Fescue rescue: Hundreds of students, parents, and other community members took up shovels and buckets during the months of June and July to help transplant patches of native prairie from a site that was about to be bulldozed for a new roadway in northwest Calgary. This “fescue rescue” was a great way to preserve endangered native plant species as well as the soil microbes that inhabit the soil.  The rescued material was carefully transplanted in the school’s new naturalized area. (Dr. E.W. Coffin Elementary)

Raptor migration counts:    Eagle researcher Peter Sherrington and other volunteers turned their spotting scopes and binoculars to the skies for 86 field days at the Mt. Lorette site in the Kananaskis Valley from dawn to dusk. They were monitoring the northward spring migration of raptors and recorded 2,925 raptors, of which 2,539 were Golden Eagles. (Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation)

Every footstep counts:over 1,800 volunteer hours have gone towards repairing and restoring the heavily used alpine trail through Cavell Meadows. Hikers from around the community and around the world have been helping to dig water drainage bars, transplant vegetation to damaged meadow areas, and install interpretive and directional signage on this three-year project. (Friends of Jasper National Park)

Forest real estate at Wabamum Lake: Over 200 inner city youth had an opportunity to journey to Camp Discovery on Wabamum Lake. They took part in educational activities with environmental themes such as: “Nature Charades,” “Forest Real Estate,” and “Environ Art Collage.”    (Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs of Edmonton)

 

Solar installation at Cochrane High: 18 student members of the Sustainable Development Committee raised funds and launched their renewable energy project with the installation of 24 solar panels on the school’s roof in July. Now one of the only schools in Canada to have a solar power source, the solar array will contribute 2.4 KW of renewable electricity into the school system. They will also be installing a small wind turbine. (Cochrane High School and Cochrane Environmental Action Committee)

Botanizing in the Castle: Botanist Reg Ernst and other interested volunteers and seasoned naturalists spent 21 days in the alpine and subalpine of the Castle Wilderness surveying unusual and rare plants. The Castle Wilderness area, North of Waterton Park and South of the Crowsnest Pass, contains a unique assemblage of plant and animal species. (Lethbridge Naturalists)