Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society

Gift of Flight
2023-05-01 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Friends of Fish Creek Spring Fundraiser – WestJet Gift of Flight

Congratulations to Melinda May McLauchlin – Winner of the WestJet Gift of Flight Prize Package!
Contest Runs May 1 – July 3, 2023
All funds raised will support the Friends of Fish Creek and our conservation efforts here in Fish Creek Provincial Park. As a small but far-reaching registered charity based in Fish Creek Provincial Park, we do not receive regular direct funding. For over thirty years the Friends of Fish Creek have been supported by a diverse combination of grants, sponsorships, membership fees, program fees, fundraisers, and especially donations from community members like you. Volunteers also play a key role in all of our activities and make it possible for us continue our essential stewardship and community engagement activities.
All bookings and travel must be completed within one year from the date of the event.
All funds raised though this exciting campaign will be used right here in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Enter to win one round trip flight for two guests to any regularly scheduled and marketed WestJet destination! (No cash value, fees, taxes, surcharges not included, blackout dates and restrictions apply).
Raffle Closed – thank you to everyone who entered

View Raffle Rules

A Tour of Stewardship 2022
2023-04-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Edmonton) | Alberta
A Tour of Stewardship in 2022
Thursday, April 13, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Provincial Park 13931 Woodpath Rd. SW
We also offer online zoom session as well.
Presented by Friends of Fish Creek Staff: Emma Stroud, Team Lead – Ecology & Conservation, and Dylan Barnes, Citizen Science & Stewardship Coordinator (Poplar Forest Stewardship)

Have you been wondering what the stewardship volunteers were up to last year? Are you interested in participating in stewardship and wondering how you could help out in the park? Maybe you would like to find out what we did with 2 km worth of stucco wire. The Friends of Fish Creek stewardship staff are proud to present an interactive evening of questions answered about our efforts to protect and preserve the environmentally sustainability of Fish Creek Provincial Park. Meet with Friends Stewardship and Conservation Staff members Dylan Barnes and Emma Stroud to learn about their efforts last year and enjoy a look at what the Friends did, what we learned, and what we hope to accomplish this year.
This presentation is free to all. Registration is required.

Register through Eventbrite

Good Grief Nature Walking
2023-03-10 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-02-17 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-01-20 13:00 - 14:30 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss
Thanks to a long-standing partnership with Mount Royal University Professor Sonya Jakubec, Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss will be offered in winter 2023. This program is aimed at providing support to those experiencing grief, loss or major life transition.
This eight-week program simply provides an opportunity for participants to connect with nature while connecting with others who share similar experiences. Although not a grief therapy program, Good Grief may provide valuable connection and healing for both participants and volunteer companions. Companions are not providing counseling or therapy; they simply share a common goal of connecting with nature as a place of refuge in acceptance of our journeys of life transition.
Regardless of the transition you are experiencing – be it the loss of a loved one, job or relationship, a significant change in health or mobility, or other deep changes in your life – spending time in nature with people who are on a similar journey might be just the support you need.
We invite you to come walk with us on Friday afternoons from 1:00-2:30pm, running from January 20 to March 10, 2023, with March 17 reserved as replacement in the event of previous outing cancellation. Registration required. Outings will run in a variety of weather conditions, but may be canceled if temperatures are too cold or if severe weather is in the forecast. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly and in layers. Ice cleats are strongly recommended.
Each outing will begin with a reading or a shared experience, followed by a walk on a fairly easy 1.5-2 km route. Each of the four routes will be repeated once during the eight-week program – a chance to reflect on the changes in the landscape and ourselves over time. Time, nature and low pressure companionship can be our best supports.
If you would like to learn more about the Good Grief program or discuss the program goals and discoveries from previous Good Grief programs, please feel free to contact Sonya Jakubec, our partner at Mount Royal at sjakubec@mtroyal.ca. Inquiries regarding program accessibility can be directed to Rose Ratliffe, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteer Good Grief Companion at ratliffe@shaw.ca.
Thank you to our Partners and Volunteers for keeping the Good Grief program going! Proceeds support the Friends of Fish Creek’s ongoing efforts to engage the public in responsible stewardship of Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Registration for the 2023 Good Grief program is full. Thank you for your interest.

Photo Courtesy of Alan Lam

Exploring the Impacts of Effluent Release in the Little Bow River Watershed
2023-03-09 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Exploring the Impacts of Effluent Release in the Little Bow River Watershed
Thursday, March 9, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Broadcast virtually over Zoom
Presented by Matthew Bogard, Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Environments
The release of municipal and industrial effluents in watersheds is a global issue with complex and somewhat undefined impacts on aquatic ecosystems and public health. The Frank Lake wetland in the Upper Little Bow River watershed in southern Alberta represents a complex management scenario. Despite its ecological, economic, and cultural importance, this watershed is faced with degradation of habitat and water quality due to its long history of intensive land-use, and inputs of agro-industrial and municipal effluent to Frank Lake, initiated in the late 1980s.
The impacts of effluent on the wetland and downstream river and multi-use reservoir are uncertain. This talk will introduce a new, multidisciplinary research program that explores organism- to-ecosystem scale responses to effluent loading in this model watershed. Our partnership brings together academic, industrial, and municipal stakeholders to generate novel research findings on effluent fate and impacts, while providing stakeholders with guidance in local water resource management.
Matthew is an Assistant professor and Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Environments at the University of Lethbridge. He has studied the ecology of lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal environments across North America, and is currently Associate Editor at Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Matthew’s research focuses on understanding how human activities impact our precious water resources in southern Alberta.

Register through Eventbrite

Photos courtesy of Matthew Bogard

Wild Wolf Watching in Yellowstone National Park
2023-02-09 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Wild Wolf Watching in Yellowstone National Park
Thursday, February 9, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Broadcast virtually over Zoom

Presented by Bruce and Kelly Hazen, Yellowstone Citizen Science Group – Wolf Behaviour Observations

Yellowstone National Park is known as the best place in the world to see wolves in the wild. Over the past 16 years, Bruce and Kelly Hazen have watched wolves in Yellowstone during their twice a year visits. Learn the insider tips and tricks to making the most of your wolf watching adventure. Topics include: where, when, and how to comfortably observe wild wolf behaviour. Safe wolf watching etiquette along with essential equipment and supply needs. You will learn what to expect during a typical day in the life of a wolf watcher. Hint: Be crepuscular.

Over the last 16 years, Bruce and Kelly Hazen have contributed their wolf behavior observations to a Yellowstone citizen scientist group. Kelly has a degree in Exotic Animal Training and trained a captive Gray Wolf. In addition, Kelly worked as a wildlife biologist for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and appeared in 2 Oregon Field Guide Television programs. She published her citizen scientist studies and gives talks about Arctic White Geese, Greater Sage-Grouse, and Snowy Owls. She currently volunteers at the High Desert Museum in Bend Oregon, where she leads Nature Walks, Carnivore Talks, and narrates the Raptors of the Desert Sky program.

Register through Eventbrite

Photo courtesy of Kelly Hazen

January Speaker Series: Don't Let It Loose!
2023-01-12 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Don’t Let It Loose: Encouraging Albertans to C.A.R.E. about their aquarium plants and pets
Thursday, January 12, 7:00-8:00pm
Broadcast virtually over Zoom
Facilitated by Megan Evans, Executive Director of the Alberta Invasive Species Council

In Alberta, invasive species continue to threaten our economy and environment as new species are introduced every year. Intentional release and accidental transportation are the two main methods of invasive species introduction. We see examples of this through over 100 locations of goldfish in the province through intentional release and the discovery of zebra mussels in moss balls through accidental transportation.

Aquatic invasive species have been found in storm water and natural wetlands in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Pictured above, a wetland that is known to contain Prussian carp, an aquatic invasive species likely introduced intentionally by park visitors. Photo credit the Ratliffe Family.

The objective of the “Don’t Let it Loose” Project is to encourage Albertans to C.A.R.E. about their aquarium species:

Contact
Act responsibly
Report
End ownership

Everyone has a role to play to help protect our wild spaces from invasive species and their effects. Join us for an online talk to learn how you can lend a hand in the battle against invasive species, particularly in our efforts to prevent new introductions to the province.

Register through Eventbrite

Get to Know Nature FREE Event
2022-11-26 13:00 - 15:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Get to Know the Changing Seasons & Grand Opening of the Beaver Tales Loop

Join us for an afternoon in the park where your family or group can enjoy a wide variety of interactive, guided and self-directed activities on a variety of themes from winter and snow to beavers and wetlands:

take a stroll on the new, 2km paved Beaver Tales interpretive trail
pick up a Conservation Passport, get it stamped at each station, then enter to win a prize!
warm up by the campfire and roast marshmallows (Halal marshmallows available)
take in a short guided walk led by Wayne Meikle, Founder of the Friends of Fish Creek – Meet at the campfire at 1:30pm
try snowshoeing, sledding, birding and other outdoor activities (weather dependent)
learn about beavers and debunk common myths about them and their behavior
learn how Friends of Fish Creek are working to coexist with these furry ecosystem engineers
discover which bird species live here year-round and what you can to do protect them
find out how you can protect nature when you visit parks
learn how to stay warm in winter
make your own paper beaver hat
test your knowledge about responsible firekeeping
dress up like a beaver with Urban Wild and discover the beaver’s amazing adaptations!
learn how you can help keep wildlife wild with the Biosphere Institute’s Wildsmart Ambassadors
and more!

This is the final event in the 2022 Get to Know Nature series of monthly events which started in February. *Event details are subject to change due to weather, facility access or other unforeseen circumstances, so please check this website to confirm event location and time before attending. Drop-ins welcome, registration not required.
View 2022 Dates and Themes
A big thank you to long-time Friends of Fish Creek supporters, the Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation, for funding our 2022 Get to Know Nature events so these experiences can be offered at no charge to the public!

Thank you to all who supported our efforts to facilitate family nature experiences on GivingTuesday! Together we raised over $2,800. Show your support for connecting children and families with nature by donating online or by visiting the Friends of Fish Creek office in the Bow Valley Ranch. Proceeds support the purchase of equipment and resources to be used at these events and also covers staff time to coordinate volunteers and partners to bring these events to life. With your support, we can remove barriers so more families can get connected outdoors!

Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss
2022-11-23 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-11-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-11-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-11-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-10-26 13:00 - 14:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss
Thanks to a long-standing partnership with Mount Royal Professor Sonya Jakubec, Good Grief: Nature Walking Through Grief and Loss will be back this fall. This program is aimed at providing support to those experiencing grief, loss or major life transition.
This six-week program simply provides an opportunity to participants to connect with nature while connecting with others who share similar experiences. Although not a grief therapy program, Good Grief may provide valuable connection and healing for both participants and volunteer companions. Companions are not providing counselling or therapy; they simply share a common goal of connecting with nature as a place of refuge in acceptance of our journeys of life transition.
Regardless of the transition you are experiencing – be it the loss of a loved one, job or relationship, a significant change in health or mobility, or other deep changes in your life – spending time in nature with people who are on a similar journey might be just the support you need.
Wednesday afternoons from 1:00-2:00pm, running from October 26 to November 30, with December 7 reserved as replacement in the event of previous outing cancellation due to weather.
Each outing will begin with a reading or a shared experience, followed by a walk on a fairly easy 1.5-2 km route. Each of the three routes will be repeated once during the six-week program – a chance to reflect on the changes in the landscape and ourselves over time. Time, nature and low pressure companionship can be our best supports.
The Friends of Fish Creek strive to create accessible opportunities for community members to engage and connect. If you have accessibility concerns, please contact Katie Bakken, Friends of Fish Creek Community Engagement Coordinator, at 403-238-3841 (ext. 6).
If you would like to learn more about the Good Grief program goals and discoveries from previous Good Grief programs, please feel free to contact Sonya Jakubec, our partner at Mount Royal at sjakubec@mtroyal.ca.

The 2022 Good Grief program is sold out. To hear about future Friends of Fish Creek Wellness programs including Yoga, Mediation and Good Grief, please provide your contact information below so we can reach out once registration is ready.

Wellness Programs Contact List
Please share your name, phone number and email address if you are interested in hearing about future Wellness programs such as Yoga, Meditation and Good Grief programs.

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We only collect and ask for relevant information as it relates to program registration and payment.

Wild rose photo credit: Shelley Rutledge

Speaker Series: Greater Sage-Grouse
2022-11-10 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Greater Sage-Grouse: The canary in the sagebrush
Thursday, November 10, 2022 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Broadcast virtually over Zoom
Facilitated by Kelly Hazen, Retired Wildlife Biologist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Like canaries in the coal mine, greater sage-grouse are indicators of the health of the sagebrush environment and its plant and animal inhabitants. Retired wildlife biologist Kelly Hazen will share stories and findings about the greater sage-grouse natural history and the State of Oregon Adopt-A-Lek Program, which she coordinated from 2013 to 2017.

The northern range of the greater sage-grouse, listed as endangered in the Province of Alberta, includes the far southeastern corner of Alberta. Join us to learn about this fascinating bird, and about a citizen science volunteer program south of the border aimed at monitoring populations to support species conservation.

Register through Eventbrite

This month’s Fish Creek Speaker Series event will take place online, with no option to attend in-person as the presenter is tuning in remotely from Oregon. Upon registering, all will receive the Zoom link. Inquiries can be directed to katie@friendsoffishcreek.org

Get to Know the Night Sky FREE Event
2022-10-29 19:00 - 22:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Get to Know the Night Sky

Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 7:00-10:00pm
Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre at Shannon Terrace (map)
Thanks to a collaborative partnership between the Friends of Fish Creek, Alberta Parks and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, this month’s Get to Know Nature event will be larger, and will feature free activities taking place both indoors and outdoors at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre and Shannon Terrace in the west end of the park. Example activities include:

gaze at the stars, and get a close up look at planets and stars through real telescopes
watch presentations about celestial happenings
warm up by the fire and roast marshmallows
learn about the birds and wildlife that are most active at dusk and at night
join in a short guided walk about Fish Creek’s night life
find out why dark skies are important and learn what you can to do protect our dark skies
discover ways you can help keep wildlife wild
make your own flappy bat and learn all about bats
enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or hot apple cider

This event is part of the 2022 series of Get to Know Nature events, happening monthly from February to November, 2022. Event themes, dates, times and locations vary throughout the year. *Event details are subject to change due to weather, facility access or other unforeseen circumstances, so please check this website to confirm event location and time before attending. Drop-ins welcome, registration not required.
View 2022 Dates and Themes
A big thank you to long-time Friends of Fish Creek supporters, the Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation, for funding our 2022 Get to Know Nature events so these experiences can be offered at no charge to the public!

Thank you to all who supported our efforts to facilitate family nature experiences on GivingTuesday! Together we raised over $2,800. Show your support for connecting children and families with nature by donating online or by visiting the Friends of Fish Creek office in the Bow Valley Ranch. Proceeds support the purchase of equipment and resources to be used at these events and also covers staff time to coordinate volunteers and partners to bring these events to life. With your support, we can remove barriers so more families can get connected outdoors!

Ghosts of Fish Creek Walking Tour
2022-10-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Bow Valley Ranch Fish Creek, 15975 Bow Bottom Tr. SE, Calgary, T2P 2M7
Ghosts of Fish Creek Walking Tour
Thursday, October 27 at 6:00-8:00pm
Hosted by Wayne Meikle, Founding Member of the Friends of Fish Creek and former Alberta Parks Staff. Meet at the Bow Valley Ranch.
The fascinating history of Fish Creek Provincial Park lends itself to a myriad of mysterious happenings! Learn about it all on this fun and freaky night time walking tour of the Bow Valley Ranch area. Dress warm, and dress up if you wish, for this fun dark walk in the park. If you bring a flashlight, please cover the light with red cellophane so as not to interfere with fellow walkers’ night vision.
Distance: 2km, mostly paved trails, small amount off-trail walking/standing
Group size: 25
Register through Eventbrite

Ghosts of Fish Creek Walking Tour
2022-10-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Bow Valley Ranch Fish Creek Provincial Park, 15979 Bow Bottom Tr. SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2J 5E8
Ghosts of Fish Creek Walking Tour
Wednesday, October 26 at 6:00-8:00pm
Hosted by Wayne Meikle, Founding Member of the Friends of Fish Creek and former Alberta Parks Staff. Meet at the Bow Valley Ranch.
The fascinating history of Fish Creek Provincial Park lends itself to a myriad of mysterious happenings! Learn about it all on this fun and freaky night time walking tour of the Bow Valley Ranch area. Dress warm, and dress up if you wish, for this fun dark walk in the park. If you bring a flashlight, please cover the light with red cellophane so as not to interfere with fellow walkers’ night vision.
Distance: 2km, mostly paved trails, small amount off-trail walking/standing
Group size: 25

Register through Eventbrite

Speaker Series: Gauging Stewardship Success
2022-10-13 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Gauging Success of Environmental Stewardship Projects
Thursday, October 13, 2022 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
In-person at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre AND broadcast virtually over Zoom

Facilitated by Brooke Kapeller, Bow River Basin Council
Environmental stewardship is increasingly important as human actions threaten the natural world. Now, more than ever, it is necessary to understand what makes stewardship initiatives successful. Join us as Brooke Kapeller, Program Coordinator at the Bow River Basin Council, shares with us the findings from her recent study that explores the important factors in determining the success of environmental stewardship projects.1
Although this study examines stewardship success in Ontario, it will be interesting to see if the lessons learned are applicable to an Alberta context, and specifically to an urban park context, to shed light on how we might increase the effectiveness of Friends of Fish Creek stewardship efforts right here in Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Register through Eventbrite
Photo courtesy Alan Lam
1 Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35650409/

The Fish Creek Speaker Series is returning to in-person programming for the 2022/2023 season! For most Speaker Series events, all registrants will have the option of choosing whether to attend in-person or tune in remotely. Some presentations will be online only to accommodate geographically-distant presenters.
In an effort to remove barriers to participation, the Speaker Series registration form now includes questions geared toward accessibility. If you have ideas regarding how we can make these events more inclusive, please contact katie@friendsoffishcreek.org.

Get to Know Birds & Bees FREE Event
2022-09-24 13:00 - 15:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Get to Know Birds & Bees

Join us for an afternoon in the park where your family or group can enjoy a wide variety of interactive, guided and self-directed activities based around the theme of Birds & Bees.
Autumn is a great time of year to learn about bird migration and insect overwintering. Discover how you and your family can do to support migrating and overwintering wildlife at this time of year – like leaving some fallen leaves on the ground to provide insect overwintering habitat, and not feeding birds so as not to interfere with their migration patterns.
Here are some examples of the kinds of activities that will be on offer this month:

listen to a story by the campfire (weather dependent)
try your hand at birding, binoculars available for loan
enjoy a self-guided walking tour where you can learn how to protect Fish Creek’s ecosystems when you visit
learn about bird migration and how you can support birds at this critical time of year
discover easy ways you can protect important insects and pollinators in the fall
take a close look at a microhabitat
learn how you can have safe and responsible campfires
try your hand at nature sketching and colouring for all ages
listen to a story
enjoy a free drink
meet Wildsmart Ambassadors to learn how you can coexist with wildlife
discover how you can protect nature when you visit parks and protected areas
and much more!

The following local organizations will be attending, offering some fun and exciting activities for you and your family:

Bow Habitat Station
City of Calgary – Bees/Pollinators
Jim Pescott, Artist
Weaselhead Glenmore Park Preservation Society
Biosphere Institute/Wildsmart Ambassadors
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation
Youth Central

There are two more Get to Know Nature events planned for this fall:
Get to Know the Night Sky on Saturday, October 29th where the Royal Astronomical Society will be setting up telescopes for the public to check out cool things happening in the sky, and
Get to Know the Changing Seasons on Saturday, November 26th, where (if there’s snow) you can try snowshoeing and sledding!
*NOTE: Event details are subject to change due to weather, facility access or other unforeseen circumstances, so please check this website to confirm event location and time before attending. Drop-ins welcome, registration not required, but helpful for planning.
View 2022 Dates and Themes
Register to Attend
A big thank you to long-time Friends of Fish Creek supporters, the Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation, for funding our 2022 Get to Know Nature events so these experiences can be offered to the public at no charge!

Thank you to all who supported our efforts to facilitate family nature experiences on GivingTuesday! Together we raised over $2,800. Show your support for connecting children and families with nature by donating online or by visiting the Friends of Fish Creek office in the Bow Valley Ranch. Proceeds support the purchase of equipment and resources to be used at these events and also covers staff time to coordinate volunteers and partners to bring these events to life. With your support, we can remove barriers so more families can get connected outdoors!
Photo, Alberta Native Bee Council

Pedalling Park Potpourri Cycling Tour
2022-09-17 14:00 - 16:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Pedalling Park Potpourri Cycling Tour

Saturday, September 17 at 2:00-4:00pm hosted by Rose & Will Ratliffe, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteers
A potpourri of information about Fish Creek Provincial Park touching on the plants and animals that live in the park, the many ways humans have left their mark over the years, and the ways that Alberta Parks and the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society are working to conserve and protect Canada’s largest urban provincial park.
Register through Eventbrite

September Speaker Series: Canadian Conservation Corps
2022-09-15 19:00 - 20:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Canadian Conservation Corps Summer in Fish Creek

Thursday, September 15, 2022 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
In-person at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre AND broadcast virtually over Zoom

Facilitated by Marnel Muller and Amber McMunn, CCC Interns with Friends of Fish Creek
Join us for a presentation by the Canadian Conservation Corps Interns who joined the Friends of Fish Creek team this summer. Marnel Muller and Amber McMunn will share about the path that led them to join in the Canadian Conservation Corps, their experience in the program, and their next steps after their time with the Friends of Fish Creek.
The Canadian Conservation Corps is a fully funded three-part program which presents an exciting opportunity for youth ages 18 to 30 to learn, grow and experience Canada in a unique way while having a real impact on conservation. Come to learn more about this program and Amber and Marnel’s experience!
If you have young people in your life, please encourage them to attend, as we are also inviting some of our partnering organizations to set up a display to promote the youth opportunities they have to offer. This event will be a great opportunity to learn about some of the unique opportunities that are out there for youth age 12 to 30!

The Fish Creek Speaker Series is returning to in-person programming for the 2022/2023 season! For the September event, please feel free to arrive as early as 6:00pm for some time to reconnect before the presentation. The Zoom link will be sent to all who register, you will have the option of choosing whether or not to attend in-person or tune in remotely. Questions can be directed to katie@friendsoffishcreek.org
Register through Eventbrite

History & Nature Minibus Tour
2022-09-08 09:30 - 11:30 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Choose Your Own Adventure History & Nature Minibus Tour

September 8 at 9:30-11:30am hosted by Wayne Meikle, Founding Member of the Friends of Fish Creek and Former Alberta Parks Staff
Meet at Bow Valley Ranch
You never know what you’re going to get on these minibus tours, as the direction of travel and topics covered are up to the tour participants themselves. Possible topics include ranching history, park history, wildlife, wetlands, plants and even ghosts. Every tour will be unique, so sign up for more than one!
Our open-air, electric minibus is a great way to see more of the park, especially for those with mobility limitations. To discuss how we can meet your accessibility needs, call Katie at 403-238-3841 ext. 6.
Register through Eventbrite
Have guests coming from out of town? Show off your favourite park on a private minibus tour! Our quiet electric minibus is a fun way to see more of the park, and is a thoughtful way to celebrate a loved one’s anniversary, birthday or family reunion. Visit our Park Tours webpage for more info.

Get to Know Bats & Bears FREE Event
2022-08-27 10:00 - 13:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Get to Know Bats & Bears

Join us in the park where your family or group can enjoy a wide variety of free, interactive, guided and self-directed activities based around the theme of Bats & Bears. Here are some examples of the kinds of activities that will be on offer this month:

hear stories from the past about bears and bats in the park – FREE, short walking tour & talk starts at Hulls Wood day use area at 9:30am, then come and enjoy the event at the Bow Valley Ranch!
learn about bats and other aerial insectivores – how they hunt, what they eat, where they live and how they survive our wild climate
discover how you can help keep wild bears wild
learn how to set up a ‘bear hang’ to keep food attractants out of reach of bears
try your hand at nature sketching and colouring for all ages
listen to a story about bears or bats
meet Wildsmart Ambassadors to learn how to coexist with bears and watch a bear spray demo
discover how you can protect nature when you visit
get stamps on your Conservation Passport at various stations, and enter for a chance to win a prize
and much more!

Events are monthly, from February to November, 2022. Dates, times and locations vary throughout the year.
*NOTE: Event details are subject to change due to weather, facility access or other unforeseen circumstances, so please check this website to confirm event location and time before attending. Drop-ins welcome, registration not required, but helpful for planning.
View 2022 Dates and Themes
Register to Attend
A big thank you to long-time Friends of Fish Creek supporters, the Harry & Martha Cohen Foundation, for funding our 2022 Get to Know Nature events so these experiences can be offered at no charge to the public!

Thank you to all who supported our efforts to facilitate family nature experiences on GivingTuesday! Together we raised over $2,800. Show your support for connecting children and families with nature by donating online or by visiting the Friends of Fish Creek office in the Bow Valley Ranch. Proceeds support the purchase of equipment and resources to be used at these events and also covers staff time to coordinate volunteers and partners to bring these events to life. With your support, we can remove barriers so more families can get connected outdoors!
Little Brown Bat, photo courtesy of Cory Olson

Fish Creek's Bears and Bats Walking Tour
2022-08-27 09:30 - 10:30 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Discover the history of bears and bats in Fish Creek Provincial Park on this FREE, short walking tour & talk. The tour will start at Hulls Wood day use area at 9:30am and bring participants to the Bow Valley Ranch just in time to take in our Get to Know Bats & Bears event that runs from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
You will then have the option of walking back to Hulls Wood to get your vehicle then coming to the event, or enjoying the event then walking back (approx 1km) to Hulls Wood to retrieve your vehicle.
Please register on Eventbrite

History & Nature Minibus Tour
2022-08-25 09:30 - 11:30 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Choose Your Own Adventure History & Nature Minibus Tour

August 25 at 9:30-11:30am hosted by Wayne Meikle, Founding Member of the Friends of Fish Creek and Former Alberta Parks Staff
Meet at Bow Valley Ranch
You never know what you’re going to get on these minibus tours, as the direction of travel and topics covered are up to the tour participants themselves. Possible topics include ranching history, park history, wildlife, wetlands, plants and even ghosts. Every tour will be unique, so sign up for more than one!
Our open-air, electric minibus is a great way to see more of the park, especially for those with mobility limitations. To discuss how we can meet your accessibility needs, call Katie at 403-238-3841 ext. 6.
Max group size 9
Distance to be determined by participants
Register through Eventbrite
Have guests coming from out of town? Show off your favourite park on a private minibus tour! Our quiet electric minibus is a fun way to see more of the park, and is a thoughtful way to celebrate a loved one’s anniversary, birthday or family reunion. Visit our Park Tours webpage for more info.

Pedalling Park Potpourri Cycling Tour
2022-08-24 14:00 - 16:00 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Pedalling Park Potpourri Cycling Tour

August 24 at 6:00-8:00pm hosted by Rose & Will Ratliffe, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteers
Meet at Votier’s Flats Day Use Area

A potpourri of information about Fish Creek Provincial Park touching on the plants and animals that live in the park, the many ways humans have left their mark over the years, and the ways that Alberta Parks and the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society are working to conserve and protect Canada’s largest urban provincial park.
Register through Eventbrite

Growing Up at the Ranch Walking Tour
2022-08-20 10:00 - 11:30 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Growing up at the Ranch Walking Tour
August 20 at 10:00-11:30am hosted by Dennis Burns, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteer
Ever wonder what it was like growing up on an Alberta ranch? Hear stories from Dennis Burns’ personal history of growing up at the Bow Valley Ranch from 1951 to 1971. Tour starts at the Visitor Centre and ends at Annie’s Cafe.
Meet at Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre. This tour will be a gentle meander through the Bow Valley Ranch, including stops at the Visitor Centre and the Ranche Restaurant and will wrap up at Annie’s Cafe, where food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Max group size: 15
Distance: 2km total
Register through Eventbrite

Mindfulness Wellness Walk
2022-08-17 18:30 - 20:30 | 15975 Bow Bottom Trail SE, Calgary, AB, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2M7, Canada
Mindfulness in the Park Walking Tour

August 17 at 6:30-8:30pm hosted by Charis Falardeau, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteer
Meet at Bankside Picnic Tables

Spending time in nature can support and even improve social, emotional and physical well-being in these busy times. Join us to engage your body and mind as we explore the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations surrounding us in this beautiful natural landscape. Break up your week and treat yourself to some self-care with like-minded individuals in a friendly, non-judgement atmosphere.

Max group size 20
Distance 3km
Register through Eventbrite
Looking for a slower tour that doesn’t cover quite as much distance? Check out the July 26th Mindfulness in the Park Wheeling Tour – it’s a great opportunity for folks using walkers, crutches, canes, wheelchairs, scooters and other mobility devices. These ‘wheeling’ tours will stick to flatter paved trails and will enjoy a more relaxed pace.

Alien Invasion Walking Tour
2022-08-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Alien Invasion
August 15 at 6:30-8:30pm hosted by Annette Ng, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteer
Meet at Bow Valley Ranch
They come from afar… alien plant species invade, threatening the ecosystem. Learn about alien and native plant species in the park during this leisurely, family-friendly walk.
For thirty years, the Friends of Fish Creek have been actively involved in the stewardship of the various habitats found in the Fish Creek Valley. Visit our Invasive Species Management Page webpage to learn more about how invasive species are managed in Fish Creek Provincial Park, and our Native Plants in Fish Creek webpage to discover how we’re nurturing the growth of native plants in the park.
Max group size 20
Distance 4.5km
Register through Eventbrite
Beautiful but invasive leafy spurge, photo courtesy of Alan Lam
