Nature NL public lecture – "Full Circle: The Bell Island Shipwrecks"

Free Public Lecture

April meeting of Nature Newfoundland and Labrador (formerly the Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador)

Rick Stanley will present a talk entitled “Full Circle: The Bell Island Shipwrecks”

Where:        MUN Botanical Garden (306 Mt. Scio Road)

When:         April 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Full Circle: The Bell Island Shipwrecks.  The Bell Island shipwrecks have long been a popular dive site, due to their accessibility and state of their preservation. In 2010, the daughter of the U-Boat captain that sank two of the four ships visited Newfoundland, where she was greeted with friendship and understanding. She was able to share her father’s documents and mementos from that trip which has bolstered a ten year, hard-fought campaign to declare the wrecks a historic site.

Rick Stanley is a award winning owner of a scuba diving and Adventure resort in Newfoundland, Canada. While operating this successful business, Rick has taken on the dual role of ocean conservationist and shipwreck protection advocate, ensuring that both marine life and underwater heritage sites are protected for future generations.

For further information, please contact R.E. Anderson, NatureNL Board member, 864-8771

Public forum on rebuilding NL Fisheries

The Fisheries Community Alliance is organizing a public forum for candidates to determine where the federal parties stand on rebuilding the fishery. The group has asked the three parties which currently have seats in the House of Commons to send a representative to answer a number of questions – which be give to candidates before hand – and to take others from members of the public who attend the forum.

The event will be moderated by former Fisheries Broadcast host and DFO spokesman Jim Winter.

Sustainability Family Feud

Where: Bitters

What: Sustainability Family Feud

Time: Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 pm

Event: Come out to Bitters and test your game show skills and
sustainability knowledge playing Sustainability Family Feud! On the eve
of Earth Day, there couldn’t be a better way to have some fun and win
some Bitters Bucks before Thursday Trivia even gets started.

Hope to see you all there!

Sustainability Panel Discussion

When: Wednesday, April 20th at 5:30pm

Where: Bitters

What: Sustainability Panel Discussion

Event: Head over to Bitters Wednesday afternoon to participate in a
panel discussion on all things sustainable and enjoy some free food
while you’re there! This is an opportunity to hear about sustainability
initiatives and concerns on campus and in the community. Speakers from
Happy City, Food Security Network, and the Sustainability Office on
campus will each be speaking and discussing sustainability concerns.
Join in the discussion and let your thoughts and opinions be heard! And
did I mention the delicious free food, brought to you by Bitters and the
GSU?

Hope to see you there!

Snow Geese and Salt Marshes: Catastrophic Effects of Overpopulation

Date & Time: Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 7:30pm

Guest Speakers:  Kate Edwards

Location: Grenfell Campus, MUN LC301

Lesser snow goose populations in North America have increased in recent decades such that they have had widespread damaging effects on summer salt-marsh habitat in the Arctic. Long-term research near Churchill, Manitoba has investigated the causes and impacts of this rise in snow goose numbers, and the implications for the future of Arctic salt-marshes and other species that inhabit these ecosystems. This story weaves together topics of avian biology and behaviour, land-use change, plant growth, soil fertility, and climate change, emphasizing the interconnectedness of landscapes and ecosystems.

 The Public is Welcome!    Bring a Friend! See You There!

NLEN E-Update: April 18, 2011

Upcoming Events

April 19, 2011 7:30 PM
Snow Geese and Salt Marshes: Catastrophic Effects of Overpopulation
Grenfell Campus, MUN LC301, Corner Brook

April 20, 2011 5:30 PM
Sustainability Panel Discussion
Bitters, MUN, St. John’s

April 21, 2011 4:00 PM
Earth Day events: “Challenge Yourself ” at The Suncor Energy Fluvarium
The Suncor Energy Fluvarium, St. John’s

April 21, 2011 6:30 PM
Sustainability Family Feud
Bitters, MUN, St. John’s

April 21, 2011 7:30 PM
Nature NL public lecture – “Full Circle: The Bell Island Shipwrecks”
MUN Botanical Garden, 306 Mt. Scio Road, St. John’s

April 23, 2011 10:30 AM
An ‘Egg-cellent’ Easter at the Fluvarium!
Suncor Energy Fluvarium, St. John’s

April 23, 2011 1:30 PM
“Going Green!” at The Suncor Energy Fluvarium!
Suncor Energy Fluvarium, St. John’s

April 23, 2011 1:30 PM
The Great Cloth Diaper Change
Bellies and Bundles, Coaker’s Meadow Plaza, 286 Torbay Road, St. John’s

April 25, 2011
Riparian Mysteries: Spring Day Camp 2011 at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium
The Suncor Energy Fluvarium, St. John’s

April 25, 2011 7:30 PM
Forum on the future of NL Fisheries
St. Augustine’s church hall , Elizabeth Ave., St. John’s

April 26, 2011 12:30 PM
Project Webfoot Volunteer Training Session (Ducks Unlimited Canada) Sobeys Community Room, Valley Mall, Corner Brook

April 30, 2011 11:30 AM
FEASt Annual General Meeting
Sobey’s Community Room, 8 Merrymeeting Rd, St. John’s

May 4, 2011 7:30 PM
Northeast Avalon ACAP Annual General Meeting
Suncor Energy Fluvarium, St. John’s

May 13-14, 2011
Bringing Teaching to Life in the Outdoors (NLEE/Brother Brennan Centre Event)
Brother Brennan Environmental Centre

 View All Events

 

Opportunities: Employment, Internships, Funding & Volunteering

Employment: Advisor, Fisheries Conservation, WWF CANADA (Deadline: April 18)

Employment: St. John’s Farmers Market Manager Assistant (Deadline: April 20)

Seeking Volunteers: Project Webfoot Volunteer Training Session (Ducks Unlimited Canada) (RSVP by April 22)

Employment: Education / outreach coordinator (NL Environmental Educators) (Deadline: April 22)

Funding: SWASP 2011 Community Service Component of the Student Work and Service Program (SWASP) (Deadline: April 29)

Awards: Nominations accepted for Provincial Environmental Awards (Deadline: May 1)

Funding: Stoneyfield: Profit for the Planet Community Challenge (Deadline: May 6)

Funding: Community Youth Network, St. John’s – Special Project Grants (Deadline: May 15)

Action

Petition: Say NO to uranium mining in Labrador

Action: Opt-out of receiving the Yellow Pages directory

Resources: Publications, Websites, Newsletters and more

News Review (April 11 – 18)

NLEN Member organisations:
Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides-NL: Advocacy Coalition to make Cosmetic Pesticide Ban a Provincial Election Issue for 2011
Food Security Network: Elections & Food Policy

Provincial Government news releases:
Ministerial Statement – National Wildlife Week Promotes Importance of Resource
Environmental Assessment Bulletin
Agreement Reached on Compensation for Star Lake Hydroelectric Assets
Ministerial Statement – Positive Report Received on Fisheries Research and Development Program
Budget 2011 Investments to Help Address Climate Change
Environmental Assessment Bulletin

News releases from other political parties:
Government rejects financial test proviso in Muskrat Falls debate (Liberals)
Dunderdale exaggerates Holyrood’s usage… again (Liberals)

In the media: News, Commentary, Letters to the Editor & Podcast
Expect St. John’s coyote sightings: biologist (CBC-NL)
Controversial quarry gets St. John’s nod (CBC-NL)
Hydro, guns spark St. John’s South debate (CBC-NL)
Lower Churchill hearings ending (CBC-NL)
NDP supports Lower Churchill  (CBC-NL)
Provincial budget to contain money to help address climate change (The Telegram)
Winter trouting season ends today
(The Telegram)
Tracking oil well error (The Telegram)
Star Lake expropriation settled (The Telegram)
Recalling power not an easy option (The Telegram)

CBC NL Podcasts:

Labrador Morning Show
April 18, 2011 – High Dust levels at I.O.C in Labrador City
April 15, 2011 – Lower Churchill Hearings – Gilbert Bennett – A Look Back….
April 12, 2011 – Canadian Coast Guard – Labrador Ice Conditions

Radio Noon
Crosstalk / Pesticides
CBS – Boil Water order in effect
Hydro transmission lines to Makkovik and Hopedale.

On The Go
Wed. Apr. 13, 2011: Dr. David Saltman, the Chair and a Professor of Oncology, at Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine about growing concerns that doctors, who should be speaking out on health issues affecting their patients and communities, are being gagged.


The Great Cloth Diaper Change

Bellies and Bundles Maternity and Baby Boutique, a local business in St. John’s is participating in a Guinness World Record Diaper Change.  We are looking for volunteers to participate in this fun event on Saturday, April 23rd.  Pre-registration is necessary so please contact us for a registration form.

Each participant must be paired with a diaper-wearing child.  It is not required that you currently use/own cloth diapers – Bellies and Bundles will provide a cloth diaper to use during the event, if necessary.

The event should take less than an hour and will be a great way to have fun with your child and celebrate Earth Day!

Location: Bellies and Bundles, Coaker’s Meadow Plaza, 286 Torbay Road, St. John’s

Time: 1:30pm, Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

Contact: (709) 237.6262info@belliesandbundles.ca

Bringing Teaching to Life in the Outdoors (NLEE/Brother Brennan Centre Event)

NLEE/Brother Brennan Centre Event:

Bringing Teaching to Life in the Outdoors Spend one night/one day exploring how to deliver curriculum in an outdoor learning environment.

Date: evening of Friday May 13 and all day Saturday May14, 2011
Place: Brother Brennan Environmental Centre
Cost: $55  (meals and accommodations included)

 For more information go to: www.brotherbrennancentre.ca  or contact Gail Cummings at 739-5151 or gailcummings@esdnl.ca 

Bringing Teaching to Life in the Outdoors

INFORMATION

Come learn to teach about and through nature.  Reconnect with other teachers.  Get more ideas for schoolyard learning.  Nature is a powerful teacher and sensory rich authentic learning environment.    The schoolyard is a field trip at our fingertips. It is a place not only for science teaching, but also is a wonder place for poetry, for social studies explorations and for art.  Nature brings learning to life, connects students with the world around them, and engages them in their learning.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Educators (www.NLEE.ca) and the Friends of the Brother Brennan Centre are excited to be teaming up to present “Bringing Teaching to Life in the Outdoors”. This will be a one night/ one day workshop devoted to exploring ways to take students outdoors while teaching prescribed curriculum, and how to weave environmental education throughout the curriculum. Accommodation and all meals will be provided so that participants can dedicate themselves entirely to the workshop.

When?
The workshop will take place from the evening of Friday, May 13 until 4pm Saturday, May 14, 2011. Registration will be from 6 pm on Friday.

Where?
The workshop will be hosted at the Brother Brennan Environmental Education Centre (BBEEC), located off Salmonier Line and reached by driving 13 km of woods road. To reach the BBEEC from the Trans Canada Highway, take the St Mary’s Bay exit (Route 90 Salmonier Line, approx. 47 km from St John’s) and drive 9 km towards St Mary’s Bay. Turn right onto Vineland Road (a dirt road which is just before a gatepost topped with stone lions) and drive 7 km. Take the fourth right which is signposted for “The Bother Brennan Centre”. Drive 5.5 km and look for a big sign about wind turbines at which turn right into the Centre’s driveway. Please be aware that it is necessary to limit your speed on the dirt road and 13 km seems longer than it is, so keep an eye on your vehicle’s odometer. If you think you are lost call the centre at 682-7986.

About Brother Brennan Environmental Education Centre

The BBEEC can accommodate 70 people and is designed for school groups. However in order to make the learning environment as effective as possible registration is limited to 30 participants plus volunteers. There are bunkrooms, mostly for 6 people and a limited number of rooms for 2, and shared washrooms with showers. Some sharing of bunkrooms will be required so, if you know, please state who you wish to share with, otherwise a room be will assigned for you. We will do our best to give you a private room if that is requested, but we can’t guarantee it.

How Much?
All facilitators and most of the cooks are donating their time to keep the cost to just $55 per person.

What to bring?

  1. Sleeping bag or sheets/covers (for bunk beds) and a pillow. If you like to read in bed you may want a small bedside lamp or flashlight
  2. Personal wash/grooming items & towel
  3. Indoor shoes or slippers
  4. You will spend significant time outdoors so bring appropriate clothing and boots.
  5. Sunscreen and bug repellant – depending on weather
  6. Cuttings of plants/weeds/trees from your school yard

Notes: If you wish to have wine/beer with your evening meal, feel free to bring it. You may want a comfortable folding chair for relaxing.

Northeast Avalon ACAP 16th Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

The Fluvarium, Nagles Hill Rd.

 
PRESENTATION

After Igor: What Next?

Extreme Weather and our Urban Watercourses

Terry Fleet                                          Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Martin Batterson                             Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources

All members of the general public are invited to attend. For further information, please call 726-9673.