Project Webfoot in SAM Communities

A little rain didn't deter these grade 4 students from having a
great field trip in Winterland!

Ducks Unlimited Canada is a valued partner of SAM. DUC works to conserve, restore and manage wetlands as well as the wildlife found within. An especially popular initiative of DUC is their Project Webfoot program. Project Webfoot creates the opportunity for grades 4-6 students across Canada to learn and connect with nature through curriculum-linked, interactive field trips in and around wetlands, as well as supplying in class and on-line resources for educators and students.

Grade 4 students from French Shore Academy learn about cavity
nesting tree ducks before going birdwatching at the Torrent River
Interpretation Centre in Hawke's Bay.

Delivery of these field trips for the 2015-2016 school year wrapped up in late June. Along with DUC NL staff, field trips are provided by three delivery partners: Corduroy Brook Enhancement Association in Grand Falls - Windsor, the Suncor Energy Fluvarium in St. John's and the Indian Bay Ecosystem Corporation on the Bonavista North peninsula. In September, Healthy Waters Labrador in Happy Valley - Goose Bay will become the fourth delivery partner in the province. This spring, DUC NL staff traveled to several SAM member municipalities to deliver Project Webfoot field trips: Winterland, Springdale, Hawke's Bay and Stephenville Crossing. 

Students dip for critters in Stephenville Crossing.

Some activities a class might expect on a Project Webfoot field trip include critter dipping in marshes and ponds for macro invertebrates, birdwatching around the area, and multiple fun games that focus on the values of our wetlands. This year, an effort was made to focus the material and the messaging on the boreal forest and peatlands of Newfoundland and Labrador. At the end of the field trip students go home with informative Marsh World books. Costs of in-class and field trip resources are supplied generously through corporate and individual sponsorships.

The Indian River Trail, Springdale.

Carmanville Habitat Committee Beach Clean-Up

Beach Clean-Up and Carmanville Habitat Committee volunteers.

On Saturday, June 4, 2016, the Carmanville Habitat Committee(CHC) sponsored its first beach cleanup, in recognition of World OceansDay.  This day is celebrated annually, on June 8th.  The idea is to create awareness of ocean pollution.  This year's theme was "Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet" with the focus on reducing plastic pollution, which harms many aquatic species.  More than a dozen volunteers, including several committee members and the mayor, Keith Howell, met at the government wharf Saturday morning.

Volunteers spent three hours picking up garbage and debris along the north side of Carmanville Harbour.  In this short time period, over 60 bags of garbage were collected, along with numerous larger items such as chairs, artificial Christmas trees, TV's, etc. 

Some of the garbage removed from the beach,

The Carmanville Harbour Authority provided refreshments to the volunteers following the cleanup.  In addition, DFO supplied the CHC with work gloves, reusable shopping bags, back packs and pencils to distribute to the volunteers in appreciation for their efforts.

The CHC would like to thank all those who volunteered in any way to make this beach cleanup a success.  We look forward to sponsoring additional beach cleanups in the future. By keeping our beaches free of plastics and other debris, we can ensure a healthier ocean and a healthier planet.