Annual Report 2019
Friends of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society supports Lethbridge's Nature Centre to foster a community of environmentally responsible citizens through interactive nature-based experiences.
We want to further position the Helen Schuler Nature Centre as a world-class facility that connects visitors and residents to the many benefits of the great outdoors. We will facilitate interactive experiences and memorable moments by supporting the Nature Centre's growth in our community through:
Environmental education programs and special projects;
Enhancement of the resources of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre;
Fostering the importance of nature!
Through fundraising, grants, and building support, the Friends of Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society provides opportunities to engage the community for the betterment of nature interpretation in Lethbridge, Alberta. We currently have 55 active members of the Society that passionately agree with our mission and mandate.
Friends of Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society helped to support more interactive experiences at the annual Nature Play Day festival at Henderson Lake Park in 2019! In partnership with ParticipACTION we hosted the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation on site for a meet and greet with their amazing birds! This provided amazing memorable experiences for an all-ages audience.
Since 2014 the Friends of Society has delivered 66 programs to the community with over 6,400 attendees. Programs have included Snake Safety Talks, Travel Adventures, conservation projects, workshops, and documentary film screenings. Since August 2017 the Friends of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society has been a registered Canadian charity.
We thank all of our members, donors, and supporters for helping to make 2019 our most successful year yet. Read on to learn more about how your support made a difference to our work! Thank you for being a Friend!!
“It has been a year to remember as we strive forward in our goal to promote Nature in the wonderful community of Lethbridge. Looking back on the 2019 year, a special thanks goes out to Ken Moore for delivering many Snake safety talks around Southern Alberta, and to all of our society and community members for supporting these programs. As we look forward to expanding our program facilities with the ground breaking in on our new improved teaching outdoor amphitheatre, we are thrilled to be supporting more Nature Centre programming for the 2020 year! Look out for our many travel adventure talks, snake safety talks, and other community events to come! Once again, a special thanks to everyone who takes part in supporting our society, it is that reason alone that makes it possible for the Friends of Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society to foster the love of nature in our community.”
- Samantha Tinworth, President of the Friends of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society
Notable Accomplishments in 2019
The Friends of Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society is active year-round in terms of grant writing, advocacy, and building our Society's capacity. In the past year, our efforts have resulted in significant support of Helen Schuler Nature Centre programs, special events, conservation volunteers, and overall awareness of the Nature Centre’s role in the community.
Fundraising targets were exceeded for the new Outdoor Classroom at the Nature Centre! Thanks to everyone for their tremendous support of this new and improved learning space!!
Starting in July 2018 and ending in September 2019 we raised $260,000 in support of a new Outdoor Classroom & Amphitheatre at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre. We thank all of the project supporters, including but not limited to: Co-Op Community Spaces, City of Lethbridge, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Carol Leriger, Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwest Alberta, Joyce & Paul Wilkinson, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, ATB Cares (Match), Lethbridge Auto Dealers Association, Oldman River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada, Rick Andrews, Public Service Alliance of Canada - Alberta Agriculture Union, Linda Cerney, Deb & Ken Kellett, Mary Anderson, Coreen Putman, Curtis Goodman, and many other donors.
MLA for Lethbridge West and Minister of Environment Shannon Phillips makes a huge funding announcement for municipally-supported nature centres across Alberta!
In January 2019 we led advocacy efforts in conjunction with Nature Centres across Alberta. This helped to establish relationships with other interpretive centres while also better understanding our shared challenges and opportunities going forward. We successfully advocated for the investment of $1 million dollars towards municipally-funded nature centres in Alberta in 2019. This resulted in a $74,000 investment in the Helen Schuler Nature Centre to support climate-change education.
Another full house eagerly awaits to learn about a new destination at the popular Travel Adventures programs! We hosted five Travel Adventure programs in 2019.
Also in January, we were proud to receive support from Google for Non-Profits. This program enabled us to receive $10,000 USD per month in advertising support from Google – helping to guarantee a first place spot in tens of thousands of search results throughout the year. This program also enabled us to receive support from TechSoup – allowing us to access software and technology resources at a fraction of the total cost.
Rick Andrews premieres his latest documentary ‘Coastal Wolves of British Columbia’ to a full house during a Travel Adventures presentation in March 2019.
January through April 2019 we hosted five Travel Adventures presentations. Thanks to support from the Serving Communities Internship Program (SCIP) we were able to “hire” an intern to grow the program from a ‘by-donation’ basis (earning an average of $45 per program) to a ticketed program (earning an average of $500 per program). We also witnessed several ‘sell out’ Travel Adventures – indicating the community’s interest and support of this program!
Coulee Clean-Up launch at Indian Battle Park started the largest conservation project year to date!
In April 2019 we started new relationships with the Alberta Eco-Trust Foundation and the Oldman Watershed Council as partners in our River Valley Conservation Projects. Their support allowed us to in turn support the Helen Schuler Nature Centre to coordinate their largest conservation project effort to date! Together with the help from over 2,000 participants assisting with Coulee Clean-Up, Shoreline Clean-Up, and Invasive Weed Pulls we supported a major impact on our river valley – removing 540 bags of trash while fostering a community of river valley stewards.
Our amazing team of Highway Clean-Up volunteers, helping to raise funds for a new Outdoor Classroom at the Nature Centre while also conserving our local natural environment!
In May 2019 we hosted our first Highway Clean-Up with Alberta Transportation. We took on a 12km stretch along Highway #3 West of Lethbridge – helping to remove accumulated garbage in an effort to improve the West gateway to Lethbridge! We also received confirmation in May that our letter of support for Environment Lethbridge’s application to the Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Eco-Action grant program helped to land significant funding for plastic pollution prevention projects in Lethbridge. This will also provide $36,000 in financial support for the Helen Schuler Nature Centre’s River Valley Conservation Projects and the Natural Leaders Project over two years.
Ken Moore leads a Snake Safety presentation in partnership with Lethbridge Family Centre at the Coalbanks Elementary School - helping families to stay safe in snake country.
In June 2019 we supported the annual Nature Play Day event at Henderson Lake Park. We coordinated a photo booth activity at the event. We also worked with ParticipACTION to increase the number of interactive activities at the event – this allowed us to invite the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation to host a very popular meet and greet activity. We also partnered with Environment Lethbridge and the Rotary Club of Lethbridge Urban Spirits to host Experiencing Eco-Grief: A workshop using artistic and embodied process. Facilitated by Refugia Retreats, the workshop reached 17 participants on a pay-what-you-can basis.
Carmen Hudson from South Country Co-Op speaks to media about Co-Op Community Spaces’ contribution towards a new Outdoor Classroom at the Nature Centre
On June 27, 2019 in partnership with South Country Co-Op we hosted a Community BBQ to make a major funding announcement (the largest in Nature Centre history) from Co-Op Community Spaces towards the Outdoor Classroom project! The event fed 185 hungry attendees and had a blast making the announcement during a quick break in the rain.
We supported 2,017 conservation volunteers as part of programs like Coulee Clean-Up, Shoreline Clean-Up, and Invasive Weed Pulls! Part of our support includes hosting an annual appreciation BBQ for volunteers at Pavan Park.
In July 2019 we were proud to work with local artist and Nature Centre volunteer Beth Porter to create and release Lethbridge through the Seasons. This colouring book was an excellent companion to the Pollinator exhibit at the Nature Centre! Featuring Lethbridge’s parks and wildlife that you may encounter through the seasons in our river valley. Be sure to ask for your own copy on your next visit to the Nature Centre!
In September 2019 we supported the Lethbridge Public Library’s annual literary festival Word on the Street. In partnership with the Southern Alberta Group for the Environment we supported the presentation of Jenna Butler, an engaging author that has done extensive research on endangered environments around the world. Be sure to check out her newest book Magnetic North: Sea Voyage to Svalbard.
Carol Leriger made the largest individual donation in the history of the Nature Centre!
In October 2019 our Society celebrated another successful year of partnership with the Rotary Club of Lethbridge East in support of the Extreme by Nature program and the Inspired by Nature Youth Art Exhibition featured in the Nature Centre’s Community Art Gallery. Rotary’s involvement helped to encourage local youth to spend more time in our river valley with the support of mentor organizations like the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, and Oldman Watershed Council.
Friends of Helen Schuler Nature Centre Society Board of Directors (left to right) Prisca Baptista, Rick Parker, Samantha-Shae Smuk, Samantha Tinworth, Ashley Pearce, Taylor Hecker, Marni Hope, Ken Moore, Ron Tsujikawa, Becky Cousins, Curtis Goodman
In November 2019 we first met with the team from Urban Systems who will be project managing the new Outdoor Classroom project. We were able to convey all of the great ideas for a revitalized space we received over the past year from our supporters and stakeholders. Construction is slated to begin on the new Outdoor Classroom in late spring/early summer 2020!
Throughout the year we were proud to receive ongoing support from ATB Cares. Almost every donation processed through their website results in a significant match – providing a boost to our fundraising efforts. Thank you to everyone that took advantage of this donation match opportunity! You can learn about other donation options on our website at www.NatureCentre.ca/donate
Summary of Activities & Events in 2019
Conservation Initiatives
River Valley Conservation Projects, including Coulee Clean-Up, Shoreline Clean-Up, Invasive Weed Pulls (Event Support and Sponsorship)
Coulee Clean-Up at Cottonwood Park (1-May-19)
Highway Clean-Up along Highway #3 (4-May-19)
Community Events & Workshops
Wild Side of Love (14-Feb-19)
Nature Play Day 2019 (8-Jun-19)
Experiencing Eco-Grief: A workshop using artistic and embodied process (9-Jun-19)
Outdoor Classroom Project Announcement & Community BBQ (27-Jun-19)
Word on the Street – Author Presentation: Jenna Butler - Magnetic North (21-Sep-19)
Governance
Executive Meeting (22-Jan-19)
Executive Meeting (6-Mar-19)
Annual General Meeting (18-Mar-19)
Executive Meeting (24-Jul-2019)
Executive Meeting (2-Oct-2019)
Travel Adventures Presentations
Discover the Edge of the World - Haida Gwaii with Deb & Ken Kellett (22-Jan-19)
Cape to Cape with John Nightingale (8-Feb-19/24-Feb-19)
Coastal Wolves with Rick Andrews (8-Mar-19)
Botswana Safari with Joanna Fraser (26-Apr-19)
Snake Safety Presentations
Discover Together: Coulees 'n Critters - Snake Safety Talk at Lethbridge Family Centre (13-Apr-19)
Jane's Walk: Snakes on the Plains (3-May-19)
Snake Safety at University of Lethbridge (8-May-19)
Snake Safety at Helen Schuler Nature Centre (1-Jun-19)
Rattlesnakes of Writing on Stone Provincial Park (5-Jul-19)
Snake Safety for City of Lethbridge Public Operations Department (24-Jul-19)
Snakes of Writing on Stone Provincial Park (26-Jul-19)
Snake Safety for City of Lethbridge Parks & Caliber Landscaping (4-Sep-19)
Find out about our next great event by visiting our website at www.NatureCentre.ca/events
Get Involved
It takes a community to build and maintain an amazing interpretive centre that supports over 53,000 visitors every year! We invite you to join us in our mission to position the Helen Schuler Nature Centre as a world-class facility that connects visitors and residents to the many benefits of the great outdoors.
We encourage you to take action in one of the following ways:
Join us as a member!
Make a donation!
Volunteer with us!
Attend a program!
Write a testimonial about the Nature Centre!
Visit the Nature Centre!
Spend more time outside!
Encourage your friends and family to join you!
Consider joining our Board of Directors!