Educating for the futureIn addition to plants and birds, small and large mammals (rodents, foxes and coyotes for example), amphibians and fish also call the prairie wetlands home. In fact, many prairie wetlands serve as nurseries, where young fish develop before travelling to other aquatic areas.
Unfortunately, up to 90 % of the original “potholes” have been destroyed in many prairie regions. That’s one of the reasons BFI Canada will be preserving and restoring prairie wetlands at our proposed Prairie Sky Resource Centre – to provide vital habitat for native plant and animal species.
Prairie Sky will also be creating a valuable educational resource for young people in the Foothills and surrounding communities like Vulcan to learn about biodiversity, with the opportunity to participate first-hand in habitat management.
“Prairie wetlands are critically important to our region,” said Mike Gladstone, Project Manager. “And what better way to get a better understanding of their inner workings than by having students visit and experience them first-hand at our site?”
Students from all schools in the M.D. of Foothills and area communities will have the opportunity to visit the Interpretive Centre on the Prairie Sky property to enrich their knowledge of conservation and the prairie environment.
“We want to teach kids that everything is inter-connected,” Mr. Gladstone asserted. “Promoting sustainable practices, whether in nature conservation or waste management, produces many benefits. At Prairie Sky, students will learn about the value of biodiversity as well as resource recovery.”
A major bird breeding area exists at Frank Lake, east of High River. However, this abundant habitat at the lake is often inaccessible for students and the public because of hunting and other restrictions. Prairie Sky, then, will be able to serve as an alternate education site for students in the region throughout the year.
Prairie Sky will give students in the M.D. of Foothills the tools and resources they need for the education they deserve.
This environmental conservation educational facility will provide students with opportunities they would not normally have.
“These young folks represent the next generation of leaders and thinkers in Southern Alberta,” explained Mr. Gladstone. “We need to make sure they have the chance to learn about the natural environment of their region and appreciate the importance of conservation.”
“We are happy and proud to have such a stake in the community’s future,” Mr. Gladstone concluded.
For more information about our Interpretive Centre and prairie wetlands at Prairie Sky, you can visit www.prairieskycentre.com, call the project’s local phone number (403-684-3621) or fill out an online comment form on our website. We would be happy to answer any questions you might have.