Ecotours are an highlight of the Saskatchewan Outdoor & Environmental Education Association (SOEEA), as they offer opportunities for SOEEA members to explore specific environments within Saskatchewan. On July 31, a group of SOEEA members ventured to the Boreal Forest Learning Centre (BFLC) at Ness Creek on the west side of Prince Albert National Park for SOEEA’s 15th annual Eco-Tour. This trip into Saskatchewan’s boreal forest to proved to be an enlightening experience for all involved. We walked, rode and sat with our guides as they lead us through trails and assisted in plant identification, spoke of developing learning opportunities, sang songs, played instruments, and told stories. Our hosts were gracious in sharing their knowledge and relating their feelings about the relationship that connected them to this place.
Throughout the weekend we were told much about the forest and it’s eco-system. During the first formal presentation from John Murray, we were introduced to many of the interactions occurring among the plants and animals within the forest. We were taught that if we look closely in a forest, we can see things that are truly spectacular. A theme emerged, one of responsible forest practices. The forest gives so much in terms of food and wealth, but we have to recognize our role in giving back to the forest in order for the relationship between humans and this wonderful ecosystem to continue.
One of our guides Billyak, of Ecuadorian heritage, provided us with spiritual leadership throughout our visit. Together, we visited and paid our respects the Grandfather Tree, said to be a tree of extreme importance and a place at which one should stop to bring nature into their being. Billyak, told a few stories throughout the weekend with terrific messages. One of my favorite was the story of Eagle & the Condor co-existing. He spoke of the Eagle being a thinking bird, while the Condor by use feelings. Without each other, neither could exist for they need to fly together and use each others traits because of each creates a imbalance which leads to suffering. He went on to tell us that often people get this imbalance and much good would come if we begin to think with our heart and feel with our brain. He eloquently expressed that in order to form a relationship with nature we need to stop thinking about why things work the way they do, and start feeling at one with nature and take our place amongst it. Many people spend too much time rushing for the little things in life, because we make the little thing too important; Billyak’s advice is to stop, slow down and feel our surroundings.
Another visitor to our Eco-Tour was life time area resident, Jonathon Fonos, a local fisherman and conservationist. He re-emphasized the theme of giving back to nature; noting that if we look after the forests, we will in turn be looked after. He also noted that he was fond of experiential learning within the natural environment by sharing that “you in’t going to learn by watching;I got a lot of nicks on my fingers by doing.” Jonathon, described a few recent local controversies that he had been instrumental in preventing in the name of the forest. He and a team stopped the construction of a northern logging route because the long term effects would have dire consequences to the region. He also noted that once Weyerhaeuser moved away from the area he noted an significant increase in animal activity, because they were no longer suppressed by the damage of the logging company. Jonathon, related the problem of monetizing the forest in these words, “Too often we try to sell the coop, instead of the eggs.”
Out on the west side of Prince Albert National Park, Gord Vaadeland lead us on horse, chuck wagon and mountain bike. We traveled the trails and continued to identify plants and learn of their traditional uses. We had the binoculars on the ready in case we came upon any wildlife, particularly the legendary wild bison that roam this area. We didn’t make visual contact with the bison but they did let us know they were there by wallowing and grunting deep within the bush. That was a sound I won’t soon forget. After of trail ride, Gord joined us back at camp to present the work he has been doing with the Sturgeon River Bison Stewards. We learned of their connection with bison and a few neat facts about this herd of large animals.
Our weekend finished on a excited, by ultimately sad note. On our final hike we happened upon a bird on the shore of Ness Creek. It looked different and we had a hard time identifying it because it was sitting in an awkward position. Then it flapped and we realized that it had been caught up. Upon further investigation we found the bird to be an Osprey that had become entangled in a ball of twine. Immediately Billyak set to work in freeing the bird from this trap. As the Osprey was too weak to fly or for much else we had it taken to the Vet Hospital in Saskatoon where we hoped it would recover. It looked promising, but 10 days later, this strong bird of prey fell victim to wounds it had suffered. This was a prime example of human impact on the natural world. Even though we mean to look after this environment there are others that have yet to be educated of the dire consequences we have when we step foot in the natural world.
potential for learning. 
The next morning we set off to find the cache that I had hid the night before. After hiding the cache in a park near the school, I hid 9 clues with coordinates for the next stops along the route. The class worked together to find each of the clues in sequence and utilized their mapping skills to find the shortest route to the next destination. The students learned that even though the GPS points the way to the coordinate’s location, sometimes houses would get in the way and they couldn’t go the way of the crow. Upon finding each clue the students intensity grew, they reached a point where they knew the direction just from me reading the coordinates. By the last few clues they could have gone on without the device. They found the cache and thoroughly enjoyed the lollypops and pride that came with completing this challenging task.