A Rocha Prairie Canada – Nature Interpretation Update!

Sunrise at Pembina Valley Field Station

Angela McCormick here! I’m the new Senior Interpreter – Eco Stewardship Intern for the A Rocha Pembina Valley Field Station. This is the first year nature interpretive programming has been offered at the field station and boy am I excited! Already things have been very busy.

From May 17 to 21, 2010, Nick Pharaoh (who is one of the field station’s site directors) and I attended Manitoba Parks Interpreter training at Red Rock Bible Camp in Whiteshell Provincial Park. We gained lots of info on developing and leading nature-oriented programs for people of all ages. Nick also led a great workshop on Verbal and Non-Verbal Communications that was very interactive and engaging. We did some great networking and met the interpreter who is working at Stephenfield Provincial Park, who invited me to come out to her park and do a family nature program, possibly on raccoons.

On May 29th, I participated as a judge for the orals competition aspect of the Envirothon’s Provincial Competition held up in Brandon, Manitoba. This year’s theme was all about ground water and the case study with questions that the high school teams had to do a oral presentation on was a difficult one. I was highly impressed with all the student presentations given and felt that time just flew right by. Before I knew it, judging was over and the winners were announced (click here for Envirothon results).

Ruth Hiebert's fawn Picture Jun.3,2010

On June 3rd, I led a guided hike around the Pembina Valley Field Station with a group of ladies from a local Church. Along the way, we were surprised when we found a very young fawn curled up right beside the trail in some tall grass. What a gift from God! The fawn didn’t even open its eyes as we walked past. Mother doe must have been near by but we never saw her. There were certainly a lot of deer tracks in the dirt though. The fawn was so beautiful and adorable curled up sleeping like that. We made sure not to disturb it and moved along quickly, so as not to worry mom. Picture is courtesy of Jake and Ruth Hiebert.

June 7-8 were very full days as Laura Enns (a college intern from Winkler) and I helped out with the Manitou Water Festival at Binny Park. We ran a Water Cycle Adventure program where students would pretend they are water molecules moving through the water cycle. More than 200 grade four students participated over the two days of the festival. Many thanks to Cliff Greenfield from the Pembina Valley Conservation District for all his hard work coordinating the successful event!

Yesterday, on June 13, I ran a nature walk for the Morden Mennonite youth group. We did an Animal Tracks and Signs program, exploring the different tracks, scat and signs that animals leave behind, which give clues to how they survive.

Right when we started the walk, a little Eastern Phoebe flew into a small shrub right in front of us so I utilized the moment to talk about Phoebes, how they are the most prevalent Flycatcher of Manitoba and are most well-known for constantly bobbing and fanning their tails while perched in one spot. While on our walk, we continuously came across small wood frogs hopping through the grass. One time, a wood frog hopped right towards one of the girls on the walk and she screeched just as the frog hopped over her foot and into the bushes. It was pretty funny! We returned to the house and had lemonade and cookies sitting in the shade. The youth group then donated some money to our organization as a thank you, which was very nice of them.

These are just some of the many environmental education activities we have offered since May. If you are interested in exploring our site and would like a guided walk or other nature activity, contact me (Angela) at the A Rocha Pembina Valley Field Station, phone number (204) 246-2059.