief Warden Emeritus

Blast from the past --- Article from March 2014 Tree Mail:

TREE BAGGING FOR ERNST

This project held a special place in the heart of our former Chief Warden, Ernst Klaszus. Each year his family, friends and Junior Forest Wardens gather at the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton to bag seedlings for the Grade One students in Edmonton and surrounding area schools. Usually, there is a challenge to see if we can bag the seedlings (17,000 – 20,000) faster than we did the year before. Often there are side challenges to see who can bag the most trees too! Wear your red JFW t-shirt (it is hot in the greenhouse), bring a friend to help and let’s show everyone that Junior Forest Wardens can get a big job done! After we have completed our task (in under an hour), we are allowed to view the beautiful Muttart Conservatory. Please mark Sunday, May 4th at 1:00 on your calendar to be at the Greenhouse entrance (on the north-west side of the building) to come and help bag trees. See you there!!

April 24, 2021 Update -- 

Information from Lydia Fialka, Community Greening Coordinator, City of Edmonton

Arbor Day seedling bagging is around the corner! With that in mind, I'd like to share some event details with you:

Date: Sunday, May 2 2021

Time: start at 1:00 PM

Activity: this year we will be bagging ~23,000 seedlings for Grade 1 students!

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

Directions: follow 98Ave NW heading westbound towards the Muttart Greenhouses, turn left after they pass the LRT station on the left-hand-side (green arrow below). Please ask volunteers to 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). We will also reserve 2-3 stalls for accessible parking. 

 

Health & Safety: 

• Outdoor Activities: All volunteer activities will take place outdoors this year; access to the Muttart Conservatory is not permitted this year. Volunteers are encouraged to dress in layers and be mindful of weather conditions. We ask that all volunteers please wear close-toed shoes.
• COVID-19 Safety: Volunteers are required to wear masks when working within 2m of another person. We will set up physically distanced work stations, and will provide further direction on-site. There will also be extra masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes onsite.  
• Volunteer Sign-in & Prescreening: Upon arriving onsite, volunteers will be asked to check in with a Root for Trees staff member to fill out a sign-in form and complete COVID-19 prescreening.  
• Washrooms: There will be an accessible portable toilet available onsite. 
• We will provide water bottles and snacks for volunteers. 

Arbor Day Video Filming: There will be a film crew onsite. During sign-in, volunteers will be asked to sign a model release form if they consent to being in the video. Those who do not wish to be caught on camera will be asked to wear a visible marker.

Final Message from Terry Garrett, Chief Warden Emeritus

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to everyone who came up to Edmonton from across the Province to participate in the annual Tree Bagging event.  There were 52 participants from across the province including about a dozen members of Ernst's family (we were so happy they could join us).  This was no small task as we had double our normal amount of trees to bag.  When you call out to JFW members for volunteers, there are always members who are willing to help out. It usually takes a little over an hour for 10,000 trees to be bagged - we did 20,000 in three hours.  The Root For Trees program and the City of Edmonton are very grateful for the contribution of the Junior Forest Wardens for this event.  Hope you can all come back to join us next year in the first part of May!

JFW Virtual Campfire

Who:    

Wardens and any other JFW member who wants to join in on the fun.

When:                     

7:00 p.m., Saturday, February 13, 2021

Program:

Singalong and stories lead by volunteer organizers.

Information about the virtual lessons and video lessons. 

How to prepare:       

Find or or make your own instrument.

Link to Homemade Instrument Instructions

Link to Fiery Tunes JFW Songbook 

What to wear:        

Red JFW shirt or other red shirt.  

How to join:                     

This virtual meeting will be held by Zoom.  Contact office@ajfwa.ca to RSVP, get the link and instructions if you need help on how to join the meeting.

Notes:  

This meeting may be recorded. 

Please bear with us in this first attempt to get a large group together (max 100 participants).  

PT Cruiser 2021

February 27, 2021 Update... SUBSCRIPTION BOXES NOW OPEN TO ALL JFW MEMBERS.  

Everyone is invited to join in on the fun!  The PT Cruiser subscriptions boxes are now open for purchase by all JFW members (Wardens at any level as well as adults).  Only 50 boxes left for purchase!!  

Registration closes March 1, 2021.

February 20, 2021 Update.... REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Registration to get your Warden's subscription box is now open.  There's only 150 boxes available, so don't delay.  Registration closes March 1, 2021.

Click here for JFW member information on how to register.

JFW Virtual Lessons for Wardens

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a call out was  made to anyone in JFW (whether a leader, parent, support person, Warden, Alumni member, sponsored member) interested in volunteering their time to teach a lesson to our Wardens.  That call was answered, and we are pleased to roll out JFW Virtual Lessons.

The Lesson Schedule (see below) will be updated as lessons are add.  Check back here or visit the event calendar on the Members Only Website home page to see what's new.  We will also let you know on Facebook when new lessons are added.

NEW Find pre-recorded video lessons after the Lesson Schedule.  And check back here too as more video lessons are added.

If you would like to learn more about instructing, click here.  This is a great opportunity to connect with our Wardens since we can't meet in person and share your skills & knowledge with them.

To access a lesson, please ensure that your device supports the Google Meet platform and that you have your @ajfwa.ca log in handy. Note:  Lessons may be recorded for our JFW Lesson Archives.

Contact office@ajfwa.ca if you have questions and to RSVP so the instructor knows how many attendees to expect.  Lessons may be cancelled if no RSVP`s are received.

Update - 2020 Christmas Tree Lot

 

2020 JUNIOR FOREST WARDENS

CHRISTMAS TREE CUTTING LOT 

Saturdays and Sundays only from November 28 - December 20, 2020

Our Tree Lot will be self-service this year

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.

UPDATE Nov. 26, 2020

The Christmas Tree Lot is a seasonal fundraiser for Junior Forest Wardens, an outdoor program for youth and their families. Permit sales from the JFW Christmas Tree Lot support our program. 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.

Due to Covid-19 related restrictions, the Christmas Tree Cutting Lot will operate on a self-serve basis for 2020. The gate to the parking lot will be open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays as noted above, road and weather conditions permitting. Tree cutting permits will be available in the Mail Box on our permit shack.

Each permit entitles you to one tree - Lodgepole Pine only, maximum 3 permits/trees per person. 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: Covid 19 Restrictions: As noted we will operate in a self-service mode this year.  This means there will be no assistance available for loading or tying down trees.  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: 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 not staffed except on weekends, and the gate may not be open. If you plan to arrive after 3:00 pm, please be advised that you'll have to park outside of the gate as the gate will be closed & locked at 3:30 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. Please 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

Note some of the FAQ responses may not be applicable in 2020 due to Covid restrictions, since no staff will be on-site

If you still have a question, send an e-mail to the   2020 Coordinator (Mike Brown, Bragg Creek)

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

2020 AJFWA Casino: Volunteers Needed

 

When:  December 18-19, 2020

Where:  Deerfoot Inn & Casino, Calgary

Organizer:  Sandra Jiggins 

Details:

Number of volunteers required per shift are reduced from the previous years due to Covid.  You will be required to wear face masks during your shift.  

Volunteers are a first come, first served basis allowing for one volunteer per club. If more than one person from a club volunteers, the first one will be picked, the second one goes on a waiting list until I have run through everyone.  If all spots are not filled by deadline then I will take a second/third etc volunteer from the same club starting at the top of the list.   Only exception to this rule is if I am having difficulty filling a shift, I will slot in those that are available to work it.    

Deadline to sign up is November 23rd.  Please indicate the day and shifts you're willing to work (include all  that  you are available for -  you will only be slotted for one shift).  If you pick "back-up" (available only for Calgary area members)  for a particular shift you must be prepared and willing to work that shift if you get called in at the last minute.  You and your club must be in good standing in order to volunteer for the casino.

If you are travelling out of town a hotel room will be provided for you and it will be shared.  Please indicate on the sign up sheet if you will require a room.

For more information contact Sandra Jiggins at sandra.jiggins@ajfwa.ca.

Click here to apply to be a volunteer 

Deadline to apply is November 23, 2020

2020 Christmas Tree Lot

 

Nov 26/20 UPDATE:  Due to COVID-19, the Christmas tree lot will be operated on a self-serve basis.  Click here for new information.