Growing Young Naturalists — One Discovery at a Time!

 🌿 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 Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) for supporting the Junior Naturalist Program through the Parks for All Action Grant.

Your support helped create living classrooms where young people could explore, question, discover and learn to care for the natural world.

The trees will grow.
The wetlands will continue to support life.
And today's young naturalists may become tomorrow's environmental stewards. 🌱💚

Thank you, SPRA, for helping plant the seeds of curiosity, stewardship and environmental leadership! https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com/2026/08/26/a-season-of-discovery-in-saskatoons-urban-forests/

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