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East Kootenay Highlights
Norma Blissett ( East Kootenay Forest Educator )

Forest Educator, Norma Blissett, leads a seed germination drama activity with Grade 3's at Gordon Terrace Elem.

The East Kootenay forest education classroom program consists of a series of forestry-related presentations for each grade (K-8) directly tied to the science curriculum. Examples of a few of the presentations include- "Wild Animals of the East Kootenay" (K), "Air, Water and Soil" (Grade 2) and "Tree Identification" (Grade 6).

Presentations are available throughout the school year, with the majority being requested in April, May and June. By the end of June, more than 2000 East Kootenay students will have participated in at least one of the presentations. Emphasis on wood as a renewable resource and how other values such as wildlife and fisheries are protected in forest management are included in each presentation. All presentations include an introductory discussion followed by a number of related activity centers.

In May, a Professional Development Day field tour was held for educators, titled "Urban Interface Fire Management". Teachers from SD#5 and SD#6 in the East Kootenay attended.  Another special project involved 950 spruce seedlings being provided to Grade three students across the East Kootenay.  They are being planted at the children's homes and as part of two restoration projects in Cranbrook at Elizabeth Lake and Joseph's Creek.

For more information, please contact Norma Blissett, East Kootenay Forest Educator. blissett@shaw.ca.

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