FOREST ED 2011 - Beyond Large Scale Forestry: Sustaining Forest Communities
Powerview-Pine Falls and Gimli
March 4th and 5th, 2011
A hands-on workshop with an emphasis on education for sustainable development for private landowners and small scale forestry operations. The workshop featured:
Hands-on sessions in tree identification, forest management practices, forest ecosystems and working with non-timber forest products.
A tour of a working and educational forests with the landowner, operating a small scall forestry operation for profit and fun, in addition to forestry professionals.
Field knowledge of forestry operations in small scale harvesting using horses, and the use of a small scale portable sawmill.
The focus was on social and economic aspects of small scale forestry operations. Curriculum connected resources were made available to take home. In addition practical outdoor and indoor activities related to education for sustainable development and forests were provided to the participants for use in their classroom.
Forest Ed Workshop 2010 - THE FOREST BEYOND THE TREES
Swan River
October 22 and 23, 2010
On October 22nd and 23rd, 2010 teachers from the Swan River area were treated to a teacher education opportunity right in their own backyard. ForestED was planned to coincide with the provincial professional development day for teachers. By offering ForestED during SAG we were able to give 23 teachers a chance to take part in a professional development opportunity in their own community without having to travel to Winnipeg. Thirteen of these teachers joined us for the second day of the ForestED workshop.
Outline of Agenda for October 22nd
• Welcome at Louisiana Pacific Canada Ltd. office in Swan River
• Mill tour of Spruce Products Ltd.
• Tour of LP harvesting and regeneration sites
• Geocache activity in the dark at Wellman Lake Lodge
Outline of Agenda for October 23rd
• Workshops at Duck Mountain Forest Centre
• Archeology with Gary Wowchuk
• Preharvest Survey, Soils, Tree Measurement and ID
• Wildlife and trapping with Gerald Schellemy and Peter Bresky
• Boreal wetlands with Chris Smith
Forest Ed Workshop 2009 - Winter in the Forest
Whiteshell Provincial Park
March 6th and 7th, 2009
As always, the emphasis of the workshop was hands-on learning. Presenters provided participants with a wealth of information and lesson ideas. Each participants received a package of items and resource materials including a reuseable bag, hand lens, sample bags, cone samples of white spruce, black spruce, jack pine and red pine, seed sample of red pine, jack pine and white spruce, tree cookie, 4 spiles for tapping maple trees, a small bottle of maple syrup, Plants of the Western Boreal Forest and Aspen Parkland reference book, Native Trees of Manitoba Fiels Guide, Canadian Forestry Association teaching kits, Manitoba Model Forest Grade 7, Grade 10 Science units, and the newly released Boreal Woodland Caribou curriculum, and a resource binder containing materials from workshop presenters. Teachers were also send a copy of the presentations and digital photos taken by the Manitoba Forestry Association. Partners in the program include Manitoba Forestry Association, Manitoba Model forest, Red River College, Tembec Inc. - Pine Falls Operations and Manitoba Conservation.
Friday March 6th
The day conisted of presentations by Manitoba Conservation staff, followed by a tour of the blow down site caused by the June 2007 wind storm in the Whiteshell. Participants toured of winter harvest operations and the blowdown salvage harvest sites. We were fortunate to be able to see a harvest operation in full swing, equipment on site included a feller buncher, 2 grapple skidders, chipper and chip trucks. The teachers witness the entire timber harvest process, how a tree goes from standing timber to chips in a matter of minutes. Participants then visited an older harvesting site, where forest regeneration has already commenced.
The evening activities included an introduction to GPS and Geocaching. The teachers then headed outside to try out their new skills and to see if they could find the hidden geocach treasures. The remaining of the evening was theirs to relax and socialize.
Saturday March 7th
Presentations of the day included 'How to make Maniotba Maple Syrup', 'Trapping in Manitoba', animal winter adaptations and snow ecology. Outdoor activities included tree identification and and introduction the equipement used by foresters to assess the health of a tree and the forest.
Forest Ed Workshop 2007 - Welcome to the Boreal Forest
Pine Falls, MB and surrounding area
May 11th and 12th, 2007
The workshop included a tour of Manitoba Model Forest and a series of presentation by professionals in the field of forestry. Participants also received a package of items and resource materials including a haversack, hand lens, sample bags, Project Learning Tree Guides, Trees and Shrubs of the Western Boreal Forest, Manitoba Model Forest Senior Science 2 and Grade 10 Science Units, Field Guide to Native Trees of Manitoba, Canadian Forestry Association Teaching Kits, and a resource binder containing materials from the workshop presenters. Partners in the program include Manitoba Forestry Association, Manitoba Model forest, Tembec Inc. - Pine Falls Operations, and Manitoba Conservation.
Friday, May 11th
Our destination was the Pine Creek Trail north-east of Pine Falls in the Manitoba Model Forest and while on route. Upon arrival at the Pine Creek Trail, participants were taken on a guided hike of the trail, and given an introduction to the Boreal Forest ecozone. During the afternoon, the participants were divided into smaller groups for concurrent learning activities on wildlife of the boreal forest, Project Learning Tree, and plant sampling. The evening involved a presentation about the research being done on Woodland Caribour by Manitoba Conservation and the Model Foest; teachers also learnt activities and games that can be used to teach students about endangered species.
Saturday, May 12th
The group toured the Tembec Forest Management field site, where they learnt about the various aspects of forest stewardship and sustainable forest management practiced by Tembec in Manitoba. Mid-way on the tour, Tembec provided a picnic lunch along the shore of Shoe Lake.
Forest Ed Workshop 2003
Star Lake, Whiteshell Province Park
June 6th - 8th, 2003
The seventh ForestEd Planning was held at the University of Manitoba Field Station at Star Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park. Twenty-one participants from across the province took part in the workshop. The emphasis of the workshop was hands-on learning through practical application. The eleven presenters provided a wealth of information during the two and a half day workshop. During registration a field bag, Trees of Canada book, hand lens, binder and comprehensive package of information, T-shirt and Manitoba Hydro mug were provided for each participant (total estimated value in excess of $100).
Friday, June 6th
We took our time traveling up to Star Lake, touring along highway 307 and 44. The first stop was at the popular Foresters’ Footsteps Interpretive Trail at Betula Lake where the group was given a guided. Afterwards Mike Waldram, General Manager of the Manitoba Model Forest, describe the objectives of the Model Forest network across Canada, the activities that are taking place in the Manitoba Model Forest near Pine Falls and in the expansion of this Canadian program into other parts of the world. Brian Kotak, Environmental Director, Tembec Paper – Pine Falls Operation presented information on the company’s environmental program and the link between Tembec and Manitoba Model Forest (MBMF).
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The next stop was at the Red Rock Lake cut-over where where staff of Manitoba Conservation explained how an area is selected to be cut and how it is monitored following harvest to determine if regentation will occur naturally or if the area requires seeding and plants. A short stop at the site of the Brereton Forest Fire allowed participants to see how a burnt area can regenerate. Next stop was a tour of both the Alf Hole Goose Sanctuary and the Trappers’ Cabin near Rennie. The group completed their journey to the Star Lake facility. In the evening participants got an introduction to Project Learning Tree (PLT) manuals and participated in a number of PLT activities. The evening ended with a presentation on the frogs of Manitoba.
Saturday, June 7th
In the morning participants took part in Forest Strata of Life and activities from Project Learning Tree. Out in the forest Dr. Rod Bollman discussed with his group the intricate relationships of fungi, algae whose symbiotic relationship creates lichens. Dr. Geoff Scott spoke about soil and demonstrated soil types. Rachel Boone, graduate student, talked about the significance and dispersion of plants in the forest.
Some of the group vertured on to McGillivary Falls where they enjoyed a very wet walk on the trails. Others took the opportunity to rest, swim, fish or explore on their own. The evening program included an interactive presentation by Dr. Danny Blair on climate change during which he invited controversial comments and questions.
Sunday, June 8th
Participants took part in a Town Hall Meeting geared to determine the sustainability of a forest company’s proposed expansion. Workshop participants took part representing industry, unions, environmental groups, Aboriginal communities and local businesses.
The group then headed home with a stop at the Sandilands Forest Discovery Centre. Although time was limited, those present were able to tour the visitor centres and cross the suspension bridge to walk the Beaver Dam Trail.