Monday, November 9, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

New JFW Website!

The Alberta JFW Association has just launched a new and greatly improved website, with lots of new features, member services, program resources and also information of interest to the general public and potential new members.

JFW members are encouraged to register in order to get the full benefit of the site.

Lots of new material will be added as time goes on, so check it out often at www.jfwa.ca

Our own website (the one you're reading now) will continue as a source of news & information for Meadow Lake.

Friday, September 11, 2009

A brand new year!

The Meadow Lake Woodlanders are set to begin another year of family fun in the natural world.   We begin, as always, with a camp-out at Pagan Lake, a local recreation area that our club 'adopted' more than ten years ago.

This coming Tuesday is Community Registration night, and we will be there, ready to welcome all the new families who want to join our very friendly group.  We will also have membership information on hand for our partner organization, Nature Saskatchewan.

Our regular, bi-weekly, club meetings will begin Tuesday September 22nd, 7:00 PM at the Lutheran Church Hall.   Dates for meetings, weekend outings and other events will always be posted on our calendar.

Feel free to contact us at any time, by email:  info at woodlandersjfw.org
or by contacting a club member directly.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Leadership & fun outdoors - Meadow Lake Woodlanders Regional Camp

JFW families from Meadow Lake, Cold Lake and Bonnyville gathered for a weekend of challenges, fun & learning at this year's Annual Regional Camp held June 12-14 at Matheson Lake.

Participants had the opportunity to learn about knife safety, bear awareness, survival skills, ecology and fire lighting, take a guided hike through a recent forest fire area, carve a walking stick, practice campfire cooking, and try out some 'primitive weapons' - blowdarts, throwing axes, atlatls, bow & arrow and throwing sticks. A well organized 'Twiggy Tent' inspired the imaginations of younger Wardens and Wanderers.

A highlight of this year's camp was the enthusiasm and leadership demonstrated by our older Wardens. Teenage members successfully planned, prepared and led most of the activities and educational sessions.

Thanks to Meadow Lake Provincial Park, park naturalist Kelsie Muldoon, musician Bill Land, 'head cook' Audrey Marsh, and all our members and guests for a great weekend.

See more pictures of the event!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Time to Camp!

Our 2009 Regional Camp is just around the corner! Wardens and guests will gather June 12-14 in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park for a weekend of learning, challenges and fun.

This years camp features a wide range of activities, such as a hike through a recent forest-fire area, archery, blowdarts and atlatls, cooking, canoeing and lots more.

Here is the camp program - as you can see, there's a lot going on!

Send an email to
info @ woodlandersjfw.org
if you would like more info!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Habitat for Birds and Bees



Songbirds and pollinators are the winners when people build nesting boxes!

Many species of native songbirds are in decline in Canada, and providing nesting sites is one way that people can help maintain populations of these important creatures.

Wild bees are vital pollinators - without them, a great many plants can not produce seed - but are in decline in many areas.

This year, Wardens build birdhouses suitable for chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, swallows and bluebirds, and bee blocks that wild leafcutter bees can use as nest chambers.

The nest boxes were installed in Lions Park and at the Alcott Creek Demonstration Forest. Wardens will be able to observe their handiwork in use as the nesting season progresses.

Many thanks to Home Hardware for supplying materials, and to John Mielke and Louis Hebert (Hebert's Woodworking) for their invaluable assistance.

A valuable reference book is the NatureScape Alberta manual, edited by Myrna Pearman & Ted Pike of the Ellis Bird Farm

More information on pollinators can be found at:
U of Calgary
Environment Canada
Pollination Canada

Monday, March 16, 2009

2009 Winter Camp!

This weekend's winter camp was a blast, in spite of cool cloudy weather. Thanks to all who attended, including JFW's from Cold Lake, guests from Meadow Lake, alumni and our own members.
We were glad for the assistance of Nancy Carberry with the afternoon program, Colleen for the good cookin', Bruce & Judy for the use of their land, and all who helped organize the event.

Have a look at some photos:

2009 Winter Camp


http://picasaweb.google.ca/meadowlakejfw/2009WinterCamp#slideshow

Monday, March 9, 2009

OTAC CAMP!

Click below to see some photos from a great weekend camp at the JFW Long Lake Outdoor Ed Centre, hosted by students from Lakeland College's Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program.
It was time well spent!


2009_OTAC_Camp

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Nature Saskatchewan partners up with Meadow Lake JFW

Exciting news! Nature Saskatchewan has invited our club to be their partner organization in Meadow Lake. As a ‘local society’, our program will be enhanced in several ways:

  • Access to resource materials, guest speakers and other programming help

  • Support for local conservation projects

  • Our members will be eligible to attend provincial Nature Sask events and activities

  • Many more people in Saskatchewan will hear about Junior Forest Wardens!


Fraser Hunter and Deanna Trowsdale-Mutafov of Nature Saskatchewan will be travelling to Meadow Lake for our Jan 13th meeting to meet us, learn more about JFW, and tell us all about their organization and all the possibilities. Please plan to attend, and bring a friend!