Edmonton and Area Land Trust

IMPORTANT: After signing up for this event, go to the Schedule tab in your profile and click on the icon to review these details and additional safety information. We highly recommend subscribing to weekly reminders on your profile in the Volunteer Portal. This information will not be emailed.

Date & Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, August 9th

Join us at Smith Blackburn Homestead for a morning of birding and then to keep the Pollinator Garden at its best! Invasive grasses are a constant threat to the garden. We will be picking all the weeds in and around the garden to make sure all of the native plants within the garden don't get crowded out. 

The Smith Blackburn Homestead is part of the larger Beaverhill Biosphere Reserve, which provides a network of connected habitats and corridors for wildlife. This mosaic of wetland and upland forests allows birds such as Great Blue Herons, Soras, Common loons, and various other songbirds and waterfowl to nest, raise their young and thrive!

Before Weeding, we will host a bioblitz (with a focus on birds) in the morning, taking note of the plants, animals, fungi, and other things, we see! 

This event is open to all volunteers.

Accessibility: 

• This event includes a decent amount of walking, on maintained trails, though there may be spots that are uneven

• We will be removing plants using hand tools, as well as by hand-pulling, and taking bags of flowering weeds back out with us.

• There is an outhouse available at this event.

What to Expect:

• We will start the day promptly at 9:00 am with a safety and training meeting to go over our tasks and the associated hazards and safety controls. We will break for lunch around 12:00 pm and head out by 2:00 pm.  
• Plan to carry your personal supplies for the day (water, layers, snacks, etc.) in your backpack.
• To participate in the bioblitz, we recommend downloading the app iNaturalist and joining the project here: https:/https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birding-at-smith-blackburn-homestead/join 
  • Instead of using the app, you can bring a camera and then share photos with EALT after the event. Photos will be added to the project from both staff and participants from the day.
  • ebird is another valuable tracking tool that can/will be used during this event.
  • We can spend 5-10 minutes helping you navigate these apps during the safety meeting; however, it is recommended you download and familiarize yourself with them before the event.

What to Wear and Bring:

• Comfortable clothing and outerwear for working outdoors all day, including long pants and layers appropriate for the weather. Kneepads may also be useful. 
• Hiking shoes or sturdy running shoes – no slip-on or open-toed shoes. Rubber boots are recommended if it has rained recently.
• Sunscreen, hat, and insect repellent.

• Lunch, water, additional layers, and a backpack to carry them.

• All tools and supplies will be provided but you may bring your own work gloves if you wish. 

• Optional:

• Cushion to sit on at lunch
• Binoculars
• Camera

Parking and how to get there:

• Follow this Google Pin
• You can also search Smith Blackburn Homestead in Maps. NOTE: the one near St. Albert is not correct. We are working on getting it removed.
• An EALT sign will mark the access point.

Cancellations:

• If you need to cancel, please do so through the Volunteer Portal as soon as possible. 
• If you have any questions or need to cancel on the day of the event, you can reach Riley at (780)218-3730. Please note that we will NOT have access to email on the day of the event. If we do not answer your call, please text. Please contact us if you are running late.

Additional Information:

• Stewardship events are weather-dependent and subject to cancellation.

• Please contact us in advance if you wish to bring a minor to this event.

• If you wish to carpool with another volunteer, please review our Carpooling Policy here. After reviewing, please contact the event coordinator and we will set up a method to message other event participants.