springtime events – Forests of Memory. Forests of Learning. Forests for Life.

“Come With Me, This Gentle Way”
(for National Tourism Week 2025 April 7-11)

Come with me—
the path is not hurried.
It winds gently where the city sighs
into woods, into wild,
into the song of wind on new leaves.

It is National Tourism Week,
fifteen years now of open arms
and stories told in footsteps,
in laughter, in quiet looking.

Let April lift you.
Let the soft days between the seventh and eleventh
carry your family outward—
to the world just outside your door,
to where nature still leans in close
and speaks in the language of chickadees and green shoots.

Then, let Easter’s breath linger
through the City Nature Challenge, April 25 to 29—
a scavenger hunt of awe,
of beetles, bark, and birdsong,
where children chase wonder
instead of clocks.

In May, take the Jane’s Walk.
Not to conquer the streets,
but to know them—
to trace the edges where
history curls around the roots of trees,
and every corner holds a whisper.

And when your heart is ready—
when the longing for stillness returns,
come visit the twin quiets:
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
and George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

They are not far,
just a breath beyond the busy.
There, you’ll find
the old companionship of trees
and the hush that lives
in all good forests.

So pack only this:
curiosity,
kindness,
and a willingness to be surprised.

The wild is calling—
not far,
not fierce—
just waiting,
softly,
for you.

— www.friendsareas.ca

For 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′

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