Nature fans can once again go on a Big Lake safari this July with St. Albert’s latest summer nature centre co-ordinator.
The Big Lake Environment Support Society (BLESS) announced earlier this month it had hired biologist and Morinville native Tiffany Maslyk.
BLESS has offered free nature education in St. Albert for about 24 years through its summer nature centre program. Typically based in the old RCMP cabin by St. Albert Trail and Sturgeon Road, the program moved to Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park last year to accommodate COVID-19 health restrictions.
A MacEwan University graduate with six years of experience as a nature interpreter, Maslyk said she is a big fan of birds and loves teaching children about nature.
“I’m really excited to be able to hang out there (at Big Lake) all summer,” she said, adding she hadn’t visited the region much prior to this job.
Maslyk said this year’s summer nature program will be similar to 2020’s, with an emphasis on outdoor activities around Big Lake. Expect birdwatching, pond-dipping, and more hands-on crafts than last year now that health restrictions have loosened up.
“We still will be COVID-safe,” Maslyk said, with an emphasis on small groups and sign-up sessions, and all equipment sanitized between sessions.
The summer nature centre program runs weekdays from July 1 to Aug. 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Wednesdays). Check the BLESS and BLESS Nature Centre Facebook pages for details.
