Our Forest Returns Saskatoon

  🌿 Growing Young Naturalists — One Discovery at a Time! 🌳 What happens when you turn a wetland and urban forest into a classroom? Students discover fish, pond snails, aquatic insects, birds, rocks, healthy soils—and perhaps most importantly, their own curiosity about nature. 🐟 🔎 🪨 🦉 Through the Junior Naturalist Program, young people explored the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and West Swale Wetlands through hands-on science, pond dipping, biodiversity investigations, bird watching, soil testing, forest walks and tree planting. One unforgettable moment came when students discovered a Brook Stickleback in the wetland. For them, it wasn't simply a fish—it was a genuine scientific discovery made right in their own community. 🌱 Some planted trees. 💧 Some explored the wetlands. 🔬 Some became budding scientists. 🦋 Some discovered a whole new world beneath the water. 🌎 And all were given an opportunity to connect with nature. We are deeply grateful to the Sas...

  Did you know that Saskatchewan’s lakes and rivers are home to incredible native freshwater mussels? 🐚 In this video, we take a deep dive into our province's native Unionid species, explore their unique life cycle, and learn how to identify them by looking at key shell features like the umbo, anterior, and posterior margins. We also examine the growing threat posed by aquatic invasive species, specifically zebra and quagga mussels. You will discover how their rapid reproduction and free-drifting larvae differ from our native species, and why they pose such a serious risk to prairie freshwater ecosystems. Most importantly, we share simple steps for cleaning, draining, and drying your gear so you can step up as a local Water Guardian and help protect our precious waterways. 🌿 WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER: How to recognize native mussel species using basic shell anatomy. The fascinating relationship between native larvae and their fish hosts. The critical differences between native musse...

 🌊 Think you know how to protect our local lakes and rivers? Test your knowledge with the Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Quiz! 🚤 Did you know that some of the biggest threats to Saskatchewan’s pristine waters are completely invisible to the naked eye? From microscopic hitchhikers in standing water to strict inspection rules on the highway, protecting our freshwater ecosystems takes all of us!   Are You Smarter Than an Aquatic Invasive Species? 😄  Take the Freshwater Guardian Challenge to see how much you really know:  🔍 What’s inside the quiz? The Invisible Hitchhikers: Discover how invasive mussels secretly travel between waterbodies. Border Patrol: Learn what really happens when you pull up to an open watercraft inspection station. The Ultimate Defense: Master the core habits every boater, angler, and camper needs to keep our waters safe. High-Risk Tactics: Find out what inspectors do if a boat presents a serious threat to our ecosystems. ...

  🦪 🌊 READY FOR THE ZEBRA MUSSEL QUIZ? Think you know zebra mussels? Now it's time to put your freshwater knowledge to the test! Our Zebra Mussel Awareness Quiz – features six new questions designed to challenge what you know about these tiny but potentially devastating aquatic invaders. 🔎 Discover fascinating connections between zebra mussels and Saskatchewan's native freshwater mussels. 🌎 Explore where zebra mussels originally came from. 🐟 Think about the role of natural predators. 💧 Discover why detecting an invasive species early can make such a difference. 🦪 And uncover some surprising facts about how zebra mussels reproduce and spread. But we're not giving away the answers! 😉 You'll have to take the quiz to discover whether your freshwater knowledge is as strong as you think. Whether you're an angler, boater, paddler, swimmer, camper, birdwatcher, nature lover—or simply someone who cares about Saskatchewan's lakes—this quiz is for you. Every ...

  🌊 How Well Do You Know the Threats Facing Our Freshwater Lakes? 🦪 Our lakes, rivers, and wetlands are more than places to swim, fish, paddle, and explore — they are living ecosystems that support wildlife, communities, and future generations. Tiny invaders can create enormous challenges. Zebra mussels may be small, but their impacts can spread throughout freshwater environments. Understanding how they affect our waters and what we can do to help is the first step toward becoming a freshwater guardian. 🦪 Take the Zebra Mussel Awareness Quiz: Why Everyone Who Loves the Water Needs to Know This interactive quiz is a fun way to test your knowledge, discover surprising facts, and learn how everyday actions can help protect Saskatchewan’s precious waters. Whether you are a boater, angler, swimmer, paddler, camper, nature lover, or simply someone who cares about the environment — this quiz is for you! 💧 Learn about freshwater protection 🌱 Discover how invasive species impact ec...

  🌿 What if Saskatchewan's greatest river... never really disappeared?     Twenty thousand years ago, a wall of ice nearly three kilometres thick covered the Saskatchewan prairie. As it melted, powerful glacial floods carved the West Swale and the Yorath Island Glacial Spillway—landscapes that continue to shape our environment today. Although the floodwaters vanished thousands of years ago, their legacy remains. 💧 Groundwater still follows ancient pathways. 🦆 Wetlands continue to nourish migratory birds and wildlife. 🌸 Rare orchids, fungi, and countless aquatic creatures thrive in hidden ecosystems. 🦣 And once, mammoths, mastodons, dire wolves, sabre-toothed cats, American cave lions, giant beavers, and other remarkable Ice Age animals walked these very plains. Join us on an extraordinary five-part journey through time as we explore the geology, hydrology, ecology, biodiversity, and prehistoric wildlife of one of Saskatchewan's most fascinating natural landscapes. 📽...