You are a leader
Through a challenging year, your support connected so many people to nature – ensuring they found restoration, reflection, and inspiration outdoors.
As a donor, volunteer, or member, you are fostering generations of environmental leaders. Whether through the creation of new and exciting programs designed to meet an ageing community’s needs, personal revelations discovered through fieldwork, or the youth mentorship experienced every day at nature camp.
All the magical things that happen here, are because of you!
Looking ahead, we find hope in the lessons we learn by observing nature’s adaptations and are grounded in gratitude for the incredible support you provided over this past year.
Your gifts are leading the way, setting an example of generosity for the next generation and fostering a path to a more sustainable future.
And, for that, we could not be more grateful.
Confidence Grows at Camp
Your support transforms campers into leaders, motivating them to inspire others.
For Christian, camp inspired him to grow into the type of person he admired as a child.
As a shy kid growing up, camp at FortWhyte Alive was his opportunity to connect with others. In fact, it was the camp counsellors who helped Christian step out of his comfort zone and into a canoe. This experience was the gateway to his love of nature.
“We are lucky to have FortWhyte in Winnipeg - it is such a beautiful place. Finding passion for nature makes you want to maintain it.”
Realising the impact camp counsellors had on his own life, he wanted to bring the same inspiration to future generations. It’s what guided him from being a camper, to camp counsellor, to camp director. Now, when Christian sees a shy kid at camp he passes on the same great experience he had, knowing the lifelong impact it can have.
Passion stems from hands on learning
Your investment in environmental education is building a hopeful future.
Growing up, Maria wouldn’t have described herself as “outdoorsy”. Born and raised in Saudi Arabia until 11 years-old, her weekends were spent watching movies or curled up with a book.
That changed on a school trip to FortWhyte Alive. Learning about healthy shorelines and aquatic life not only checked an academic box, it planted a seed. So much so, she swapped out her pre-med course load for environmental science electives and fell in love with ecology.
But, she really found her footing in wetland fieldwork. Through hands-on experience, learning about water quality and lake eutrophication, she saw a future career that she was excited about.
“It opened up a world of possibilities for me. I had never considered a career in environmental science before, now I can’t imagine pursuing anything else.”
Maria aims to share her passion with others and get more women into science with hopes to one day teach.
Sharing tales along the trails
Your donations support new programming, meeting the unique needs of an ageing community.
Long-time member Juliette and her daughter Karen have loved hiking and cycling the trails at FortWhyte for years. And now, the familiar surroundings bring added comfort as they participate in Tales Along the Trail – a program specially designed for people with dementia and their caregivers.
The combination of outdoor activities and social connection benefits their physical and mental health; “I see such an improvement in my mom’s mood on the days we visit”, notes Karen. “My mom is in her element here”.
Time together as mother and daughter helps them both feel less isolated as they connect with others on guided trail walks and around the campfire. They enjoy the cycle of the seasons as they learn from nature,
“Every day is different on the trail, just like every day in life is different.”
Read the full Impact Report.