It looks like a fantastic day for the clean up scheduled at the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area on Saturday, July 9, 2016, indeed! The honourable Councillor Pat Lorje, who has done so much for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area already, will come out to the community volunteer clean up day. As well as representatives from the Meewasin Valley Authority will also bring Meewasin greetings! The Saskatoon Singing Circle, an affiliate of the Sacred Web Singers will arrive to bring some great tree songs to the volunteers in appreciation of the wonderful works to restore the forest.
The Saskatoon Community Public Health Nurse will take care of any safety concerns, and the Saskatoon City Police Community Liason Constable has also been involved with the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area clean up site inspection.
There has been an amazing response from the business and corporate community, and prizes will be randomly drawn at the end of the shifts a fantastic opportunity to offer to the volunteers appreciations for their time offered at the clean up! Remember to pick up your certificate as well before leaving, we truly wish to thank you kindly for coming out and participating.
Additionally, the weather looks like it will cooperate, so all in all, it looks like a very promising day to see immediate and tangible results from trash removal to restore the forest. It is so exciting to look forward to a public space where children, youth, and adults can gather to appreciate the forest in tidy and sanitary conditions. There is no doubt about it, protecting nature, wildlife and wild places is a great environmental community project. Cleaning the waterways and the riparian forest, protects animals, birds, fish, and plant life from the contamination that litter brings. The clean up also sends a powerful message to users of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, that someone cares about this piece of land and the West Swale wetlands, and that this is not the right area to dump their unwanted trash.
There will data cards for this summer Great Canadian Shoreline “Scavenger Hunt” to record just what has been dumped in this amazing forest. Large jugs of water and juices will be available to replenish the water bottles you bring along. Remember your cloth canvas gloves. Gardening gloves or work gloves work much better than plastic or rubber gloves. If plastic or rubber gloves are needed, they will be supplied. Wear you closed toe shoes and footwear and come dressed for the weather which looks like a grand day for the cleanup which is fantastic!
We truly look forward to meeting you at the South West Off Leash Recreation Area parking lot at 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2016 for the Clean, Green Community Scene. You will have the opportunity to meet like-minded people, and possibly start great friendships. Everyone who comes out will have a great sense of accomplishment, pride and stewardship of the environment. An important benefit of the clean up will be reduced pollution in the West Swale wetlands which directly impact the South Saskatchewan River.
The clean up will have the following impact
- “Improves the appearance of an area that was
previously neglected, abandoned, vandalized,
or misused. - Allows community members to use and
enjoy the improved area more than they did
before the cleanup. - Strengthens the community ties of those
involved in the cleanup.”Source
By taking part in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area clean up, you will help create a public open space ~ an urban regional park~ which is vibrant, healthy and safe! It all adds up, indeed. Good deeds such as cleaning up the community parks are truly contagious, and will have a huge impact on this amazing green space of Saskatoon as the city grows to 1/2 million by the year 2023.
For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park
For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
For more information:
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map
Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail)
Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal using the e-mail friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!
| Payment Options |
| Membership : $20.00 CAD – yearly Membership with donation : $20.00 CAD -monthly Membership with donation : $50.00 CAD Membership with donation : $100.00 CAD |
1./ Learn.
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What was Richard St. Barbe Baker’s mission, that he imparted to the Watu Wa Miti, the very first forest scouts or forest guides? To protect the native forest, plant ten native trees each year, and take care of trees everywhere.
“We stand in awe and wonder at the beauty of a single tree. Tall and graceful it stands, yet robust and sinewy with spreading arms decked with foliage that changes through the seasons, hour by hour, moment by moment as shadows pass or sunshine dapples the leaves. How much more deeply are we moved as we begin to appreciate the combined operations of the assembly of trees we call a forest.”~Richard St. Barbe Baker
“St. Barbe’s unique capacity to pass on his enthusiasm to others. . . Many foresters all over the world found their vocations as a result of hearing ‘The Man of the Trees’ speak. I certainly did, but his impact has been much wider than that. Through his global lecture tours, St. Barbe has made millions of people aware of the importance of trees and forests to our planet.” Allan Grainger
“The science of forestry arose from the recognition of a universal need. It embodies the spirit of service to mankind in attempting to provide a means of supplying forever a necessity of life and, in addition, ministering to man’s aesthetic tastes and recreational interests. Besides, the spiritual side of human nature needs the refreshing inspiration which comes from trees and woodlands. If a nation saves its trees, the trees will save the nation. And nations as well as tribes may be brought together in this great movement, based on the ideal of beautifying the world by the cultivation of one of God’s loveliest creatures – the tree.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker.
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park. 
I will be there!
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