There will be beavers, owls, and blue-billed bubblers aplenty this summer in St. Albert as a free summer nature program returns to Big Lake.
The Big Lake Environment Support Society’s Summer Nature Centre reopens July 2. The long-running program offers free nature education activities all summer long at Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, and hosted some 2,000 people last year.
University of Alberta conservation biology student Meghan MacDougall is back for a second year as nature centre co-ordinator. The St. Albert resident said she had such a great time helping kids learn about birds and beasts as the co-ordinator last year that she had to do it again.
“Watching them as they open their eyes to focus on part of the natural world, that was really cool.”
MacDougall said she plans to once more host a variety of scheduled and drop-in activities at the park on weekdays this summer, including bird-watching and pond-dipping. Each week will focus on a different part of the environment.
“This year we are hoping to collaborate with more environmental organizations,” she said, and to host more special events with live wildlife.
MacDougall said one such event will likely be a birds of prey meet-and-greet similar to last year’s super-popular Owls Up Close event (where guests got to meet snowy and great horned owls). She also hoped to host adult photography and birding classes, possibly at the Grey Nuns White Spruce Park. The nature centre will also co-host a Family Nature Night with Nature Alberta on Aug. 21 at Lois Hole Park.
MacDougall said spring rains have made the Poole wetland much lusher than it was last year, which has drawn many ducks, beavers, and muskrats to the area.
“We’ve got a crazy amount of ruddy ducks compared to last year,” she said, referring to a blue-billed water bird that makes bubbles in the water, and many breeding pairs of waterbirds that should produce babies in the coming weeks.
MacDougall encouraged guests to watch the BLESS website for updates on nature centre activities. Guests should bring sunscreen and bug-spray, and be prepared for cancellations due to extreme heat or smoke. Sign-up sessions run from 10 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m., with drop-in activities available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
The nature centre will be open until Aug. 30. Visit www.bless-env.ca or www.facebook.com/BLESSnaturecentre for details. MacDougall will also be promoting the nature centre at the City of St. Albert’s Canada Day event on July 1 at Servus Place.
