1. Biodiversity Education and Conservation Colloquium, 2006

Mark April 12-14th 2006 on your calendars for the next Biodiversity Education and Conservation colloquium!

In co-operation with Investing in Nature: A Partnership for Plants in Canada, VanDusen and UBC botanical gardens will be co-hosting the 2006 colloquium in Vancouver to launch “Conserving Plant Diversity: the 2010 Challenge for Canadian Botanical Gardens”, the revised Biodiversity Action Plan for Botanical Gardens and Arboreta in Canada. Our main goal is to generate ideas and enthusiasm for implementing and expanding our conservation and education programmes.

We are currently looking for funding to cover as much of the programming, travel and accommodation costs as possible. A post-workshop tour to Milner Gardens & Woodlands and Tofino Botanical Gardens has also been proposed. More information coming soon!

2. Planting the Seeds of Biodiversity

Educators from across Canada shared experiences and activities to assist in teaching about the importance of biological diversity at the “Planting the Seeds of Biodiversity” workshop at EECOM’s (Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication) annual conference in late September.

The value of framing environmental education in the context of “biodiversity” was presented in a variety of ways. By comparing the number of plants and corporate logos that they were able to identify, participants confirmed our current botanical knowledge crisis. This led to an activity divining the links between global environmental issues and plant conservation, on to a picture metaphor activity to define “biodiversity” and “biodiversity education,” and finally to some outdoor games highlighting plant diversity.

Participating educators left the workshop keen on presenting biodiversity using the activities introduced and much more aware of botanical gardens and arboreta as educational resource centres.

Sincere appreciation to the enthusiastic facilitators: Catherine Dumouchel, Maggie Kilian, Anne Madden, and Barbara McKean.

If you are interested in facilitating a similar workshop in your community, please contact laurel.mcivor@bgci.org for more information. Resources developed for this workshop are available at: www.bgci.org/canada/edu_doc.html.

3. Biodiversity Activity Sheets

Next time you host our Biodiversity Travelling exhibit, you will have some additional resources to set up an accompanying activity station!

A variety of activities have been developed in (French and English) to reinforce the exhibit themes of plant conservation & biodiversity education in Canada. Ideally, there are a couple of activities suitable for each age group (primary, junior and intermediate), but we secretly suspect that many adults will be interested as well.

Pdf copies of these sheets are now posted on our web site. Feel free to copy and distribute these activities when you host the exhibit or for use in other educational programming:

  • Biodiversity All Around
  • Thank a plant
  • Fascinating Flowers
  • Canada’s biodiversity
  • Biodiversity Word Search
  • How to Help Biodiversity
  • 4. Naturalist Knapsacks: Enjoyment & Learning,
    Jonina Ewart and Lori Nichols, Living Prairie Museum, Winnipeg

    Many visiting families view our Interpretive Centre as the "Living Prairie Museum", and spend the majority of their time exploring indoors. To encourage children to take the opportunity to explore the true Living Prairie Museum, the 32 acre tall grass prairie preserve to the north of the Interpretive Centre, we developed a program called Knapsacks for Young Naturalists.

    Naturalist Knapsacks are now available to all visitors. ‘Discovery items’ in the knapsack include magnifying glasses, binoculars, weather equipment, measuring tools, probes, nets and collection boxes. Using these tools, visitors are persuaded to feel the cottony plume of the anemone, to listen for the sound of a grasshopper, to bend down to catch the spicy aroma of sage, or to share the story of Bobby Bluestem. Activity workbooks compliment the new self-guided trails and engage the children and adults in unique methods of observation, recording and drawing.

    The high tech youth bags were donated through fundraising efforts. We hope they encourage nature education, creativity and imagination and promote activities where families teach one another how to truly experience the natural world around them. (view full article).

    5. Girl Guides, Plants and Animals,
    Heather House, Toronto Zoo

    Girl Guides can now come to Toronto Zoo to earn their "Plants & Animals" badge. Groups are accustomed to coming to the Zoo to learn about Animals, however, this programme encourages them do explore both PLANT and animal science!

    From the eight badge requirements listed in the Guiding Program Manual, we chose six that most closely align with our mission of inspiring people to live in ways that promote the well being of the natural world. Three requirements relate to animals (classification, adaptations and identification) and three to plants.

    The plant activities include:

  • Confirming the importance of plants: the group divides into teams to identify and record items that are scattered around the room as "Products that ARE made from plants" vs. "Products NOT made from plants".
  • Propagating plants: following a discussion and demonstration of different ways to propagate plants, the Girl Guides plant a bean seed and take it home to grow.
  • Demonstrating plant function: conducting an experiment with celery stalks, water and food colouring, girls observe water dispersal and diagrams to determine how fluids and minerals are distributed in plants.
  • 6. Toronto’s New Centres for Children’s Gardening,
    Tobin Day, Toronto Botanical Garden

    In 2006, children in Toronto will have more opportunities to learn about gardening and the environment as the Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG), celebrates new educational facilities at the Toronto Botanical Garden and Allan Gardens.

    December 3rd was the grand opening of the renovated and expanded main building at the Toronto Botanical Garden, now named The George and Kathy Dembroski Centre for Horticulture, which includes: the Weston Family Library, shop TBG and The James Boyd Children’s Centre. The James Boyd Children’s Centre will be dedicated to year-round classes on the environmental sciences for schools, community groups and individuals to compliment children's programmes offered in the outdoor Teaching Garden.

    In partnership with Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Toronto Botanical Garden conducts TD Bank Financial Group School Programs for schools at the Allan Gardens Children's Conservatory from November to March.

    Programs take place in a greenhouse that has been refurbished to facilitate innovative horticultural programs for children. Programs about plants, soil and habitat are free of charge and priority is given to classes from high-needs schools in Toronto.

    For more information, visit: www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca/teachinggarden.htm

    7. Healthy Food, Healthy Living

    How much do you think about the food you eat? Eating is such a basic part of our lives that we often undervalue the importance of environmental issues related to food.

    Truly healthy food is healthy for people and for the environment. In her key note presentation at this year’s EECOM conference, Debbie Fields from FoodShare (a non-profit agency working to improve access to affordable and healthy food) provided insight into the environmental implications of our food and food systems. To effectively support sustainable agriculture, we have to promote a broader understanding of the entire process that puts food on our tables: the growing, processing, distributing, purchasing, and cooking of our food.

    Most botanical gardens grow fruit and vegetables, some have children’s gardening programmes, and many are interested in environmental education: we have a wonderful opportunity to present the links between food, agriculture and the environment. Consider trying some of the activities presented in "Food for Thought: Practising Conservation at the Table". (Reproduced with permission from Green Teacher: Issue 27, Fall 2005).

    8. Extracting Abstracts,
    Sarah Kneebone, BGCI

    BGCI is calling for abstracts to present papers, posters or workshops at the forthcoming 6th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens, hosted by the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, 10th -14th September 2006. There has been a great response to the congress so far, but more abstracts are needed! The deadline for abstracts has been extended to Friday 13th January 2006.

    The congress will provide a forum for environmental educators from botanic gardens world-wide as well as educators and other staff from plant science institutes, education and conservation organisations, zoos, museums, national parks and nature reserves, to discuss issues and share ideas.

    If you would like an opportunity to share your programmes, research, ideas and inspiration, just fill in the form (link to www.bgci.org/educationcongress/abstracts.htm)

    9. Roots: "Master Planning for Education" out now!
    Sarah Kneebone, BGCI

    The latest issue of BGCI’s education review, Roots, has just been released. Check your mailbox or your institution’s library to read articles from plant-based educators around the and how of strategic planning at education departments.

    Don’t receive Roots? Become an Associate Member of BGCI to get your copy twice per year. Interested in submitting an article to Roots? The deadline for submissions to the next issue, "Access for All: Problems and Solutions", is Jan. 20, 2006. The issue will explore some of the difficulties faced and the solutions created by environmental education practitioners in reaching important, but oftentimes neglected, audiences.

    Email education@bgci.org for more information.

    Volume 3, Issue 1
    Janvier 2006
    bulletin français

    In this issue :

    1.

    Biodiversity Education and Conservation Colloquium, 2006

    2.

    Planting the Seeds of Biodiversity – EECOM workshop

    3.

    Biodiversity Activity Sheets

    4.

    Naturalist Knapsacks: Enjoyment & Learning

    5.

    Girl Guides, Plants and Animals

    6.

    Toronto’s New Centres for Children’s Gardening

    7.

    Healthy Food, Healthy Living

    8.

    Extracting Abstracts

    9.

    Roots: “Master Planning for Education” out now!

    Seeking Volunteers for Canada Blooms

    Interested in attending Canada Blooms: The Toronto Flower and Garden Show this year? We are looking for volunteers to help staff our “Have You Thanked A Plant Today” travelling exhibit and answer questions about plant conservation and education at Canadian botanical gardens and arboreta.

    If you are interested and available between March 8th-12th , please contact me (laurel.mcivor@bgci.org ). If you aren’t able to volunteer, but plan on attending the show, do stop by our booth in the Gardeners’ Fare section and say hello.

     

    New Canadian botanical web sites

    www.parcmitis.com
    This site highlights the natural heritage of the Mitis River and region. Discover a multitude of information on the local ecosystems, history and flora.

    living prairie.ca
    Take a virtual tour of Living Prairie Museum’s tall grass prairie reserve, browse through the amazing on-line herbarium, or view “living memories”.

     

    Communicating Sustainability,
    Brian Johnson, BGCI-US

    UN launches new guide on "Communicating Sustainability": Published by the UN Environment Program, "Communicating Sustainability" profiles 16 innovative public campaigns to change attitudes and lifestyle choices, including an "environment train" criss-crossing Algeria and a radio series on pesticide pollution in Viet Nam.

    The guide is an excellent resource for learning not only what to communicate, but how to communicate your conservation message effectively. Download the free publication for more information.(link here)

     

    Upcoming educational events:

    (Events are posted in the language(s) in which they are presented):

    May 2nd – 6th , 2006/ du 2 au 6 mai 2006
    “To Be or Not to Be”: Canadian Museums Association Conference
    « Être ou ne pas être » : Congrès de l’association des musées canadiens
    www.museums.ca
    Saint John, N.B

    June 28–July 1, 2006
    “Sustainability: Walking the Talk”: American Public Gardens Association Conference
    www.aabga.org
    San Francisco, California, U.S.A

    September 10-14th, 2006
    “The Nature of Success, Success for Nature”: Education in Botanic Gardens,
    BGCI’s 6th International Congress, Oxford, U.K.
    www.bgci.org/educationcongress

    October 19-22, 2005/ du 19 au 2 octobre, 2006
    “Salt of the Earth: Creating a Culture of Environmental Respect and Sustainability” (EECOM/IC/NSEN Annual Conference)
    « Le sel de la Terre: Vers une culture axée sur le respect et la durabilité de l’environnement » (Congrès de l’EECOM/IC/NSEN)
    www.eecom.org
    White Point, Nova Scotia/ Nouvelle Écosse

    More botanical & environmental education events/conferences www.bgci.org/canda/edu_events

    Plant conservation events/ conferences
    www.rbg.ca/cbcn/en/news/coming

     

    Subscription information:

    If you would like to subscribe, have any questions or if would like to contribute a news item,
    please contact Laurel McIvor, newsletter editor and writer (unless otherwise indicated):

    laurel.mcivor@bgci.org,
    514-872-5420.

     

    Acknowledgements:

    We would like thank the following for their contributions and support:

    Translation: Catherine Gouillard
    Design & Layout: Cheryl Fraser
    Sponsors: HSBC Holdings plc
    Partners: Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Canadian Botanical Conservation Network, and Montreal Botanical Garden

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