Nature Activities for Kids, Summer 2021

We’ve come across some great nature activities for kids in Saskatchewan to enjoy this summer. You will find more possibilities in Nature and Environmental Programming for Children and Youth. 

Notice Nature 

EcoFriendlySask partnered with the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council on the Notice Nature project. If you’re in their area, you can win prizes, but even if you’re not, the bingo cards offer a wide variety of different outdoor activities and can be downloaded from the Notice Nature website. 

Woodland Art Adventures 

Prepare for adventure by borrowing a nature backpack from Woodland Art Adventures. The backpacks include indoor and outdoor activities, craft supplies, several scavenger hunts, and the materials to make a nature clipboard. There are backpacks on animal tracks, birding, botany, navigating by nature, and pond exploration. 

Themed art kits are also available covering topics such as snowflakes and exploring the night sky. 

Outdoor Science Kit

The Saskatchewan Science Centre is offering a kit packed with fun experiments and activities for kids to discover science in the outdoors. Kids will get to explore leaves, campfires, bugs, animal poop, tornadoes, microorganisms, sunshine, and stars. The kit is portable and all the instructions are included. 

Summer Camps - Regina 

Join the Wascana Junior Explorers on Saturday mornings from 9:00-10:30 am for fun nature programming. There will be different activities each week. 

The Saskatchewan Science Centre is offering week-long, science-themed day camps in August. Kids will build bridges, learn how to make soap, go on a virtual star tour, and much, much more. 

Summer Camps - Saskatoon 

Meewasin Valley Authority is offering eco adventure camps at Beaver Creek Conservation Area on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout July and August. Topics include rodents, birds, aquatic invertebrates, and nature navigation. 

You may also enjoy: 

Nature Apps for Kids 

Educational Resources for Kids on Nature and the Environment 

Nature and Environmental Programming for Children and Youth 

Check out EcoFriendly Sask’s Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces

EcoSask News, June 29, 2021

This Week’s Highlights 

Nature Conservancy of Canada – Saskatchewan is hosting a webinar at 6:30 pm, July 6, on the importance of dark skies as well as tips and tricks for stargazing and nighttime photography. 

Lone trees make it easier for birds and bees to navigate farmlands, providing shelter, food, and places to land. [The Conversation] 

Upcoming Events 

Saskatoon Nature Society has two upcoming field trips to look for orchids on July 1 and butterflies on July 3. 

Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas will be holding bio blitzes every Sunday at 2 pm from July 4-Sept. 26.

There will be a free online workshop on food forest design from 10:30 am-1:30 pm, July 6. 

Find out how time and weather influence Saskatchewan’s largest snake in a noon-hour webinar on July 8 with SK-PCAP. 

Local News 

The Water Security Agency has received a failing grade from the Provincial Auditor for failing to regulate wetland drainage. For further information, read the Citizens Environmental Alliance's newsletter.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Asquith site is now open to the public and has a mowed trail with interpretive signs provided with the support of the Saskatoon Nature Society. 

Cindy Wright’s watercolours portraying the importance of bees in our society will be on display at Handmade House in Saskatoon from June 28-Aug. 21.

 

Light Pollution 

“Fireflies use their bioluminescence to flirt in the dark. . . . Under artificial light, males flash about half as often, while females rarely, if ever, flash back.” You can help by installing motion detectors, timers and shielding to ensure that light goes only where people need it, when they need it; keeping lights as dim as possible; and opting for monochrome red LEDs. [The Conversation] 

Office buildings that leave their lights on overnight pose a serious risk for migrating birds. A research team studied one building and estimated that turning off half the lights could reduce bird deaths by 11 times in the spring and 6 times in the fall. [Anthropocene] 

Do you wonder why some birds visit your backyard and not others? Many common species avoid noisy areas and even more will stay away when there is both noise and light pollution. [SciTech] 

Municipal Climate Action 

Miistakis Institute in Alberta has produced the following free, downloadable research reports to assist municipalities in addressing climate action: 

Roadside Management for Pollinator Habitat in Alberta 

Environmental Reserves and Environmental Reserve Easements 

Paying for Conservation: Municipal Powers to Generate Revenue for Conservation 

Did You Know? 

Wales plans to freeze road construction projects and focus on maintaining existing roads in a bid to reduce its carbon emissions. [Planetizen]

Project Noah is a site for photographers and naturalists. Share your photos, learn from the experts and take advantage of educational videos, lesson plans, and outdoor learning activities. [Project Noah]

Just for Fun 

How and what do you feed 2,700 animals on a daily basis? Take a look behind the scenes at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. [Smithsonian Magazine]

EcoFriendly Sask supports Saskatchewan environmental initiatives through an online publication, an events calendar, small grants, and the Nature Companion website/app. You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or subscribe by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, June 8, 2021

This Week’s Highlights 

What impact does mountain biking have on wildlife? How can parks managers reconcile their dual mandate of nature conservation and human recreation? 

Wascana Junior Naturalists is hosting nature programming for kids in Regina every Saturday from June 19-Aug. 21 from 9-10 am. 

Upcoming Events 

Nature Conservancy of Canada is presenting a webinar with 10 stories of Canadian wildlife recovery and why they matter at 12:30 pm, June 10. 

Regina Public Library is offering a virtual series of short talks with artists with environmental elements to their practices at 7:30 pm, June 15. 

As part of this year’s Spring Meet, Nature Saskatchewan is hosting a variety of online activities, including Nature Trivia on June 15, a presentation on Leave-No-Trace outdoor cooking on June 16, a photo/video sharing session on June 17, and an AGM at 7 pm, June 21. 

The Provincial Association of Resort Communities of Saskatchewan is hosting a virtual panel discussion on waterways, wetlands, and stewardship at 7 pm, June 16. 

SK-PCAP is hosting a native plant Id and quiz webinar at noon, June 16, as part of Native Prairie Appreciation Week. 

Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin is hosting an online annual general meeting at noon, June 16. 

SK-PCAP is hosting a webinar on Stewards of Saskatchewan: prairie species at risk at noon, June 16, as part of Native Prairie Appreciation Week.

 

Local News 

Ron Jensen will be banding ruby-throated hummingbirds at Beaver Creek Conservation Area. The hummingbird feeders were donated by Wild Birds Unlimited.

Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre has gathered 3,000 signatures, calling on the City of Saskatoon to ban the use of neurotoxins on pigeons. 

Let’s Get Practical 

Canada Greener Homes Grants – who is eligible, what they cover, drawbacks, and how to get the most bang for your buck. 

Should you replace a used car with an EV? That depends on how many miles you’ll put on it and on how electricity is produced in your area. 

Art & Nature 

“Cities around the world should identify, protect and make accessible places in nature that are dedicated to silence in the outer sense and stillness in the inner sense.” 

An online photography exhibit explores 3 themes: Incredible Wildlife, Wildlife in Crisis, and Reasons for Hope. 

The arts can help solve the climate crisis by telling stories that persuade people to “fall in love with nature again” and prompt government to back green policies. 

Success Stories 

Toronto’s TD Centre is undertaking North America’s largest bird-safe building retrofit by installing bird collision deterrent markers on glass. 

People are more likely to install solar panels if their neighbours have already done so. 

A 5-storey residence at Red Deer College is covered in solar glass cladding on 3 sides. 

Did you know? Bears pull chokecherry to the ground and tear its branches apart in their eagerness to eat the fruit (Nature Companion, a free nature app, downloadable directly from its website) 

EcoFriendly Sask supports Saskatchewan environmental initiatives through an online publication, an events calendar, small grants, and the Nature Companion website/app. You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or subscribe by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, May 25, 2021

This Week’s Highlights 

“Storing and transporting excess renewable energy as hydrogen could reshape global energy politics. . . . Because the ones [countries] best equipped to export green hydrogen are so geographically and politically diverse—from Morocco to Australia to Norway—the rise of green hydrogen may lower the temperature on international oil and gas politics, as well as the global climate.” 

Regina Public Library is hosting an online program about artists who focus on sustainability at 7 pm, June 3. 

Upcoming Events 

City of Regina residents can dispose of hazardous waste from 4-7 pm on Friday, 9 am-4 pm, Saturday, and 9 am-4 pm, Sunday, May 28-30. 

Nature Saskatchewan is hosting World Migratory Bird Day celebrations on May 29 in Regina. Register in advance. 

Learn wildlife tracking skills and how to put them to use in the summer in a Nature Conservancy of Canada webinar at 6:30 pm, May 31. 

Nature Regina will hold an online annual general meeting at 7 pm, May 31. 

The Provincial Association of Resort Communities of Saskatchewan is hosting a webinar on keeping invasive species out of our lakes at 7 pm, June 2. 

Mark Jaccard will host a discussion of his book, The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Success, at the breakfast meeting of the Energy Management Task Force. 

Saskatoon Nature Society – Golden Eagles 

June 3, 9 am – Donna Birkmaier Park 

June 10, 9 am – Chappell Marsh/Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area 

Retirees and partners who are interested in birds and the natural world are invited to participate. 

Other Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 

June 5, 8 am-noon – Birding in Dundurn Area Pastures 

June 6, 1-3 pm – Arbor Week Hike 

June 11, 9:30-11:30 pm – Firefly Hike to NE Swale 

June 13, 8:30 am-2 pm – Member Visit to NCC Asquith Site 

June 15, 6:30-9 pm – Wildflowers at the Small Swale 

Field trips are currently for members only, so sign up now. Advance registration is required.

 

Did you know? Indigenous peoples of North America used the golden bean flowers to make a yellow dye (Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s 4 western provinces is downloadable directly from its website) 

Plastics 

Every year 380 million tonnes of plastic are produced and just 16% is recycled. But what if we could unmake it? “Chemical recycling is an attempt to recycle the unrecyclable. Instead of a system where some plastics are rejected because they are the wrong colour or made of composites, chemical recycling could see all types of plastic fed into an ‘infinite’ recycling system that unmake plastics back into oil, so they can then be used to make plastic again.” 

And, in case you were wondering, here’s who is making – and funding – the world’s plastic trash. 

Wind Energy 

Wind turbines pose a threat to birds. Fortunately, high-tech safeguards are being developed to ensure birds’ safety. 

Progress is being made in recycling wind turbines, including the blades. 

EcoFriendly Sask supports Saskatchewan environmental initiatives through an online publication, an events calendar, small grants, and the Nature Companion website/app. You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, November 10, 2020

Upcoming Events 

Beaver Creek Tour, Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28 (Saskatoon) 

Enjoy a one-hour guided family or couples tour at Beaver Creek Conservation Area on Saturdays in November (fee ranges from $79-114). 

Beyond Pesticides, Nov. 10 (online) 

Christy Morrissey will discuss Beyond Pesticides: Challenging the Paradox of Agriculture and Environment in an online event from 3-4 pm, Nov. 10. 

Saskatoon Cycles AGM, Nov. 10 (online) 

Saskatoon Cycles is holding its annual general meeting at 7 pm, Nov. 10, on Zoom. 

Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, Nov. 11 (online) 

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas are holding an online annual general meeting at 7 pm, Nov. 11. 

Invasive Species in Sask River System, Nov. 12 (online) 

Renny Grilz will discuss invasive species and their potential impacts to the health of the Saskatchewan River system at noon, Nov. 12. 

Train the Trainer, Nov. 14 (Regina) 

Nature Regina members are invited to learn about birds, native plants, and wildlife from 10-11 am or 11 am-noon, Nov. 14, so that they can then help with the Get Outside! Kids Club and other upcoming events. 

Birding at City Park, Nov. 15 (Saskatoon) 

Saskatoon Nature Society will be birding at City Park from 2-3 pm, Nov. 15. Field trips are currently for members only, so sign up now. 

Contemporary Art & Climate Change, Nov. 16 (online) 

Adrian Stimson and Laurier St. Pierre will discuss The Black Snake & Secret Gardens: Contemporary Art and Climate Change online from 6-7:30 pm, Nov. 16. 

Discard Twitter Conference, Nov. 16 & 17 (online) 

If you’re concerned about waste, check out the Discard Studies Twitter conference schedule for Nov. 16 & 17. 

Climate Change & Forests, Nov. 17 (online) 

Mark Johnson will discuss Climate Change and its Impact on Canada’s Forests: How are we Adapting? in an online Café Sci presentation from 7:30-8:30 pm, Nov. 17. 

Recording Bird Sounds, Nov. 19 (online) 

John Patterson will discuss recording bird sounds and behaviours at the 7:30 pm, Nov. 19 online meeting of the Saskatoon Nature Society. Join the Society to participate. 

Looking Ahead 

Below Zero, Nov. 26 & Dec. 3 (online) 

SaskOutdoors is offering a virtual Below Zero workshop with classroom resources for teaching about wildlife in winter from 7-9 pm, November 26 and December 3.

 

Restoration & Reclamation in a Changing Environment, Feb. 1-5 (online) 

Registration is now open for the online Native Prairie Restoration/Reclamation Workshop from Feb. 1-5. 

A full list of upcoming events (online and in person) can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

Local News 

Wild about Saskatoon invites you to come and explore the Northeast Swale.

 

 

Wetlands can add economic and environmental benefits for farmers. 

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has established a new conservation site in the Milk River Basin Natural Area in southwestern Saskatchewan. 

Energy 

Is green hydrogen the next big thing in future energy? 

Gaining Steam: A Regulatory and Policy Framework for Geothermal Energy Development in Alberta (Environmental Law Centre) could prove useful in Saskatchewan when considering issues such as licensing and environmental assessment. 

Urban Life 

Fencing is an effective and realistic way to reduce roadkill. A step-by-step plan helps transportation managers decide on length and where to place them. 

“It’s past time to accept that lethal methods and relocation are neither effective, sustainable nor humane approaches to human-wildlife conflicts.” There are alternatives. 

Book Review 

“Narratives of eternal technological progress obscure the alternative of making do with what we already have. It closes our imagination to the possibility of choosing smaller and simpler over bigger and better.” [The Age of Low Tech: Towards a Technologically Sustainable Civilization] 

Thank you for reading EcoSask News. If you enjoyed it, please share it with someone – or many someones! 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner). 

Check out EcoFriendly Sask’s Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces

EcoSask News, August 4, 2020

Upcoming Events
Outdoor Adventures (Regina)
Nature Regina has begun rescheduling field trips, keeping it safe through masking, physically distancing, and hand sanitizing.

Outdoor Observations, Aug. 13 & 27 (Regina)
The Saskatchewan Science Centre’s day camps are back in operation. 3-12 year olds are invited to join them from 9 am-4 pm, Aug. 13, to learn about science outdoors. A second camp will be held from 9 am-4 pm, Aug. 27.

Looking Ahead
Net Zero Conference, Sept. 15-16 (online)
The Net Zero Conference & Expo, to be held online Sept. 15-16, bills itself as a hub for thought leaders and industry-shapers in climate, carbon, energy, water, waste, and transit.

Wilderness First Aid, Sept. 19-20 (Meadow Lake)
SaskOutdoors is offering a 20-hour basic wilderness first aid course on Sept. 19-20 in Meadow Lake Provincial Park.

Canoe Certification, Sept. 19-20 (Lumsden Beach)
SaskOutdoors is offering a Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Skills (flat water) Certification Course on Sept. 19-20 at Lumsden Beach.

Saskatoon Nature Society
Saskatoon Young Naturalists
Sept. 19, 9:30 am-1:30 pm – Sandhill Cranes Field Trip
Oct. 2, 7-10 pm (tentative date) – Northern Saw-whet Owl Field Trip
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.

A full list of upcoming events (online and in person) can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

Local News
National Farmers Union: “The question is not whether irrigation expansion is good or bad, but rather how best to responsibly expand irrigation and how best to spend billions of dollars so that farmers and all citizens receive maximum benefit.”

Saskatchewan Environmental Society says government should do its homework before committing a massive amount of money to an irrigation project that will put the environment at risk

Nature-based art therapy: an interview with Saskatoon’s Emily Hammer.

Meet the people saving Canada’s native grasslands.

From Information to Action
“There aren’t enough batteries to electrify all cars – focus on trucks and buses instead”

A safe street is not one where safety is determined by how fast someone can comfortably drive, but rather one where a person can comfortably walk, ride a bike, and cross the street using a wheelchair."

“The less government policy does, the more we, as citizens have to do on our own. With climate change, the burden of action has fallen, unevenly, to individuals. This, when simple mechanisms such as a price on carbon, better public transit, and the incentivizing of deep home retrofits and EV purchases would dramatically reduce consumer burden, and mental fatigue.”

Redesigning democracy for future generations: “Especially in wealthy nations, we treat it [the future] as a dumping ground for ecological degradation, technological risk and nuclear waste – as if there is nobody there.”

Conservation easements on private land could make all the difference in protecting endangered species.

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Nature’s Wonders
BirdNote – for bird lovers of all ages – short videos (under 2 minutes), photos, bird calls, and educational resources. Did you know that the Ruddy Turnstone really can turn stones?

“It is crucial that we learn to appreciate parasites . . . . Without them, there are no healthy ecosystems.”

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include.

 You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner). 

Check out EcoFriendly Sask’s Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces

Birds in Art, Film & Photography

Do you long to take a close look at a magpie’s black and white splendour or a toucan’s striking plumage? Two recently published books and a documentary let you do just that.

Close to Birds: An Intimate Look at our Feathered Friends 

“Birds touch us. No other wild animal can waken the curiosity, warm the heart, and quicken the pulse of so many of us. No other wild animal is as close to our hearts. We want to tell you about all of this: about birdsong inspiring comfort and joy, bird flight rousing dreams of freedom, bird presence giving life and character to seasons and landscapes.” 

Close to Birds: An Intimate Look at our Feathered Friends combines magnificent close-up images of birds by Roine Magnusson with short essays and anecdotal accounts about each species by Mats Ottosson and Asa Ottosson. It’s a book to savour and share and is sure to enhance your appreciation for the diversity and beauty of the avian kingdom.

You can view some of the photographs on Roine Magnusson’s website.

The Wall of Birds: One Planet, 243 Families, 375 Million Years 

“Nothing like this had ever been done: a mural depicting all 243 modern families of living birds, five modern families that had gone extinct by human hand within the last thirty thousand years, twenty-one prehistoric ancestors, and a ten-foot caiman to remind people of the mind-bending reality that the crocodile family is more closely related to birds than it is to other reptiles." 

There was a blank wall at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, that cried out for a mural. When Jane Kim came to the Lab as a Bartels Illustrator in 2010, she leaped at the opportunity. And so began a 3-year project to depict “270 life-size animals, from the thirty-foot-long Yutyrannus to the tiny Marvelous Spatuletail hummingbird, which weighs about as much as a penny.”

You can now view many of the images and learn more about the birds and Kim’s experience in painting them in The Wall of Birds: One Planet, 243 Families, 375 Million Years.

Jane Kim and writer Thayer Walker founded Ink Dwell studio in 2012 to create art that explores the wonders of the natural world. Images of their work are available on Ink Dwell’s website.

Dancing with the Birds 

“The filmmakers introduce us to individual birds as the male dancers strive to present their best side to females watching nearby. We see not only their successes, but their failures, too. . . . This approach lets us relate to the birds and their strange, idiosyncratic behaviors as they face an existential challenge: In a cacophonous forest with sometimes hundreds of other flashy bird species, how do they find the one—or, for that matter, anyone?” (Audubon)

Dancing with the Birds is a 2019 Netflix documentary narrated by Stephen Fry. It showcases the courtship preparations and dances of birds of paradise. A short preview is available on YouTube and shown below.

EcoSask News, April 28, 2020

Upcoming Events (online)
Zoo Society AGM, May 3
The Saskatoon Zoo Society will be holding a virtual annual general meeting at 1:30 pm, May 3.

Deep Building Retrofits, May 6
Rod Yoed will discuss deep building retrofits for energy and carbon at the 7:30 am, May 6, online meeting of the Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Force.

World Migratory Bird Day, May 9
Share photographs and stories about birds as Migratory Bird Day goes online on Saturday, May 9.

More and more events are going online. Be sure to check the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar for details. 

Local News
Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail’s summer program plans to build an online nature community through a Facebook group to share ideas and a website to provide resources.

A new study will determine the presence or absence of microplastics in the South Saskatchewan River watershed.

The Alternative, a zero-waste and refillery store, has opened in Regina.

Educational Resources
SOS Trees Coalition has a brand-new website covering tree care, threats to trees, benefits of trees, tree tours, and more.

Earth Rangers has launched The Big Melt, a 10-episode podcast for teens and tweens addressing climate change and its impact on youth.

Wildsight has put together a homeschooling newsletter and resources, including concrete ideas from homeschooling parents, that connect kids with nature and gets them outdoors.

A journey of billions of miles – stargazing from your backyard.

Check out Earth Tongues, a blog of independent voices from The Ecological Citizen.

From Information to Action
The Covid lockdown has affected transportation worldwide. Can we apply what we’ve learned to accelerate climate action?

The normal economy is never coming back. “It makes sense to call . . . for a more active, more visionary government to lead the way out of the crisis. But the question, of course, is what form that will take and which political forces will control it.”

“Ducks in the streets of Paris are a sign that nature is all around us. . . . It’s high time we give nature the attention it deserves.”

Strengthening and maintaining urban nature connections – trees, pollinators, dark skies – through law, policy, and individual stewardship.

Electric thermal storage units will help smooth out peaks in demand, reducing the need for diesel and LNG generators in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Changes to keep cities functioning after lockdown could show that pro-pedestrian policies were not urbanist fantasies but durable, practical ways to build a livable post-pandemic urban future.

The Power of Art
The power of a photograph – 6 conservation photographers talk about their work.

Artists are drawing attention to climate change, species loss, and pollution in US national parks.

21 books, both fiction and non-fiction, about climate change.

That’s Amazing!
Scientists are studying owl wings to design quieter airplanes, fans, and wind turbines.

Black rhinos have terrible eyesight, but the oxpecker birds riding on their backs and feasting on ticks warn them of approaching poachers.

An insect chastity belt, shrew venom, wax on bird wings – surprising facts about common backyard wildlife.

With no tourists, Australian scuba tour companies are planting coral.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, March 3, 2020

Upcoming Events
Winter by the Lake, Mar. 7 (Anglin Lake) 
Enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Anglin Lake from 1-4 pm, Mar. 7.

Spring Babies, Mar. 7 (Regina) 
Find out about the spring baby boom and what you should do if you find a small wild animal at 2:30 pm, Mar. 7, at the Prince of Wales branch library.

Bluebird Housing, Mar. 8 (Moose Jaw)
Help Moose Jaw Nature Society build bluebird houses for Buffalo Pound Provincial Park from 2-5 pm, Mar. 8.

Climate Change & Water, Mar. 12 (Saskatoon) 
John Pomeroy will discuss the impact of climate change on water in Western Canada at the 7 pm, Mar. 12 session of Tox on Tap.

Beginner Bird Id, Mar. 14 (Regina) 
Learn the basics of bird identification from 2-4 pm, Mar. 14.

Winter Escape, Mar. 14 (Sask Landing)
Enjoy snowshoeing and quinzee building from 1-4 pm, Mar. 14, at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park.

Academics for Climate, March 12, 19, 25 (Regina) 
Academics for Climate – Regina Chapter is offering the following talks in March:
Mar. 12, 7-9 pm – U of R geothermal energy project
Mar. 19, 7-9 pm – Evidence supporting human-induced climate change
Mar. 25, 7-9 pm – Transformative technologies for rapid decarbonisation

Looking Ahead
Intermediate Bird Id, Mar. 21 & 28 (Regina) 
Learn to identify birds in the Regina area from 12:30-4 pm, Mar. 21 and 28.

Intermediate Bird Id, Apr. 1, 8, 15, 22 (Saskatoon)
Use your bird book to identify common breeding birds in the Saskatoon area from 7-9 pm, Apr. 1, 8, 15, and 22.

Wildlife Rehab Training, Apr. 4/5 (Saskatoon) 
An introductory wildlife rehab training course is being offered in Saskatoon on Apr. 4 and 5.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

In Saskatchewan
Plans are underway to expand the Globe BMX track in Saskatoon’s Lakeview Park. Concerns have been raised about a lack of public consultation and about reconciling the concept of a naturalized park containing native plants, wildlife, and wetlands with increased recreational activity, which will take up more space and bring in more people. Contact EcoFriendly Sask for more information and to be put in touch with other concerned residents.

Turning waste into reusable plastic – that’s the goal of EDY Community Development Co-operative in Coronach and Wave of the Future 3D in Saskatoon.

Members of Regina’s Cathedral Area community shared their knowledge and ideas around sustainability on Saturday.

This fall, Canadian high school students from coast-to-coast (including the Winston Knoll Environmental Club, Regina) came together online to discuss biodiversity and presented a report expressing their concerns to the United Nations, Oceanwise, UNESCO, and Centre for Global Education in February.

From Information to Action
“As wildlife numbers drop and a million wild species risk vanishing forever, our pet animals accelerate the losses while more than doubling their own numbers in the last half century.” What steps can be taken to harness our love of pets?

Volunteer park rangers support the greening of London, UK, a designated National Park City, by getting local communities involved in their urban natures. The values and principles of conservation, protection and heritage of national parks are being applied to the city.

Young people ages 18-30 with an interest in politics and the environment are invited to apply by March 31 for a paid parliamentary internship with GreenPAC.

Playing for Time: Making Art as if the World Mattered: “Reconnection with nature is not a moment of magic. . . . . It’s more of a life practice – dedicated acts of imagination, creative thought, and actions, that persist through time.” [book review]

A free garden planner app includes personalized planting dates, companion planting guide, health benefits, organic pest treatments, beneficial insects, and recipes.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, January 28, 2020

Upcoming Events
Green Parenting, Jan. 28 (Regina) 
There will be a talk on minimizing single-use plastics at 7:30 pm, Jan. 28, as part of a Green Parenting discussion series.

Fantastic Fungi, Jan. 29 (Saskatoon) 
The Saskatoon premiere of Fantastic Fungi is at 7 pm, Jan. 29.

Plovers on Shore, Jan. 29 (webinar) 
Shirley Barz, Nature Saskatchewan, will discuss how landowners are helping to conserve piping plovers in a noon-hour webinar on Jan. 29.

Gone Wild for Wildlife, Feb. 1 (Saskatoon) 
Take the whole family to Gone Wild for Wildlife from 11 am-5 pm, Feb. 1, for nature activities, science experiments, lectures, and live wildlife.

Winter Twigs & Buds, Feb. 1 (Saskatoon) 
Learn to identify native trees at Beaver Creek Conservation Area from 1-3 pm, Feb. 1.

Beginner Bird Id, Feb. 2 (Shellbrook) 
The Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas is offering a free 2-hour workshop on the basics of bird identification from 3-5 pm, Feb. 2.

Kalium Observatory, Feb. 3 (Regina) 
Sign up before Feb. 1 to visit the Kalium Observatory with Nature Regina from 7-8:30 pm, Feb. 3.

House on Fire, Feb. 3-14 (Regina) 
Riddell Gallery is hosting an exhibit exploring issues surrounding climate change from Feb. 3-14. The opening reception is Feb. 6 from 4-6 pm.

REM & SaskEv, Feb. 5 (Saskatoon)
Tyler Krause and Jason Cruickshank will provide an overview of EVs’ functionality, types, environmental considerations, and the growing market at the Feb. 5 breakfast meeting of the Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Force.

Water in a Dry Land, Feb. 6 (Regina) 
Kerri Finlay will discuss adaptation and mitigation of prairie aquatic ecosystems under a changing climate from 7-9 pm, Feb. 6.

Regenerative Agriculture, Feb. 7 (Saskatoon) 
Slow Food Saskatoon is sponsoring a workshop on regenerative agriculture in Saskatoon on Feb. 7.

Looking Ahead
Building Operator Training, Feb. 28 (Saskatoon)
The Environmental Society is hosting a workshop to introduce custodians and building operators to energy conservation principles, new technologies, and facility retrofits that will save energy and money on Feb. 28.

Wascana Junior Naturalists, Mar-May (Regina)
Registration is now open for the spring session of the Wascana Junior Naturalists from 6-8 pm, Mar. 3, 17, 31; Apr. 7, 21; and May 5 & 12.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

Sask News
Extinction Rebellion Saskatchewan is looking for team members to organize protests and actions.

You’re invited to submit a short film (up to 2 minutes) educating and inspiring people about our need for water. The winning films will be featured at the Let's Talk About Water Film Festival,June 13-19, in Saskatoon.

FoodRenew has been selected as one of 8 startups for the upcoming Co.Labs tech incubator. If you or someone you know can help answer some questions about food waste problems in the food service and retail industry, get in touch at foodrenew@gmail.com

A proposed oil project in northwest Saskatchewan will use nearly 5 million litres of water a day. Is this a good use of our province’s finite freshwater supplies? Why will there be no environmental review?

Ideas & Resources 
Planning to Connect: A Guide to Incorporating Ecological Connectivity into Municipal Planning, provides practical guidance for integrating ecological connectivity into the structures and practical realities of municipal planning.

Imagination is the ability to look at things as if they could be otherwise. From What Is to What If by Rob Hopkins, cofounder of the Transition movement, is a call to action to reclaim and unleash our collective imagination and create the future we want.

Ghent’s zone-centred traffic circulation plan improved the local economy, producing more restaurants and bars, shorter journeys, cleaner air, and a cycling explosion.

A recent report looks at ways of reducing local opposition to renewables.

Climate change is a political crisis, not a reproductive one. “Population growth in the U.S. isn’t being driven by high-income, high carbon-emitting families having more children.”

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, October 8, 2019

Upcoming Events
Give-a-Dam Info Session, Oct. 10 (Moosomin) 
Lower Souris Watershed Committee will be holding an information session about the Moosomin Dam from 2-8 pm, Oct. 10. RSVP as session will be followed by a supper.

Singing for a Better World, Oct. 10 & 22/Nov. 14 & 26 (Saskatoon) 
Learn songs about protecting the earth and building peace and justice at 7 pm, Oct. 10, Oct. 22, Nov. 14, and Nov. 26.

Bats and You, Oct. 12 & 19 (Saskatoon) 
Kids are invited to find out about bats from 2-2:45 pm on Oct. 12 (Rusty Macdonald Branch Library) and Oct. 19 (Alice Turner Branch Library).

EnviroCollective, Oct. 15 (Regina)
EnviroCollective Regina will be meeting from 7-9 pm, Oct. 15.

Sustainable Saskatoon, Oct. 15 (Saskatoon)
Hilary Carlson and Kristin Bruce will speak about the City of Saskatoon’s Climate Action Plan at 7 pm, Oct. 15.

Campus Sustainability Tour, Oct. 15 (Saskatoon) 
Register to explore the hidden aspects of the U of S campus that drive sustainability from 1-2:30 pm, Oct. 15.

Climate Change: Myth vs. Reality, Oct. 16 (Saskatoon) 
The second annual U of S Senate Forum will be held from 4-6 pm, Oct. 16.

Snakes & River Valleys, Oct. 16 & 17 (Eastend, Mankota)
Ray Poulin, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, will explain why large river valleys are essential to rare snakes in Saskatchewan at 7 pm, Oct. 16, in Eastend and at 7 pm, Oct. 17, in Mankota. The presentation will be recorded and uploaded on the PCAP YouTube channel.

Heritage Landscapes, Oct. 17 (Eastend)
Clinton Westman will share his research project on heritage landscapes in southern Saskatchewan, including the reintroduction of bison at Old man on His Back, at 7:30 pm, Oct. 17, at Eastend Public Library.

The Art of Nature, Oct. 17 (Saskatoon)
Cam Forrester will share his love of painting, drawing, and nature at the 7:30 pm, Oct. 17, meeting of the Saskatoon Nature Society.

Zero Waste Workshop, Oct. 17 (Saskatoon) 
Learn how to reduce waste and get closer to a zero-waste lifestyle from 12-2 pm, Oct. 17, at the University of Saskatchewan.

Farmland Drainage, Oct. 18 (Regina) 
Jeff Olson, Citizens’ Environmental Alliance, will be discussing Saskatchewan farmland drainage and the environment from 2:30-3:45 pm, Oct. 18, at the University of Regina.

Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips
Saskatoon Young Naturalists
Nov. 16, 1-2:30 pm – Bird Feeder Workshop
Space is limited; register early to avoid disappointment.

Golden Eagles
Oct. 17, 9 am – Birding at Ashworth Holmes Park
Oct. 24, 8:30 am – Watrous County Geological History
Retirees and partners who are interested in birds and the natural world are invited to participate.

Other Saskatoon Nature Society Field Trips 
Oct. 14, 9:30-11:30 am – Woodlawn Cemetery Bird Walk
Oct. 27, 1-5 pm – Blackstrap Lake Birding

Everyone is welcome. Check the Saskatoon Nature Society’s website for full details and updated information.

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar 

In the News
Unplastic Northern Sask focuses on reducing + reusing.

European Union approves right to repair law, including measures for repairability and recyclability.

Enviromenstrualism: Sanitary products are the fifth most common item found on Europe’s beaches, more widespread than single-use coffee cups, cutlery or straws.

“Claiming to fight climate change while subsidizing fossil fuels is as crazy as brushing your teeth while eating Oreos.”

Fish that thrive in toxic water, pigeons eating junk food without becoming hypoglycemic, ants that don’t mind urban heat – what can we learn from wildlife that is evolving rapidly in response to an urban environment?

A free online report outlines the key steps to take in building community power to win campaigns.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

EcoSask News, September 17, 2019

Upcoming Events
National Drive Electric Week, Sept. 14-22 (Davidson, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Saskatoon) 
National Drive Electric Week events are happening in Davidson on Sept. 17; North Battleford, Sept. 19; Prince Albert, Sept. 21; and Saskatoon, Sept. 22.

Random Acts of Green, Sept. 17 & 18 (Regina, Saskatoon) 
Random Acts of Green, emphasizing solutions to climate change, will be at the University of Regina from 2:30-3:30 pm, Sept. 17, and at the University of Saskatchewan from 11 am-12 pm, Sept. 18. Register and download the app before attending.

Avian Migration, Sept. 18 (Saskatoon) 
Stuart Bearhop will discuss Moving Together: Social Decision-Making in Avian Migration at 3:30 pm, Sept. 18, as part of the WildEcol seminar series.

Global Climate Strike for Future, Sept. 20-27 (Regina) 
Groups in Regina are holding Global Climate Strikes for Future Sept. 20-27 inclusive and on Dec. 6.

Repair Café, Sept. 21 (Prince Albert) 
Celebrate and share maintenance and repair skills from 1-4 pm, Sept. 21, at Repair Café Prince Albert.

World Rivers Day, Sept. 22 (Saskatoon) 
Celebrate World Rivers Day at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market with demonstrations and a river walk from 10 am-5 pm, Sept. 22.

Swap in the Park, Sept. 22 (Saskatoon) 
Bring what you want, take what you want at a reduce-reuse-recycle event from 9 am-4 pm, Sept. 22.

Nature Immersion Walk, Sept. 22 (Saskatoon) 
Reconnect with nature on a slow, mindful walk from 9:30 am-noon, Sept. 22.

Unearthing our History, Sept. 24 (Saskatoon) 
Café Sci YXE is hosting a talk at 7:30 pm, Sept. 24, by Melissa Arcand about understanding our soil and her work with the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy program, training students to work in resource management and land governance.

Wildlife Rehabilitation, Sept. 27 (Moose Jaw) 
Jan Shadick, Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation, is the guest speaker at the 7 pm, Sept. 27, meeting of the Moose Jaw Nature Society.

Global Climate Strike, Sept. 27 (Saskatoon) 
Saskatoon will participate in the Global Climate Strike at noon, Sept. 27.

Festival for Future, Sept. 27 (Regina) 
Regina Festival for Future, a performing arts show and displays, will be held from 7-10 pm, Sept. 27. 

Science Fam Jam, Sept. 27 (Saskatoon) 
Families can enjoy hands-on science activities with author Sally Meadows from 6-7 pm, Sept. 27.

Looking Ahead
Waste Reduction Workshops, Oct./Nov. (Melville, Swift Current, Melfort, Lloydminster) 
The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is holding fall workshops in Melville (Oct. 17), Swift Current (Oct. 29), Melfort (Nov. 14), and Lloydminster (Nov. 21).

A full list of upcoming events can be found on the EcoFriendly Sask Calendar

In the News 
How do we solve fashion’s waste problem when the industry creates 150 billion pieces of clothing for 7 billion humans each year? Thoughts on creating a circular economy.

“Compostable plastics have been introduced without the right infrastructure or consumer understanding to manage compostable waste.”

Songbirds exposed to pesticides lose weight and migration is delayed. “Migration is a critical period for birds, and timing matters. Any delays can seriously hinder their success in finding mates and nesting, so this may help explain, in part, why migrant and farmland bird species are declining so dramatically worldwide,” said [Christy] Morrissey, University of Saskatchewan.

3 ways insecticides can be counter-productive in agriculture.

“The tadada Scientific Lab is working to re-envision the science classroom” through music, art, and a comic book exam.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. 

You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).