July 2020

Happy July!

June is always a blur here at PCAP.  We had a successful 22nd Native Prairie Appreciation Week, despite the pandemic.  Thank you to all of our partners who helped spread the word about native prairie this month! We were able to share the beauty of native prairie, with over 100 photos submitted to our Native Prairie Photo Contest and 72 entries to our Youth Poster Contest. The winners of both contests are listed below! Prizes, donated by a number of organizations, were sent out to the winners last week. 

The Native Prairie Appreciation Week Speaker Series was also well attended. There was an average of 140 attendees for the 6 webinars, and they've already been viewed on our YouTube Channel by those who missed the live webinars. There was training opportunities, include range and riparian health assessments, and prairie plant identification, and a technical presentation on the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment's native prairie mapping project.  There were also topics for the general audience, including Candace Savage's overview of  native prairie loss and what people can do to help, as well as PCAP's Native Prairie Appreciation Video. All recordings are available on PCAP's YouTube Channel! Make sure to check out any that you've missed!

The next Native Prairie Speaker Series webinar will be July 7th where Melanie Toppi of the Frenchman Wood River Weed Management  Area and SODCAP, will be talking about Identifying the Big Weeds.    Register here.

And finally, we would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support :  Camp Wolf Willow, EcoFriendly Sask, K+S Potash, Pembina Pipelines, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater, Wildlife Habitat Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as the continuous support of all the PCAP's  Partners . 

Have a wonderful month everyone! Stay safe and healthy!

Carolyn Gaudet, SK PCAP Manager 
Ph. 306 352 0472 
pcap@sasktel.net

First Place in the 6 & Under Category: Clara McKay Selinger, Age 6 of Regina, SK




First Place in the 7-10 Age Category: Amelia Hanstock, Age 9 of Assiniboia, SK



First Place of the 11 and Up Category: From Outlook High School





SK Prairie Conservation Action Plan would like to sincerely thank the following organizations for their prize donations to our NPAW Contests: 
Grasslands National Park, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Nature Saskatchewan, Prairie Wind & Silver Sage, Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre and Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. 
PCAP Partner Spotlight...
Nature Saskatchewan
Submitted by Melissa Ranalli , Species at Risk Manager

Nature Saskatchewan has been dedicated to the conservation of Saskatchewan's natural environment since 1949. We promote appreciation and understanding of our natural world through education, conservation and research. Speaking for the protection and conservation of natural ecosystems and their biodiversity is our main focus, while we strive to connect nature and culture. With over 600 members, Nature Saskatchewan's programs and services provide learning opportunities and experiences that foster a love for nature.
Like so many other organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on gatherings have compelled Nature Saskatchewan to get creative and adapt its usual spring and summer activities in order to stay connected. Many of our activities have moved online. For example, because our Last Mountain Bird Observatory was closed to the public this spring, a series of Migration Monday videos have been created by Jordan Rustad and Rebecca Magnus as a way to virtually bring the banding station and birding experiences to the public. If you haven't done so already, I encourage you to check out those video clips, and others, on Nature Saskatchewan's YouTube channel : www.youtube.com/channel/UCDYIv80ATfpeExkqvScuJ7 .

Nature Saskatchewan is also excited to be co-hosting a conservation themed trivia night with Mystery Mansion of Regina! This free virtual event will take place July 15th at 7:00 pm. Trivia categories will include boreal, grassland and wetland content with some fun surprise topics mixed in. If you think it might interest you, be sure to follow Nature Saskatchewan's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NatureSask . Event details will be posted there shortly.
 
Nature Saskatchewan's Stewards of Saskatchewan (SOS) programs have also adapted their work plans. The SOS programs aim to conserve habitat (468,000 acres and 139 miles of shoreline habitat to date) for prairie species at risk (SAR), namely by working in cooperation with over 900 rural landowners and managers, as well as other organizations, volunteers and professionals. The main program activities include encouraging and facilitating stewardship (e.g., through one-on-one meetings with landowners), improving SAR habitat, education and awareness (e.g., to prevent the inadvertent destruction of habitat) and population surveys and monitoring (e.g., through staff field work as well as landowner reports).
 
SOS staff would typically have a full summer of field work scheduled, involving SAR surveys and hundreds of meetings with current and potential program participants. However, to ensure the health and safety of the SOS program participants as well as staff, we will be limiting field work to a grid road survey of the Great Sandhills area, and landowner meetings will be held virtually. This summer more than ever we have also encouraged program participants and the general public to report SAR sightings, and everyone is stepping up to the challenge. The phone calls and email reports of sightings have been pouring in! If you spot a SAR, you can report your sighting through our HOOT line (1-800-667-4668).
 
The SOS staff have also forged new connections to reach landowners. In a webinar hosted by SaskOrganics on July 10th, Shirley Bartz will present on the SOS programs. Shirley's presentation will focus on the importance of native prairie ecosystems and their role in supporting sustainable farming practices, and will be one of two in a webinar geared toward understanding why increasing biodiversity of native plants, insects and animals is important on farms.
 
Finally, this spring the SOS programs, along with 16 other local initiatives, were proud to receive a RCE Saskatchewan Education for Sustainable Development Recognition Award for their innovative achievements in education that builds capacity for sustainable development in Saskatchewan. It was a tremendous honour to be recognized and connected to the United Nation's 17 sustainable development goals. A list of recipients and a recording of the ceremony can be found on the RCE Saskatchewan website: https://www.saskrce.ca .

As an organization, Nature Saskatchewan fully understands the importance of getting outside and enjoying nature. While respecting the provincial guidelines and restrictions on gatherings, more than ever we hope that individuals and families will get out and benefit from the sense of calm nature can provide, both mentally and physically. Happy trails and stay safe!
Volume 12 Issue 7
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SK PCAP Native Prairie Speaker Series

Plan to attend our July Native Prairie Speaker Series webinar! 



Visit our  Native Prairie Speaker Series webpage    for more topics, dates, and registration details.
Upcoming Opportunities!



Plant ID Volunteer Opportunity
SK Ministry of Environment is looking for volunteers to help collect data for an ongoing spatial initiative that aims at differentiating native prairie from tame pasture in the province. 
If you have a plant background, are familiar with native, tame and invasive species in the province and are able to volunteer some time in July while contributing to this project, please get in touch. The survey uses a free mobile app and requires driving around and checking different locations. We could cover some costs like mileage and meals.
Let us know if you are interested by emailing bea.prieto@gov.sk.ca and watch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1DCoVyCcdE) for more information on this initiative.

Upcoming Events!
July 10th, 2020 at 9:30 AM CST

July 15th, 2020 at 7PM MDT

All webinars are at 9 AM MDT

July 16 - Grazing Principles and Practice 

July 21 - Riparian 101 and Riparian Health Assessments 

July 23 - Range Health Assessments

July 28 - Ranching Women 

July 30 - Mental Health in Agriculture 
July 22nd, 2020 @ 10 AM MDT
Native Prairie Appreciation Week in the News!
Moose Jaw Today.com: Sask. set to celebrate prairie ecosystems with Native Prairie Appreciation Week. 



Online resources -incase you still need them :) 
PCAP has a list of resources for teachers, including colouring sheets from Nature Saskatchewan

Explore.org - bison cam at Grasslands National Park

Google Trekker at NCC properties throughout Canada, including Old Man on his Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area and Fairy Hill.

Miistakis Institute is having Miistakis Monday webinars.


Saskatchewan Environmental Society has webinars coming up, as well as online resources: Destination Conservation

SaskOutdoors also has an extensive list of resources

Outdoor education resources from Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation

Wildlife Acoustics has a number of online training sessions available for their software.


 

2020 Speaker Series
Supporting Sponsors 

Camp Wolf Willow

Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Inc.
2020 Education Programs:
Presenting Sponsors:




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2020 Education Programs 
Supporting Sponsors:

  
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Carolyn Gaudet, Editor, Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Newsletter
306-352-0472
SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges financial support in 2020-2021 from:
Camp Wolf Willow, Ducks Unlimited Canada, EcoFriendlySask.ca, K+S Potash, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park of Canada, Pembina Pipelines, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Inc., Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association,  Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment - Fish and Wildlife Development Fund,  SaskEnergy,  SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskWater, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Water Security Agency and Wildlife Habitat Canada.

SK PCAP gratefully acknowledges in-kind support for 2020-21 from: 
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Science and Technology Branch, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association, Canadian Western Agribition, Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service,  Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Friends of Wascana Marsh, Meewasin Valley Authority, Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, Nature Conservancy Canada, Nature Saskatchewan, Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park, Prairie Wind & Silver Sage, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Inc., Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds, Saskatchewan Bison Association, Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association, Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Saskatchewan Forage Council, Saskatchewan Forage Industry Network, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Saskatchewan Science Centre, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation,  Saskatoon Nature Society, SaskEnergy, SaskOutdoors, SaskPower, Society for Range Management - Prairie Parkland Chapter, South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc., University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Wild About Saskatoon-Nature City Festival.