Environmental data – Forests of Memory. Forests of Learning. Forests for Life.

In Wildness is the Preservation of the World: Reflections on the Big Backyard BioBlitz

When I went to the woods, it was not to escape, but to engage—to meet Nature on her own terms, to inquire, observe, and bear witness to the great pageantry of life that unfolds quietly, daily, under our very feet. And it is with this same spirit that I beckon you, dear reader, to take part in the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Big Backyard BioBlitz from July 28 to August 4, 2025.

This is no idle stroll nor fleeting pastime. It is an invitation to return to the elemental—to become a student once more of the chickadee, the wild strawberry, the tiger beetle, and the trembling aspen. The BioBlitz, now in its fifth year, is a great gathering of curious minds and earnest hearts. It calls upon citizens of field and city alike to explore, observe, and record the living things that share their corner of the Earth.

The poet listens; the naturalist records. In this endeavor, you shall do both.

Equipped with nothing more than a keen eye and a modest tool—a camera or a smartphone—one may walk the familiar trails with new intention. Each beetle scuttling over a stone, each moss-covered log, becomes a chapter in the great, unwritten natural history of this land. iNaturalist, the platform upon which your sightings will be shared, becomes your ledger, your field book, your connection to a nation of fellow observers.

There is no wilderness too small. A backyard garden, a roadside ditch, a lakeside thicket—all are cradles of life deserving of our gaze and our gratitude. For who is to say where wonder resides? It may well be that the caterpillar inching along your front porch holds the secret to tomorrow’s ecological insight.

By lending your eyes and ears to the BioBlitz, you become part of something vaster than yourself. You contribute to a living library of knowledge that helps scientists track shifting species ranges, identify rare and endangered flora, and take the pulse of ecosystems under pressure.

But perhaps more than data, what you collect is reverence.

This weeklong celebration is not merely scientific but soulful. It reminds us that we are not separate from nature, but of it. That to know a place is to love it. And that true conservation begins not only in grand protected parks but in the wild patches of our own daily lives.

So, wander slowly. Look closely. Listen deeply. Let the chickadee instruct you in cheerfulness, and the milkweed in patience. And in these humble acts of noticing, become again part of the wild family of life.

As Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” During the Big Backyard BioBlitz, may you discover both.

Join the BioBlitz:
Sign up today and become a steward of wonder from July 28 – August 4, 2025. Ready, set, snap!

And stay tuned also for

A clean up of trash, and invasive species for Wednesday July 31

The autumn festivities for National Forest Week September 2025!

George Genereux Urban Regional Park, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in the autumn — The Trembling Aspen is also referred to as the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) Autumn colour of foliage CC3.0 Stan Shebs

Children enjoying their time collecting leaves in the autumn forest. — The Trembling Aspen is also referred to as the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) Autumn colour of foliage CC3.0 Stan Shebs

Addresses:

Part SE 23-36-6 – Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A

Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A

S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A

NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063

Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot

Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map

Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Blogger: FriendsAfforestation

Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.com Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area

Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Reddit: FriendsAfforestation

BlueSky Social

Mix: friendsareas

YouTube

Support via Zeffy

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )

Donate your old vehicle, here’s how!

Support using Canada Helps

Support via a recycling bottle donation and Join the plastic-recycle challenge!

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities

““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”

Richard St. Barbe Baker

CNC YXE City Nature Challenge results

With boundless gratitude and enthusiasm, the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas extend a colossal thank you to all participants, supporters, collaborators, and sponsors who made the Saskatoon CNC YXE City Nature Challenge 2024 a resounding success! In a remarkable display of community spirit and nature appreciation, Saskatoon embraced the call to become biodiversity ambassadors, igniting a passion for citizen science that reverberated throughout our city and beyond.

From April 26 to April 29, 2024, Saskatoon’s neighborhoods, parks, and green spaces buzzed with activity as individuals of all ages and backgrounds united to document the astonishing array of flora and fauna thriving in our midst. Through the user-friendly iNaturalist app, residents unleashed the power of citizen science, contributing invaluable data to illuminate the heartbeat of Saskatoon’s biodiversity.

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors—the Saskatoon Nature Society, SaskTel, and SaskPower—for their generous support, which empowered us to engage the public and champion the cause of conservation. Special recognition goes to Jerin, whose unwavering dedication exemplifies the transformative impact of individual action in safeguarding our natural heritage.

Thanks to all the organizers at the International Level there were California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) and nationwide across Canada was the Canadian Wildlife Federation, then locally in Saskatoon was Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas.

As we eagerly anticipate the results of this year’s challenge, we invite everyone to mark their calendars for April 2025, when we will reconvene for another exhilarating exploration of Saskatoon’s wild wonders. Together, we have demonstrated the power of collective action in nurturing a more sustainable, biodiverse future for generations to come.

Thank you for being the voice for nature, for embracing the call to action, and for making the City Nature Challenge 2024 an unforgettable celebration of Saskatoon’s vibrant biodiversity. See you again next year!

In addition to the remarkable individual contributions, we are thrilled to highlight the active involvement of eight classrooms from four schools in Saskatoon. 200 students were immersed in the great outdoors, embarking on the Enchanted Forest Exploration: Discovering Wildlife and Wonders. This hands-on experience not only deepened their understanding of nature but also fostered a profound connection to the natural world, inspiring future stewards of the environment.

Furthermore, our community came together for four unforgettable events. These gatherings provided participants with the opportunity to unite, exchange stories, and delve into the wonders of the wilderness. Through shared experiences and meaningful conversations, we forged bonds that will endure beyond the confines of this challenge.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the educators, students, participants, sponsors, collaborators, supporters and event attendees whose enthusiasm and dedication enriched the Saskatoon CNC YXE City Nature Challenge 2024 experience. Together, we have cultivated a culture of curiosity, exploration, and conservation that will continue to thrive in Saskatoon for years to come. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to our shared journey of discovery and preservation.

If you are interested in collaborating and co-hosting in April 2025, we would love to hear from you! Also if you wish to host a City Nature Challenge in your city next year, please also reach out.

A YouTube video for you:
Saskatoon City Nature Challenge 2024 results!

SaskPower_PoweringOurFuture_Colour_Orange and Gray_CMYK — SaskPower_PoweringOurFuture_

F or directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore
Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker
Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale
and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

NEW P4G District Official Community Plan

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in
the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′