Workshop Series 2010

Want to dig deep into the wonders of nature under the guidance of an expert? Then Nature Manitoba workshops are for you! Exciting indoor workshops throughout the winter & spring seasons, on topics ranging from birds & gardening, to toads & mushrooms.

General Information

Pre-registration required! Call the Nature Manitoba office at 943-9029, or email naturemanitoba@mts.net.

Class sizes are limited to 28, so REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. If you are unable to attend, please CANCEL by calling the office, so others may benefit from the vacancy.

Please limit your initial registration to a maximum of three workshops. If you are interested in other workshops, call the office one week prior to the date in case of cancellations.

TIME & LOCATION: 7:30pm at KELVIN HIGH SCHOOL, Room 31 (Stafford Street at Academy Road)

except for “Identifying Insects” (at the University of Manitoba). Parking at Kelvin is available in the lot behind the school (on the west side of the school).

FEE : $5 for Nature Manitoba members, $10 for non-members (students: $3 for members, $5 for non-members). Workshops are open to children over 10, accompanied by a parent.

Workshop Coordinator: Julia Schoen

Workshop Descriptions

All About Dragonflies
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Instructor: Marjorie Hughes
Dragonfly Enthusiast
There are close to one hundred species of dragonflies in Manitoba. Would
you like to learn more about them? Once they are grouped into families, they’re not so difficult. Most can be identified by sight, without capture. Marjorie will help you to follow the sequence of dragonflies which
might be found over the course of a summer in the wetland near you.

Bats 101
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Instructor: Kristin A. Jonasson
Masters Student at U. of Winnipeg
Bats are some of the most diverse, beautiful and beneficial mammals on our planet, yet they have suffered greatly from prejudices based on misinformation. This workshop will set the facts straight by examining the basic biology of bats – with a focus on the species found in Manitoba. The workshop will demonstrate the field techniques used by researchers to collect and study bats. We will also discuss how to safely exclude bats from your cottage (should you choose to) and how to set up a bat house with the best chance of success.

Bonsai Basics
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Instructor: Stu Innes
Bonsai Enthusiast
Bonsai trees have been a passion for Stu since his wife told him almost twenty years ago to “put the pruners away and leave the fruit trees alone”. After that, he began growing those “funny little Japanese trees”. He is a past president of the Winnipeg Bonsai Society. He will attempt to remove some of the mystery surrounding this ancient horticultural art form. Some small bonsai will be displayed and a few simple styling techniques demonstrated. Some bonsai growing principles can be applied to maintain health and vigour in all potted and garden plants.

Making your own Maple Syrup
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
Instructor: Ken Fosty
Forest Technician
The sap is flowing. Do you have a maple tree on your property? Learn how to make your own maple syrup from local Manitoba Maple trees. Hands-on demonstration will include tree identification and selection, tapping the tree, boiling off the sap and bottling and storing the syrup. Enjoy making your own “sweet treat”. Manitoba Maple Syrup – A Taste of Manitoba!

Sparrows in Migration... or what was that “LBJ” anyway?
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Instructor: Ward Christianson
Nature Manitoba Birder
Do you enjoy watching birds, but think identification of sparrows (“little brown jobs”) is for someone else? Come and learn to be that
someone! Ward will help you sort out the important field marks for successful sparrow identification.

Ask a Birder
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
Instructor: Rudolf Koes
Nature Manitoba Birder
Here is your chance to ask an expert all your questions about birds. Rudolf will bring along a host of resource material and may be able to shed light on most of your queries.

Landscaping with Native Plants
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Instructor: John Morgan
President of Prairie Habitats Inc.
This workshop will introduce you to Manitoba’s native prairie flora. You will learn the reasons for using native species in home landscapes and how to collect, process and propagate your own native seeds. You will also learn some of the elements of home landscape design and management. This
information will help you set a new and exciting course for your backyard. Why not start off this spring’s gardening season by doing your part to conserve Manitoba’s endangered native prairies? Please note that
Aimee McDonald from Prairie Flora will be at the workshop with plant catalogues. If you are interested in native species, her email address is prairieflora@mts.net and her website is www.prairieflora.com

The Biology of Manitoba’s
Frogs and Toads
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
Instructor: Dr. Bill Preston
Retired Curator of Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes at the Manitoba Museum
This workshop will teach beginners how to identify Manitoba frogs and toads by sight and sound. The natural history of local species
will be described. Participants will discover why scientists are studying the sudden disappearance of frogs in many parts of the world and will learn of the latest theories on this phenomenon.

Identifying Insects
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Instructors: Pat MacKay & Bob Lamb Entomologists
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE - Lab
Room 203, Animal Science/Entomology
Bldg at University of Manitoba, Corner of
University Crescent and Dafoe Road
Over the evening, participants will be given information enabling them to identify the major orders of insects and understand their ecological role and importance in the environment. The workshop will make use of pinned and alcohol-preserved insects as well as some live material to illustrate the
different orders.

Birding By Ear
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Instructors: Brad Carey
Nature Manitoba Birder
Come and experience some of the more common sights and sounds of our returning “feathered friends”. We’ll view slides, listen to tapes and discuss ways to identify birds in the field.

Morels and Other Fungi
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Instructor: Dr. David Punter
Retired Professor of Botany
Morels are the mushrooms that appear in the spring while most other fungi can be found in late August and September. Participants in this workshop will begin learning to identify mushrooms in time for the morel season. A field trip will be offered in the late summer.

Ask A Gardener
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Instructor: Charlotte Tataryn
Landscape Designer
Does the weather have you confused and did your garden behave strangely last summer? If you feel like it is out of control, perhaps feedback from Charlotte, a professional gardener and landscape designer, will help
solve the mysteries of “what’s going on out there and what can I do to change it?”