Another club year is about to begin!

Meadow Lake Junior Forest Wardens are gearing up for another great season of learning and outdoor adventure. 
This year's focus is on the Ecology pillar of the JFW program, which includes learning about the plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms that inhabit the ecosystems that we share. Come and discover, in a fun hands-on way, who lives in the soil beneath our feet, in the ponds and rivers in our area, and in our forests and rangelands. Find out how weather, climate, human activity and other factors affect these complex living systems.
But above all, come and enjoy a wide variety of activities with a friendly, welcoming group of people!  Junior Forest Wardens is one of the few programs where parents get to have just as much fun as the kids!   That's right - you join as a family, and all family members take part.  Parents and preschoolers come along to camps, meetings and outings, and everyone rolls up their sleeves and gets dirty, together!
Junior Forest Wardens is a national organization, and members have opportunities to take part in events and adventures along with people from clubs across the country.  On the list of possibilities this year are the leadership workshop in October, special weekend camps for kids 11 and under, wilderness adventures for kids 12 & over, a youth leadership weekend, and - just maybe - a trip to Newfoundland and a visit from our Japanese compatriots, the All Japan Green Friends.  That's all in addition to events closer to home, beginning with our regional startup camp September 1-4 at Lac La Biche!
Join the Adventure!

AJFWA Tree Mail: Memorial Gathering for Larry Nelson - June 3

AJFWA Tree Mail: Memorial Gathering for Larry Nelson - June 3: June 3, 2017 Pagan Lake Campground , Saskatchewan Relatives, friends, and co-workers are cordially invited to gather at Pagan Lake fro...

AJFWA Tree Mail: The Passing of a Legend: Larry Nelson, 1950 - 2017...

AJFWA Tree Mail: The Passing of a Legend: Larry Nelson, 1950 - 2017...: It is with profound sadness that we share with you the news of the sudden passing of Larry Nelson at his home in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan....

Welcome Back!

Welcome to all new and returning members!

We are looking forward to another great year!   As you can see by our calendar, we have an exciting event planned for each month, and busy weeknight meetings in between.

Our year starts off with a bang - our Regional Family Camp is coming up next weekend!  We hope that most of our families are able to attend, even though it will be short notice for new members.  This is an opportunity to get to know JFW members from other clubs in our region, and is sure to be a fun way to end the summer and start the JFW year.  Read more about it here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxhVaytW74o6ZV81cTd2bnpJcDE4TVg3YXR2NS03b1dTYVlN/view?usp=sharing

See you all soon!

Winter Camp at Oshkidee!

Here is (nearly) everything you need to know about this weekend's camp
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KqWGqPF49HUiKUIlognBkc1JxQ0d0coal49zFeul9nE/edit?usp=sharing

See you there!

What to Take Along

What to take along - Personal kits

 At last week's AC meeting, the group members each displayed the contents of their personal daypacks, and shared ideas.

Here is their list, and it's a good one!
 

Type of pack

Comfortable rucksack with several pockets are practical, can require some rummaging to get at items.  Having items assembled in small kits makes it easier to stay organized
Multi-pocket vests make it easy to organize & access items; beware of things falling out.
Dry bags are waterproof and versatile but do add weight

Clothing

• Gloves
• Socks (wool, especially Merino wool)
• Rain gear
• Extra layers
• Sunglasses (UV & Polarized is best)

Water

• 1 litre bottle or soft flask
• Electrolyte powder
• Water purifier (life straw, Katadyne, etc)

Food

• High-energy bars
• Nuts, g.o.r.p.
• Smarties and other tasty stuff
• Lightweight stove & fuel & pot
• One-dish meal kits (dehydrated)
• Gum & other personal preferences
• Utensils (compact)

Tools

• Knife
• Knife sharpener
• Hatchet
• Tape (hockey, electrical, duct, medical...)
• Fishing hooks, line, sinkers
• Cordage  (paracord is excellent)
• Leatherman-type tool
• Sewing kit
• Hand saw
• Digging tool

Fire starting

• Ignition (matches, flint & steel, matches, etc - have several options)
• Tinder (lint, cotton balls, shaved birchbark, etc)
• Prepared firestarters
• Candles

First Aid

• Mors Kochanski-inspired personal kit
• Hand warmers
• Vaseline (also helps start fires)
• After-bite
• Ice pack
• Bugspray

Shelter

• Reflective space blanket
• Tent fly
• Orange garbage bags

Hygiene

• Toilet paper
• Soap (various kinds available: biodegradable, waterless, etc)

Navigation

• Map
• Compass (also has a mirror)
• GPS option
• Flashlight/headlamp

Signalling

• Mirror (also good for first aid)
• Flares (same launcher also works with bear bangers)
• Gun (only if permitted and competent)  (Also handy in case of bear, cougar or moose attack)
• Cellphone
• Pencil & paper

Other

• Hand warmers
• Reference books
•  

We also discussed varying the contents of one's pack according to:

• Season - Availability of water, caloric needs, extra clothing, shelter
• Group size - can minimize some supplies (e.g. one or two cold packs may be sufficient for first aid for the entire group)
• Expected timeframe - take what's needed, plus enough for an unexpected extra day
• Purpose of outing

As a general principle, every ounce counts, and every item should have more than one use if at all possible. 

Here's the brainstorm board