After the NSFC was formed in 2007, due to the growing crisis in the forestry sector, a shared economic strategy was developed for our 6 partner municipalities. Recognizing that the future of our communities would continue to depend on the forests, we set out to make the forest resources in our region work for the people who live here. A key factor to the NSFC's continuing development and expansion, is the level of interest and involvement from the youth in our region. Because we know this, we have initiated many fun-filled, educational approaches to get our youth interested in playing an active role in NSFC activities. Our goal? to develop an early love of our forests, and an interest in the abundant forest-based opportunities that our region provides.
Forest Day
In 2009, we began an annual educational program called Forest Day, where grade 4-6 students from communities in the Northeast Superior region attend a day-long event held at a local First Nation, and learn from various experts including: First Nations, the Ministry of Natural Resources, community partners, and companies such and Tembec. Forest Day events in 2009 were held in Hornepayne, Wawa, and White River, and were very successful. Students spent the day involved in activities and discussions about our forests, participated in nature walks, and learned from trappers and First Nation elders. The students were also treated to a lunch by their First Nations host.
Forest Day 2010 is scheduled to be held in Chapleau, Manitouwadge, and Dubreuilville, and will provide students with the opportunity to participate in such ventures as tree identification, measurement and coring for age, plant identification, and medicine wheel activities. Students will also walk away from the event with great forest related giveaways!
Additional Education Initiatives
There are many other educational initiatives the NSFC has been working on. We have recently hired an Education Coordinator to work on developing a strategic plan to create additional educational programs and events designed to help the NSFC educate youth about the forests that we depend on.
The NSFC is also committed to attending community events, such as White River's Winnie the Pooh Hometown Festival taking place August 20-21, which are sure to draw attention from youth in the region. We will distribute youth targeted giveaways and information at this event, to help our youth get more motivated to learn more about our organization.
The NSFC acknowledges that many of our projects will be more successful with the involvement and interest of youth in our region. They are our future. It is important to provide them with educational opportunities at an early age to help ensure students begin to develop a deep understanding of the many uses for our forests. As our Forest Community site grows and continues to develop new opportunities, we hope that these students will grow with us, becoming increasingly interested in innovative uses for the forest.
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