connect – Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

Questions For You! The time is NOW!

City of Saskatoon Public Engagement Survey on the Blaimore Sector Plan Amendment

The 132 hectare (326 acre) Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (within which is the South West Off Leash Recreation Area and the 60 hectare (148 acre) George Genereux Urban Regional Park might become part of the Blairmore Sector Plan. Find out what that means for these areas! What are the implications?

With your input into the questionnaire the afforestation areas could be added into the Blairmore Sector – hence the name Blairmore Sector Plan Amendment.

The City of Saskatoon has released the Blairmore Sector Plan Amendment with NEW boundaries containing four reports, two videos and a questionnaire survey online.

This City of Saskatoon webpage link will only by online until Friday July 8.

Included in the Natural Areas Screening reporting section is a Natural Area Screening report which gives a report- a real time snapshot in time- on the plants, the animals, as well as insects of woodlands and wetlands. There are photos, and information about what makes the natural area of the forest function, along with suggestions and recommendations from EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. who have a specialist team that focus on the living things around us and their habitat.

There is information about the background of sector plans looking at neighbourhoods and where 70,000 people can live in new areas of Saskatoon.

Also included is the Official Community Plan Sector Plan, The Blairmore Sector Plan, Southwest Sector Area Map, video presentation about the Blairmore Sector Plan Amendment Project and another video presentation about the Natural Area Screening Study.

In the engage section there is the opportunity for you to write out what you think about Blairmore Sector Plan Amendment. NOTE and REMEMBER This webpage link will only by online until Friday July 8, so the time is now to check it out!

NOTE: There is a short amount of time to engage and complete the online survey to provide concerns and suggestions to the City of Saskatoon Blairmore Sector Plan Amendment! The deadline is Friday July 8. Remember, this is your opportunity to make your voice count to add the afforestation areas to the Blairmore Sector Plan. When you take the time to provide feedback then there may be additional opportunities for another time to provide concerns and suggestions. The City of Saskatoon may consider the opportunity to continue the dialogue with the general public and make another public engagement offer after the summer.

What is your level of interest in two urban regional parks as the City of Saskatoon expands opening its doors to another 70,000 residents? What do you think about the expansion of the Blairmore Sector Plan? What is your level of interest in two semi-wilderness areas homes to species at risk? What do you think about Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park? Do you think that these two afforestation areas should be added to the Blaimore Sector? Do you like the recommendations? Do you have more suggestions? What do you see for opportunities and potential?

What is your level of interest as the deadline is Friday July 8?

SmartPhone nature Photo using the free iNaturalist app

Loving Winter Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area in Saskatoon Another exploration opportunity exists at George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon — SmartPhone nature Photo using the free iNaturalist app

YouTube

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal 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!

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

George Genereux Park – Connect with Nature

Here’s a great opportunity for you, your family and your friends to connect with nature while taking part in an international event designed to track biodiversity.

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas are hosting an event on Fri., 29 April 2022 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Central Standard Time at George Genereux Urban Regional Park Range Road 3063 Saskatoon, SK S0K 1V0

The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an annual event run by the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Since launching in 2016, the CNC has grown into an international event that inspires people around the world to find and document wildlife and birds (flora and fauna) in their cities. Last year over 419 cities in 44 countries participated, including 26 Canadian cities from coast to coast. The Canadian Wildlife Federation hosts the Canada wide City Nature Challenge, and the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Area hosts the Saskatoon area City Nature Challenge. It’s a friendly challenge to see which city can gather the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people. Last year participants tracked over 1 million observations!

The CNC is a fun, simple, and family-friendly event that’s easy to execute and can easily fit within public health guidelines. Using the free downloadable app found at iNaturalist.ca, people can search for and document their local biodiversity simply by taking pictures and uploading them through the app or online. It’s a wonderful way to get local area residents involved in a “citizen science” event that contributes to an international database of biodiversity.

The CNC 2022 event takes place April 29 – May 2, and we would welcome involvement from you, your friends, your family. Anyone can participate in the CNC, and inspiring people to explore local green spaces and natural habitats has added benefits, including developing a record of local wildlife or finding invasive species. If you are sitting at a baseball game outside, and see a fly flittering by, take a photo of it with iNaturalist loaded on your camera. If you see a ladybug wandering past as you sit at a soccer game, take a photo of it with the iNaturalist app. As you are walking your puppy dog, and your pet sniffs a beetle, take a picture with the iNaturalist app, there are so many opportunities!

Your involvement will also showcase Saskatoon’s commitment to biodiversity and conservation.

iNaturalist Connect with nature for the City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area Défi nature urbaine hosted by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

iNaturalist Observation with smart phone connecting with nature, supporting vital conservation research worldwide. — iNaturalist Connect with nature for the City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area Défi nature urbaine hosted by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Being Outside advocated by David Suzuki

David Suzuki turns 86 on March 24. Suzuki has been notable as host of The Nature of Things. In 1990, he Co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation which has a mission “to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that does sustain us.” The foundation advocates for sustainability, climate action, and The One Nature Challenge.

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas concur that spending 30 minutes, just 1/2 hour per day connecting with nature is a wonderful habit to foster a new habit for the year.

With the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, come outside and enjoy the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Park, they are a whopping 149 hectares of forest to explore.

There are some amazing events coming up for the City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area for the #CNCYXE2022. Help put the City of Saskatoon on the world nature scene! Using iNaturalist take photos of plants, animals, insects and mushrooms between April 29 to May 2, 2022! Saskatoon will compete for the title of the most Biodiverse City. We need your help. By observing local nature, everyone can support vital conservation research while connecting with nature and enjoying the outdoors.

That’s not all, it is a wonderful and vibrant spring with the Jane’s Walk festival featuring two tours, and events to celebrate Arbor Week. This year SOS Trees Inc. has proclaimed Arbor Week between May 21 to 29, 2022. This is all followed by events for the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day on June 5, and the same day celebrates the 40th anniversary of Richard St. Barbe Baker’s last tree planting. How absolutely wonderful to get outside in nature and celebrate Saskatoon’s Hidden Forests on the Prairies.

YouTube

Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Our Forests. Are They Alive?

Eventbrite Registration Sunday Sep 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm Our Forests. Are They Alive?

Seeing, and orienting towards a holistic experience, tapping into intuition, exploring how forests think, delving into the heart of the forest.

Our Forests. Are They Alive? Just in time for World Environment Health Day. Sylvan dreaming and knowing, the secret life of trees, and forests. Multiple ways to connect and discover ecological non-dualism with revelations by Charles Eisenstein, Geneen Marie Haugen, Sadghuru, Suzanne Simard, Arts and Wildwoods. Immersing in the exploratory steps of semiosis, ecological ethics and cosmic diplomacy.

“I approach God’s Creation, this beautiful Earth. The ancients believed that the Earth was a sentient being and felt the behaviour of mankind upon it.” said Richard St. Barbe Baker, ” As we have no proof to the contrary, it might be as well for responsible people to accept this point of view and behave accordingly.

Eventbrite Registration Sunday Sep 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm Our Forests. Are They Alive?

National Forest Week The last full week of September. Maple Leaf Day the Wednesday of that week.

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas are proud to bring to you this series of events for National Forest Week Theme “Our forests – Continually giving” Saturday September 18, 2021 to Sunday September 26, 2021 Maple Leaf Day September 22, 2021 This is one session in a weeklong series of webinars.

This program for National Forest Week is brought to you by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas an environmental non-profit charity that was created to preserve and restore the 326-acre Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and the 148-acre George Genereux Urban Regional Park. Our work reinforces the 1979 City Council decision designating these afforestation areas on the western fringe of Saskatoon to “be preserved in perpetuity.” They are important habitat for wildlife as well as semi-wild public spaces for recreation and nature immersion. The larger of these two areas is named after Richard St. Barbe Baker (1889-1982), who has been called the “first global conservationist” and in recognition of this he was made the first Honorary Life Member of the World Wildlife Fund in 1969. A British forester who also homesteaded and studied in Saskatoon, he dedicated his entire life unfailingly to the preservation and planting of trees and forests.

This is one session in a week long series of events celebrating National Forest Week with a theme – “Our Forests – Continually Giving”

Sat. Sept 18 7:00 Saskatoon’s Wildlife—the real night life in Saskatoon! Saskatoon’s trail cams reveal who’s who.

Sept 19 2:00 Nature Snapshot in Time

Sun Sep. 19 2:00 Forestry Farm Walking Tour

Canada-wide CLS environmental education program explores historical time lines Sun. Sep 19 7:00

Mon Sept 20 2:00 Flag raising Ceremony at City Hall – National Forest Week

Mon Sept 20 7:00 The Urban Forest and Climate Change

During National Forest Week enjoy the self-guided SOS Tree Tour of unique trees in our fair city!

Tues Sept 21 7:00 Dr. Colin Laroque Shelterbelts SB- Decision Support System and Agroforestry

Wed. Sept 22 Maple Leaf Day 7:00 National Healing Forests Truth and Reconciliation

Thurs Sept 23 7:00 Urban forests and greenspaces enhance Saskatoon’s quality of life.

Fri Sept Sep 24 at 7:00 pm When and Where did you see What?!?

Sat Sept 25 7:00 PaRx in Saskatchewan, PaRx, Canada’s First National Prescription Program has officially arrived in Saskatchewan!

Sunday Sunday Sep 26 at 2:00 Forest connections and guided walk

Sunday Sep 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm Our Forests. Are They Alive?

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:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

NEW P4G District Official Community Plan

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

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Blogger: FriendsAfforestation

Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.com Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area

Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Reddit: FriendsAfforestation

Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas

Mix: friendsareas

YouTube

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )

Donate your old vehicle, here’s how!

Support using Canada Helps

Support via a recycling bottle donation

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Congratulations!

The Government of Canada is collaborating with the Meewasin Valley Authority about the potential for the Meewasin Valley to become a National Urban Park. This initiative is one which would help protect biodiversity in urban centres, while providing urban residents with the capacity to connect with nature.

Image taken by Shweetha Gopinath, eco-photographer — Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

“We see opportunities, potentially, in expanding the land base for Meewasin, we see opportunities in potentially looking at collectively investing in infrastructure, collectively investing in protecting biodiversity that exists within the Meewasin Valley Authority. And so I think that the federal government is willing to do its part with respect to financial contributions,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of environment and climate change and minister responsible for Parks Canada.

“Canada’s National Urban Parks Program is part of a broader southern strategy of restoration that includes natural infrastructure, tree planting and regeneration of wetlands, and is vital in the fight to stem the tide of rapid biodiversity loss.”

During this United Nations Decade on Restoration, certainly preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems is much needed. It is terrifically exciting that the Meewasin Valley Authority and the Government of Canada are doing their part in restoration!

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:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

NEW P4G District Official Community Plan

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

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Blogger: FriendsAfforestation

Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.com Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area

Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Reddit: FriendsAfforestation

Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas

Mix: friendsareas

YouTube

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )

Donate your old vehicle, here’s how!

Support using Canada Helps

Support via a recycling bottle donation

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Forest Restoration

March 21 is a spectacular day! It is the United Nations International Day of Forests! This is a day to take especial notice of the semi-wilderness bio-diversity in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and the George Genreux Urban Regional Park.

During these days of COVID with isolation, loneliness, anxiety, depression, and having COVID affecting our family, work and lives to such a great extent, it is wonderful to have a natural prescription for healing and have a walk in the forest. This is a very healing, peaceful, and restorative process to connect with nature in these weird times.

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is 326 acres, and George Genereux Urban Regional Park is 148 acres, so plenty of room for social distancing, to derive some fantastic health benefits.

There is great importance in forests. Richard St. Barbe Baker, himself had a tree pledge for forest guardians: to plant ten trees a year, take care of trees everywhere, and do one good deed every day. The theme of International Day of Forests this year is “‘Forest Restoration: a path to recovery and well-being.” This ties into United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration very well indeed!

So let us all take up Richard St. Barbe Baker’s forest guardian pledge starting on the International Day of Forests. Let us all plant ten trees a year, take care of trees everywhere, and do one good deed every day. What a great thought during these weird COVID times for sure.\

To be eligible for our prize draw, for the challenge on International Day of Forests, let us know via email how you have taken the pledge to plant ten trees a year, take care of trees everywhere, and how you have done a good deed every day!

“A simple act of kindness and compassion towards a single animal may not mean anything to all creatures, but will mean everything to one.”
― Paul Oxton

YouTubePlaylist
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.com
Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )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! Canada Helps

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

“To be standing together in a frosty field, looking up into the sky, marvelling at birds and revelling in the natural world around us, was a simple miracle. And I wondered why we were so rarely able to appreciate it.”
Lynn Thomson

“No matter how few possessions you own or how little money you have, loving wildlife and nature will make you rich beyond measure.”
― Paul Oxton

Tree Photo Challenge

While walking along the trails with your COVID bubble, take photos of as many different kinds of trees as you can find in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, the forest is an amazing Winter Wonderland! Can you find an Engelmann’s Spruce, or perhaps a Scots Pine? Maybe track the entire Trembling Aspen Grove, or find a sweet snowberry bush.

This challenge is part of the WinterCityYXE Take It Outside Winter Staycation package! Come “Outside Safely” to the 326 acre Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.

Using iNaturalist will help with the identification of the tree!
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open the App Store
On your android phone or tablet, open Google Play
Browse or search for iNaturalist and download.

Check out the iNaturalist.pdf pamphlet! In your iNaturalist tree observation include the full photo of the tree, the tree bark and the end of a branch or a twig! If it is an evergreen make a note if the needle rolls easily between two finger and is round, or if when rolled the needle feels square.

We would be happy to get you acquainted with iNaturalist and how fun it is to use or if you having problems using iNaturalist, just Email friendsafforestation@gmail.com and we can certainly arrange a zoom meeting with you about using iNaturalist!

As events cannot be planned at this time, the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. will have a lot of fun announcing a variety of winter challenges which will take place periodically over the winter months!

We wish you a lot of fun!

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:
Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits
NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
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
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.com
Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )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! Canada Helps

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

We can learn whatever we need in nature because we are part of nature. Human beings are part of Creation. We live by the same laws as all of nature.
Anne Wilson Schaef

Trust one who has tried it, you will find more in woods than in books; trees and stones will teach you what you can never learn from masters.
Saint Bernard de Clairvaux

Eco-Quest COVID-19 Activity

Today, an invitation is extended to you to take part in the Genereux Park Eco-Quest GP-EQ and the Baker Area Eco-Quest BA-EQ. These two events are being done out at the afforestation areas to inventory all the living, growing, crawling, walking, leaping, plants, animals, and bugs. Well, you know that these are weird and uncertain times with the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 going around. Soooooo the Genereux Park Eco-Quest and the Baker Area Eco-Quest are not planned for a day nor a time. The Genereux Park Eco-Quest and the Baker Area Eco-Quest are not group events, and yet they are – they are virtual group events.

Grasshopper_SparrowSMALL CC2.0 dominic sheronY

Grasshopper_Sparrow CC2.0 dominic sheronY

Make A Wish Day

Northern Shoveler

Make A Wish Day

The Eco-Quests work by downloading the i-Naturalist app onto your smart phone. Come out to the afforestation area individually or as a household. Use the app to take a photograph of something you see in nature. The i-Naturalist app works as your ‘field guide’ and will provide a suggestion on identification.

Also, looking and watching for various items in nature is like a “Where’s Waldo” puzzle activity. They are fun for the whole family. People can meet online and work together via their computer, and yet be out in public with social distancing. Students can increase their science awareness of nature. Rare and uncommon habitats, plants and animals can be discovered. These Eco-quests are a great way to connect with the environment and appreciate the biodiversity which exists. Eco-quests are challenging, and encouraging to everyone to appreciate the greenspace which may be taken for granted. Eco-quests are a means to become intrigued with the beauty and wonder of the natural world around us.

With an increased footprint, are there any locales or conservation strategies needed? Are there any species which need protection? Are there any reptiles (lizards and snakes), amphibians (frogs), lichen, fungi (mushrooms) spiders, fish, mollusks (snails), mosses, mammals birds, or plants in the afforestation areas?

After you are finished comment on the following statements;

I know more plant species than bird species. Yes. No. Not applicable.
I listed only live species which I saw or heard. Yes. No. Not applicable.
I looked for new species which I never saw before. Yes. No. Not applicable.
I listed only those species for which I was sure of the name. Yes. No. Not applicable.
I focused on only the woodlands species, and not the wetlands or grasslands. Yes. No. Not applicable.
I found out the name of a new plant which I had not noticed before. Yes. No. Not applicable.

This virtual Eco-Quest is a great way for you to connect with your sports group, physical, mental and spiritual health organisation. Let your group know about this activity, and everyone can go out at the time most convenient to them. Then online you can discuss with them how they made out during their time in the afforestation area. You can compare notes, and see who found the most birds, and who found the most plants.

Getting involved in the Genereux Park Eco-Quest and the Baker Area Eco-Quest are an amazing way to spend some time outdoors. Doing an activity outdoors alleviates anxiety, mental health issues, depression, and worries about the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a win-win situation! It’s a great way to “see” what is in nature, increase your knowledge of the world around you, and inspire you to learn more!

Stimulate learning, relaxation, fun and enhance your learning ability. Only go out on your individual Eco-Quest with those from your household. Please keep social distance from anyone outside your own household.

Not only does your participation in the Eco-Quest make a huge difference in the results, but it is great fun, and enhances a beautiful walk through the forest, the grasslands or along the wetlands. It is rewarding connecting with scientists and other individuals. It is wonderful to interact with the local community, and it results in a relaxing and rewarding day interacting, observing nature, and delving into the number of birds, and wildlife habitats. You don’t even realize you are exercising until you are done, and look at how many steps you took. It is a means to great self-care, and a wonderful way to take care of your physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Rather than connecting with the stress and anxiety of COVID-19 for this moment in time, take a holiday in nature, and immerse yourself in beauty.

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 SW 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

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Instagram: St.BarbeBaker

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

You Tube Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

You Tube George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Please help protect / enhance /commemorate your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers)

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