Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society

Nordic Walking in Fish Creek Provincial Park
2015-07-20 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Edmonton) | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
The July 20 Nordic Walking program has been CANCELLED due to the Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued by Environment Canada. Please consider joining us for a Nordic Walking program on July 27 or at one of our programs scheduled for September.
A walk in the park, Nordic style! Nordic Walking- or “urban poling” – was originally developed in Finland as an easy cross training technique for cross country skiers, hikers and trail runners. Not only does the poling action accurately enhance the muscles for poling and propulsion in cross country skiing but each pole plant also reduces impact on the ankles, knees and hips, thus reducing the rate of injuries incurred in running or hill training without poles.
For those who are not “runners” but do enjoy exercise, Nordic Walking offers a fantastic alternative to running. The propulsion incurred by the pole plant increases the walking rate and stride; this translates into a faster walking step, increasing the cardiovascular output and your aerobic capacity much more than regular walking does. A fun and easy activity that is great for all fitness levels and ages, and only requires poles and the will to walk out your door.
Only $10, class size is limited to 10 people. Please ensure to arrive a few minutes early as the group will leave promptly at 6:30 for a 7:45pm return.
Meet in the Bow Valley Ranch parking lot, beside the red barn (take Bow Bottom Trail south until you enter Fish Creek Provincial Park; turn right into the main parking lot)
As a naturalist & outdoor guide for over 25 years, instructor Julie Walker has provided programming for youth, seniors and adults. She specializes with those new to the outdoors and those who want to know more about the world around them. She is also the program director for Full Circle Adventures. You can find out more about Julie at http://www.girlfriend-getaways-nature-hiking-vacations-canadian-rockies.com/

Fish Creek Rocks! Geology Minibus Tour
2015-07-21 09:30 - 12:00 | Alberta
Join the Friends of Fish Creek as we transport you from the Bow Valley Ranch to the Raven Rocks Preservation Zone to observe and learn about rocks and geologic processes from two to 70 million years ago. Learn how deposits from rivers, glaciers and even volcanoes have contributed to this beautiful landscape over time.
Tour guide Rob McWilliam is a retired professional geologist with 13 years experience in the oil patch, in addition to 23 years teaching at S.A.I.T. This is his second year hosting minibus tours for the Friends of Fish Creek.
$25 per person, only 8 seats available
Register through Eventbrite

Connecting with Nature Meditation
2015-07-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
CANCELLED due to the Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued by Environment Canada. Please consider joining us for a Meditation on August 4th and August 18th!
Join Hetty Laidlaw for her third season of meditation in the park. Her meditations will bring you into the present moment and allow you to just “be”. She will gently guide you into letting go of outside distractions while focusing on the breath. Hetty uses Tibetan Singing bowls at the beginning and closing of her meditations; using sound to evoke the “relaxation response” is one of the simplest and non-invasive ways to de-stress and promote harmony within the mind and body
$10 per session, meet beside the red barn at the Bow Valley Ranch area of Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Hetty was born and raised in the Netherlands and emigrated to Canada when she was 26. Throughout her own wellness journey, Hetty has come to experience how important meditation and relaxation is to stay balanced, focused and relaxed.

Yoga in the Park
2015-07-22 19:00 - 20:30, 2015-07-29 19:00 - 20:30, 2015-08-05 19:00 - 20:30, 2015-08-19 19:00 - 20:30, 2015-08-26 19:00 - 20:30, 2015-09-02 19:00 - 20:30, 2015-09-09 19:00 - 20:30, 2015-09-12 10:00 - 11:30 and 1 more date | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Naomi Parker and Gwen Draude Woolverton team up again for their third season of yoga in Fish Creek Provincial Park!
Relax, revitalize and restore body and mind while connecting with the earth in the beautiful setting of Fish Creek Provincial Park. Raja yoga incorporates all eight limbs of yoga and emphasizes the connection between the union of body, energy and mind through postures, meditation and breathing techniques. Find your balance with Naomi and Gwen in beautiful Fish Creek Park this summer, and connect with true bliss – if only for an hour & a half at a time!
Register through Eventbrite
Only $10.00
Gwen Draude Woolverton received her 200 hour yoga teacher training certification in 2012 from Sunshine Yoga Academy in Calgary. Yoga continues to teach her the fundamentals of slowing down, being present, breathing deeply, and learning to let go of meaningless worries or thoughts.
Naomi Parker, of Elemental Wellness, is a Certified Fairy Intuitive Healing Practitioner, Reiki Master, Registered Yoga Teacher, Mudra Therapist, and Spiritual Response Therapist (SRT). She grew up in Northern Alberta where, surrounded by wilderness, grew a fondness for the Earth and its elements. She has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and was guided three years ago to become a certified yoga teacher. You can find out more about Naomi’s practice and services offered through Elemental Wellness at www.elementalwellnessandyoga.com

Unleashing the Power of Your DSLR Camera in Fish Creek!
2015-07-23 18:00 - 20:30, 2015-09-10 18:00 - 20:30 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Join instructor Bob Bakker and Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society for this beginner’s level photography class, and learn how to capture the park’s diverse and stunning beauty on your DSLR camera. From expansive landscapes to macro images of tiny flower buds, Bob will show you all the basics, including composition, lighting, depth of field and “The Exposure Triangle” (Aperture-Shutter-ISO). You will be driven to various points on our electric open-air minibus, with a variety of stops along the way to put your photo theory into practice.
$25 per person, only 8 seats available
Register through Eventbrite
Meet in the Bow Valley Ranch parking lot beside the red barn (take Bow Bottom Trail south until you enter Fish Creek Provincial Park; make a right turn into the main parking lot).
Bob Bakker is a film and photography enthusiast who has completed the photography certificate program at SAIT. He moved to Calgary in 1997, and one of the first places his family frequented upon their arrival was Fish Creek Park. Now his kids have grown up and gone, but you can find Bob and his wife – avid recumbent trike enthusiasts – pedalling through Fish Creek Park most weekends. Bob’s passion for photography was handed down to him by his dad who owned a photography and photo finishing business in Winnipeg. When he is not taking photos, he also enjoys drifting down the Bow and doing a bit of fishing.

Archaeology in the Park: Finding the Pioneers
2015-07-25 09:00 - 12:00, 2015-08-13 18:00 - 21:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Calgary’s Euro-Canadian history dates back 142 years to where Fish Creek flows into the Bow River, and archaeological evidence discovered in the park offers a unique glimpse of life on the western prairie for pioneers and cowboys. Climb aboard the minibus to learn about archaeology in the park on a scenic tour exploring the creation of our community. Join tour guide Drew McKibben on this tour from the Bow Valley Ranch to Bebo Grove in our open-air electric minibus, and learn about the history of the early pioneers who made this area their home, as well as the archaeological evidence they have left behind.
Register through Eventbrite
Seating is limited to 8 people. $30 per person.
Meet in the Bow Valley Ranch area of Fish Creek Provincial Park, beside the red barn (travel south along Bow Bottom Trail until you enter Fish Creek Provincial Park; turn right into the Bow Valley Ranch parking lot)
Drew McKibben has been in the communications business for nearly 25 years as a journalist, a broadcaster and author of periodical nature stories for children. His work has been published in many newspapers and magazines, including the Calgary Herald, Backpacker, Beautiful British Columbia and Alberta Venture. Drew also spent a decade in the backcountry as a fire lookout and lighthouse keeper, and a trail builder in federal and provincial parks. An accomplished singer-songwriter, he has also worked as a journalism coach to elementary school children. As a Friends of Fish Creek volunteer, he’s been interpreting the park’s archaeology since July 2014.
Please note: Historical resources are sensitive and non-renewable. Once the contents and the context of a site have been disrupted, the ability to interpret their meaning is lost forever. The Alberta Historical Resources Act governs the excavation or collection of archaeological material and a special permit is required to conduct an archaeological excavation. Report a find to the Alberta Archaeological Survey: http://bit.ly/1Jm8VAN
Volunteer for an archaeological dig this summer through the U of C Program for Public Archaeology, with 2015 excavations at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park. www.arky.ucalgary.ca/public-archaeology

Nordic Walking in Fish Creek Provincial Park
2015-07-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
A walk in the park, Nordic style! Nordic Walking- or “urban poling” – was originally developed in Finland as an easy cross training technique for cross country skiers, hikers and trail runners. Not only does the poling action accurately enhance the muscles for poling and propulsion in cross country skiing but each pole plant also reduces impact on the ankles, knees and hips, thus reducing the rate of injuries incurred in running or hill training without poles.
For those who are not “runners” but do enjoy exercise, Nordic Walking offers a fantastic alternative to running. The propulsion incurred by the pole plant increases the walking rate and stride; this translates into a faster walking step, increasing the cardiovascular output and your aerobic capacity much more than regular walking does. A fun and easy activity that is great for all fitness levels and ages, and only requires poles and the will to walk out your door.
Register through Eventbrite
Only $10, class size is limited to 10 people. Please ensure to arrive a few minutes early as the group will leave promptly at 6:30 for a 7:45pm return.
Meet in the Bow Valley Ranch parking lot, beside the red barn (take Bow Bottom Trail south until you enter Fish Creek Provincial Park; turn right into the main parking lot)
As a naturalist & outdoor guide for over 25 years, instructor Julie Walker has provided programming for youth, seniors and adults. She specializes with those new to the outdoors and those who want to know more about the world around them. She is also the program director for Full Circle Adventures. You can find out more about Julie at http://www.girlfriend-getaways-nature-hiking-vacations-canadian-rockies.com/

Connecting with Nature Meditation
2015-08-04 19:00 - 20:00, 2015-08-18 19:00 - 20:00, 2015-09-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Join Hetty Laidlaw for her third season of meditation in the park. Her meditations will bring you into the present moment and allow you to just “be”. She will gently guide you into letting go of outside distractions while focusing on the breath. Hetty uses Tibetan Singing bowls at the beginning and closing of her meditations; using sound to evoke the “relaxation response” is one of the simplest and non-invasive ways to de-stress and promote harmony within the mind and body
$10 per session, meet beside the red barn at the Bow Valley Ranch area of Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Register through Eventbrite
Hetty was born and raised in the Netherlands and emigrated to Canada when she was 26. Throughout her own wellness journey, Hetty has come to experience how important meditation and relaxation is to stay balanced, focused and relaxed.

Walking Tour of Fish Creek Provincial Park - Bow Valley Ranch
2015-08-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
As one of the largest urban parks in North America, Fish Creek Provincial Park has a long and fascinating history that includes First Nations groups, North West Mounted Police, homesteading and ranching. Take a stroll back in time to discover the fun facts about buffalo runs, the dance hall days of the area – long before the city joined the landscape – and about the creation of this beautiful urban park.
Tour guide Wayne Meikle worked for Provincial Parks in Alberta for 35 years until he retired as an Urban Park Planner. He worked especially in the area of urban park management and has been involved in operations, construction and planning of urban parks. In Calgary, Wayne has been on numerous planning teams involving the planning and construction of major roadways, constructed wetlands and new subdivisions. He is also one of the founding members of the Friends of Fish Creek and one of our most active and supportive volunteers!
Register through Eventbrite
$5 per person
Meet in front of the Cookhouse in the Bow Valley Ranch parking lot beside the red barn (take Bow Bottom Trail south until you enter Fish Creek Provincial Park; make a right turn into the main parking lot).

Knock Out the Knapweed! Invasive Species Outing
2015-08-06 08:00 - 17:00 | Bow River Boat Launch in Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary , AB, Canada
Thursday, August 6th, 2015, 9-3pm Today’s event is a go! It’ll be wet, but no more thunderstorms are expected. Wear your raingear and see you at the boat launch at 9am.Meet at the Bow River Boat Launch in Fish Creek Provincial Park off Bow Bottom Trail SEOn this outing, we will be targeting a species that is on the Alberta Weed Control Act’s Prohibited Noxious List, spotted knapweed!Dress for the conditions and wear long sleeves/pants and sturdy, closed-toe footwear. Gloves, tools and snacks will be provided. All volunteers need to complete 2015 Alberta Parks Volunteer Agreement (blank copies will be available onsite). Outings take place rain or shine and may be canceled in the event of severe weather or other emergency. Notice of cancellation will be emailed to registered participants the day of and will also be posted on the website. Check your email and/or the website prior to attending.

Unleashing the Power of your DSLR Camera in Fish Creek Provincial Park!
2015-08-11 18:00 - 20:30 | Alberta

Tackle the Tansy! Weed Pull
2015-08-12 10:00 - 12:00 | McKenzie Meadows Day Use Area, off McKenzie Lake Blvd SE
Wednesday, August 12, 2015 from 10am-12pmPlease register here to let us know you’re coming so we can make sure we have enough equipment and snacks.
Meet at the McKenzie Meadows Day Use Area (directions provided here)
We will be pulling common tansy, a plant that was introduced as a garden ornamental and has since escaped backyard gardens!
Dress for the conditions and wear long sleeves and sturdy, closed-toe footwear. Gloves, tools and snacks will be provided. All volunteers need to complete 2015 Alberta Parks Volunteer Agreement (blank copies will be available onsite). Outings take place rain or shine and may be canceled in the event of severe weather or other emergency. Notice of cancellation will be emailed to registered participants the day of and will also be posted on the website. Check your email and/or the website prior to attending.

Yoga in the Park
2015-08-15 10:00 - 11:30 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
THIS SESSION HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
Naomi Parker and Gwen Draude Woolverton team up again for their third season of yoga in Fish Creek Provincial Park!
Relax, revitalize and restore body and mind while connecting with the earth in the beautiful setting of Fish Creek Provincial Park. Raja yoga incorporates all eight limbs of yoga and emphasizes the connection between the union of body, energy and mind through postures, meditation and breathing techniques. Find your balance with Naomi and Gwen in beautiful Fish Creek Park this summer, and connect with true bliss – if only for an hour & a half at a time!
Register through Eventbrite
Only $10.00
Gwen Draude Woolverton received her 200 hour yoga teacher training certification in 2012 from Sunshine Yoga Academy in Calgary. Yoga continues to teach her the fundamentals of slowing down, being present, breathing deeply, and learning to let go of meaningless worries or thoughts.
Naomi Parker, of Elemental Wellness, is a Certified Fairy Intuitive Healing Practitioner, Reiki Master, Registered Yoga Teacher, Mudra Therapist, and Spiritual Response Therapist (SRT). She grew up in Northern Alberta where, surrounded by wilderness, grew a fondness for the Earth and its elements. She has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and was guided three years ago to become a certified yoga teacher. You can find out more about Naomi’s practice and services offered through Elemental Wellness at www.elementalwellnessandyoga.com

Wetlands Walking Tour of Bebo Grove and Marshall Springs
2015-08-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Bebo Grove Day Use Area Parking Lot
While Fish Creek exists as a wondrous gift to our city, its urban setting has created challenges to the health and balance of this watershed. Engineered wetlands were constructed as a way of minimizing the level of pollutants running into the creek from the hard surfaces of the city landscape, and have begun to restore some of the healthy balance that had been lost. In this walking tour around the Bebo Grove and Marshall Springs areas, you will discover how this was accomplished, along with some nature and history thrown in for good measure!

Tour guide Wayne Meikle worked for Provincial Parks in Alberta for 35 years until he retired as an Urban Park Planner. He worked especially in the area of urban park management and has been involved in operations, construction and planning of urban parks. Wayne has been on numerous planning teams involving the planning and construction of major roadways, constructed wetlands and new subdivisions. He is also one of the founding members of the Friends of Fish Creek and one of our most active and supportive volunteers!
$5 per person; please bring exact cash or cheque.
Meet at the Bebo Grove Day Use Area (take 24 St. SW south as far as possible, then follow the signs for Fish Creek Provincial Park)

Close-Up/Macro and Low Light Photography with your DSLR Camera!
2015-08-29 09:00 - 13:00 | Alberta
Back by popular demand, join Friends volunteer Bob Bakker to learn the art and science of close-up and low light photography!
$40 per person, space is limited to 12 people
Register through Eventbrite

Capturing Nature: Painting Day in the Park
2015-09-12 09:00 - 15:30 | Alberta
Capturing Nature: Painting Day in the Park
Saturday, September 12th from 9am to 3:30pm
(Rain date: Saturday, September 19th)
Appreciate nature like Monet! Capture the colours of early fall landscape in paint. This “Plein Air” (outdoor) painting workshop in Fish Creek Provincial Park’s picturesque Stream Changes Loop will have you looking at the landscape like an artist, composing quick studies and capturing the essence of nature on canvas. This class is perfect for any skill level of painter, from beginner to experienced, and while it will be taught in acrylic paint, any medium of paints will do!
Artist Debbie.lee Miszaniec has a degree in painting and has been practicing for the better part of two decades. Her studio specializes in fine art, commissions and painting lessons. Visit www.onelifefineart.com for more info on Debbie.lee.
Read More
Register through Eventbrite
Photo image is of Debbie.lee’s amazing art!
Receive a 20% discount on supplies for this session at Kensington Art Supply & Instruction, Please register through Eventbrite, and print and bring ticket to Kensington Art Supply & Instruction. 120, 6999 – 11 St. SE Calgary, AB T2H 2S1, 403-283-2288, (www.kensingtonartsupply.com)

Yoga in the Park
2015-09-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Bow Valley Ranch – picnic area by the red barn, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
This session has been cancelled due to cold weather.
Naomi Parker and Gwen Draude Woolverton team up again for their third season of yoga in Fish Creek Provincial Park!
Relax, revitalize and restore body and mind while connecting with the earth in the beautiful setting of Fish Creek Provincial Park. Raja yoga incorporates all eight limbs of yoga and emphasizes the connection between the union of body, energy and mind through postures, meditation and breathing techniques. Find your balance with Naomi and Gwen in beautiful Fish Creek Park this summer, and connect with true bliss – if only for an hour & a half at a time!
Register through Eventbrite
Only $10.00
Gwen Draude Woolverton received her 200 hour yoga teacher training certification in 2012 from Sunshine Yoga Academy in Calgary. Yoga continues to teach her the fundamentals of slowing down, being present, breathing deeply, and learning to let go of meaningless worries or thoughts.
Naomi Parker, of Elemental Wellness, is a Certified Fairy Intuitive Healing Practitioner, Reiki Master, Registered Yoga Teacher, Mudra Therapist, and Spiritual Response Therapist (SRT). She grew up in Northern Alberta where, surrounded by wilderness, grew a fondness for the Earth and its elements. She has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and was guided three years ago to become a certified yoga teacher. You can find out more about Naomi’s practice and services offered through Elemental Wellness at www.elementalwellnessandyoga.com

Paint, Parks and Pathways in Acrylics
2015-09-19 10:00 - 16:00 | Alberta
Paint, Parks and Pathways in Acrylics
Saturday, Sep 19, from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Students will use acrylic glazing techniques to create a painting on site. They will receive instruction in how to apply glazes, learn about color mixing and how to start a painting in a “plein air” (outdoor) environment. Students will be instructed to work toward a completed painting by the end of the day. Some experience with acrylic painting is required for this class.
Largely influenced by the natural beauty of our city Parks, artist Sheila Shaetzle has spent years learning many different mediums. Sheila enjoys using bold strokes, interesting shapes and vibrant colors to paint creatively; making her style a great option for plein air painting
Read More
Register through Eventbrite
Photo image is of Sheila’s amazing art
Receive a 20% discount on supplies for this session at Kensington Art Supply & Instruction, Please register through Eventbrite, and print and bring ticket to Kensington Art Supply & Instruction. 120, 6999 – 11 St. SE Calgary, AB T2H 2S1, 403-283-2288, (www.kensingtonartsupply.com)
