What’s Happening in Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve (RLBR)? Volume 22: Spring 2013 On April 2, the first Canada Goose landed on the ice of Redberry Lake. Together with the metallic blue Mountain Bluebirds, the American Robins and the sprouting tomato plants in our little greenhouse it is now official: Spring is here! The long winter season gave us plenty of time to make plans for “after the snow is gone”. Read about our summer projects in this issue and become involved:
♦ Redberry Regional Farmer’s Market ♦ Video: How healthy is our water? ♦ Canoe and Kayak Rental on Redberry Lake ♦ Research & Education Center open weekends
Photos by Thomas Abe
♦ Redberry Lake Discovery Trail—Be part of it! Redberry Regional Farmer’s Market The first season of the Community Farmer’s Market last year was quite successful with approximately 500 visitors and 25 vendors. Naturally and locally raised pork, baked goods, honey, eggs, vegetables as well as local arts and crafts and other products like Tupperware, Epicure selections and Sunset Gourmet Food were sold throughout the summer. Always worth a visit was the freshly barbecued smokie from naturally raised pork. As of 2013 the Community Farmer’s Market evolved and is now the “Redberry Regional Farmer’s Market”, an approved Market under the Saskatchewan Farmers’ Market Co-operative (SFMC). This years Farmer’s Market dates are: Saturdays, 10 am to 3 pm June 8
July 13
August 10
September 7
Hafford, Ukrainian National Hall Are you interested in selling your goods at the Redberry Regional Farmer’s Market? Contact Susanne for more information: 306-549-9311, communications@redberrylake.ca
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Video: How healthy is our water? Together with kids from Hafford Central School we will spend one day in June on Oscar Creek. We will be testing the water for dissolved oxygen, phosphates and nitrates to determine its health. A macro biologist will catch water bugs with the kids, examine them in the school’s science laboratory and explain to the kids what these bugs tell experts about the water quality. This water monitoring will be the center piece of a short film showcasing a Saskatchewan best practice: How UNESCO ASPNet Schools like Hafford Central School and UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves work together, build capacity through this partnership and therefore – and most importantly – empower youth in embracing nature as part of their culture. The short film will be launched at the EuroMAB Conference in October 2013. The EuroMAB Network is made up of all Member States of Europe and North America which participate in the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme and in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. This biPhotos by Evangie Michalenko annual conference will take place in Canada for the first time and will be hosted by the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve (Ontario). Up to 284 Biosphere Reserves representing 52 countries will be present at this conference when the video is shown.
NEW! Canoe and Kayak Rental at Redberry Lake
NEW! Research & Education Center will be open on weekends
This summer we will add a new and exciting program to our repertoire—thanks to Clearwater Canoeing who will be providing us with canoes and kayaks that will be available for rent at Redberry Lake. Come to the Research & Education Centre in Redberry Lake Regional Park, go on a paddle tour and enjoy seeing pelicans and many other nesting birds as you silently glide through the water. We will also have some programming available for guided tours. Check it out!
Thanks to over 300 visitors to the Research & Education Centre and lots of good conversations last year we will now open our doors on weekends, too.
Photo by Karl-Friedrich Abe
Visit us from June 1 to September 5 Mondays-Fridays: 9am – 5 pm Saturdays & Sundays: 10am – 4pm
Photo by Thomas Abe
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Redberry Lake Discovery Trail—Be part of it! IMAGINE: You take your family, friends or just yourself on a very special hike. You find a well maintained and marked trail where you can play a tree symphony and listen to the sound of different wood types, where you can watch the guests at an insect hotel, where you feel the softness and warmth of sand, the cold of stones and the funny shape of pine cones on your bare feet. On the displays at each station you can read and learn about nature’s secrets and if you are lucky you can see some wildlife! This dream can come true soon. Currently we are raising funds to create this first self-guided and educational walking trail of its kind in the Biosphere Reserve. We will start assessing possible trail locations Photo by Karl-Friedrich Abe in spring. It is anticipated to have the trail winding along Redberry Lake and offer it for summer and winter activities: walking, hiking, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing. The major portion of this project will be accomplished by summer students, interns and volunteers. Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve staff will coordinate the project.
© uehlingen-birkendorf.de
© www.dragonfli.co.uk
For everybody involved this project offers the opportunity to share and develop creative ideas and solutions and to work on a one of a kind project as a team. Research skills, knowledge about the local environment and other topics, creative thinking and writing as well as some manual dexterity can be learned and applied as well. If you want to help establish this unique Discovery Trail, please contact us: 306-5499311, communications@redberrylake.ca. We are looking for your contribution as volunteer or as sponsor to make this happen. A detailed project description, promotional plan, timeline, budget plan, sponsorship levels and form of recognition are available upon request. We are excited to announce our first sponsor:
Bronze Sponsor
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Think About it: The Grass is Always Greener...When you Get Outside
From: Infographic “The Big Disconnect”, www.cottagecountry.com
At Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve your contribution will immediately support our work and result in projects that benefit our unique environment as well as the local community and the education of kids and adults. Please make cheques payable to: Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve Association Inc. or use online donation form at www.redberrylake.ca RLBR is an incorporated not-for-profit organization. Your donation is greatly appreciated—thank you!
Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve Box 221 Hafford SK, S0J 1A0 Phone: 306 549-4060 / -9311 Fax: 306 549-4061 Email: communications@redberrylake.ca URL: www.redberrylake.ca