I often get calls about what to do with injured wildlife. If you find a bird - like hawk or owl - that has been injured, check out the Medicine River Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for instructions on what to do. Their link is below.
PRAIRIE LAND OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACE
I am excited to be involved at the ground level with the creation of a unique learning space near Youngstown Alberta. The Village of Youngstown has transferred their recreational lease on their former golf course to the school division for the purpose of creating an outdoor learning space for students of Prairie Land. The document below is the initial presentation to the school board and as things develop, more information will be posted.
CTS Wildlife
Introduction to CTS Wildlife
CTS Wildlife is different from the Outdoor Ed classes of days gone by. It is much more indepth in the areas of wildlife management, environmental issues, the value and importance of wildlife and wild places, as well as planning for the optimal outdoor experiences. This course will have many outcomes - written pieces, class reports, poster making, as well as designing and building various pieces of equipment for outdoor adventures. It is important to note that this is an all or none class - participants don't have the choice of selecting which assignments they do, nor is the option there to do shoddy work and expect to pass. This course focuses on the efforts of the participants, and those who put in the effort will have the opportunity to participate in the activities.
A big part of this course are the co-curricular activities. There is one campout - a survival camp on the first weekend in June. Prior to the camp, there will be fishing trips to local waterholes, outdoor cooking experiences, trips to the Hanna Rod & Gun Club shooting range, and a trip to the Conservation Education Centre in Calgary. Only students who complete assignments to the required level will be able to participate in these events.
There is a great deal of class discussion and exploration of the equipment used in various outdoor pursuits. It is highly recommended that students not purchase any new equipment until it has been explored and studied in class. There is a wide variety of quality and construction in outdoor equipment and purchasing - or borrowing it - after we have covered it in class will help assure the correct decisions have been made. A great place to acquire camping gear is at local garage sales, or if you are lucky enough to live near Hanna, the Hospital Auxilary Rummage Sale. (THE BEST place to buy cast iron cookware!!!!)
A point of interest - if you buy cast iron cookware at a garage sale or rummage sale and find it is all rusty and hosting unknown culinary remnants, have it sandblasted at a local welding or fabrication shop, then treat as new and re-season it. I find my best re-seasoning to be heat the pan on the gas bbq till it is screaming hot, throw in a pound of cheap bacon - diced - and stir it around until the whole inside is well greased and the bacon is burning. Close the lid and have a glass of tea, occassionally stirring as you dare. Turn of the bbq and let it cool some. Dump out the remains and wipe it out really well with paper towel. That is my recipe for starting new cast iron.
Course Documents
The Career and Technology Studies program was reviewed and re-written for province-wide reintroduction in the early 2000's. One of the most important features of the new curriculum is a focus on highlighting potential career pathways, as well as building connections between the course content and the role they may play in student's lives. In order to better reflect the changes, and to make better use of the limited time we will have for outdoor activities, the program at JCCHS is operating under a grouping approach. The document "CTS Wildlife 21st Century Approach" explains the approach we will be taking in covering the curriculum. It groups the module outcomes according to subject matter and interconnectedness in subject matter. Hey, it works for us.
- CTS Wildlife Module List
- Course Outline - CTS Wildlife 21st Century Approach
- ME and the OUTDOORS
- Class Expectations
- Cooking Assignment
- Creature Comfort Camp Information
- Hollywood Perceptions Essay
- Second Year Teaching Assignment - Equipment
- Conservation Organizations Assignment
- ENVIRONMENTALISM vs CONSERVATION
- Building Survival Kits Assignment
- Camping Checklist
- One Page Personal Checklist
- Ongoing Critter List
- Survival Kit Instruction Sheet - Basic
- H E Tools
- Meal Planning Sheet (for modification)
- GRRRR
- Species Comparison Sheet (blank)
- Sample Species Comparison Sheet
- Information sheet Sample
- Occupational Connections Worksheet
The assignments are presented in the following topic areas.
- Welcome to Wildlife
- Ecosystems Assignment
- Fishy, Fishy, Fishy, Fish!!!
- GAME ON!!!!!
- Good Going, Going Good
- Order Up!!!!
- Shiny Things!!!!
- Ready or Not...
- Practice Makes Perfect
- Survival Camp Itinerary (tentative)
- Meal Breakdown for Survival Camp
- Scratch Planning Sheet
- Camp Cooking Hints
- Bang, Pop, Kapow!!!
Assessment of major assignments in CTS Wildlife will be done using a series of rubrics. The following links are for the rubrics, and they will be updated as they are changed.
Outdoors Links
These links all relate to the CTS Wildlife course. If you encounter any links that are no longer functional, or have changed their focus, please drop me an email. Be sure to include the link name.
If you find a website that is suitable and would be on interest to those using this page, please send me an email.
My Wild Alberta
My Wild Alberta is the new source of information for Albertans interested in the outdoors. It is a comprehensive resource on all things related to hunting, fishing, camping, management and the outdoors.
Environmental Links
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Outdoor Skills and Equipment Links
The last two links above which deal with shelter were suggested by a summer environmental workshop group. Their leader, Rachel Miller contacted me over the summer of 2012 and indicated that her class found this website useful and suggested the links. Cool.
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General Outdoors Links
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Outdoor Related Photographs
This section contains photos from CTS Wildlife activities, as well as some photos featuring interesting locations, people and animals. The subject matter within this section may be disturbing to some, but is still related to the subject matter. In otherwords, it contains pictures of hunters and their quarry - and the quarry will likely be dead. Some blood may be apparent, but it must be noted that this is all part of the "Wildlife Thing".
***Disclaimer*** These photos have been collected from a variety of sources. Many were sent to the site creator and many are from his personal collection. The photographer is not known for many of the photos as they have often been found on the internet. Photos personally taken by the site creator conatin images of people who have given their permission - sometimes begrudgingly - usually happily.
If you recognize a photo and are able to provide the site creator with any information on who took the photo, please contact him using the contact info at the bottom of the main page.
Under the title of each photo is a question, or group of questions. Consider the question as you look at the photo. In some instances, these photos and the questions are part of assignments in the CTS Wildlife Course.
< tr>| Moose in the Bush
What part of Alberta is the picture taken in? Is this a bull or cow? Is this an opportunity for a safe shot? |
World Record Elk?
This is the largest scoring elk ever taken, but it was shot on a farm. Should it be considered a world record? Does it depend on the type of farm? Should it have it's own category? |
Albino Moose Calf
This is an albino moose calf wiith spots - what do you think may have caused the spots? How can you tell it is a calf and not a cow? |
Hogzilla
Where do you think this wild boar was taken? Why would someone shoot it and apparently bury it? |
Rattlesnake Project
Why are radio transmitters being put into these snakes? Why would people be interested in snakes when they can't be hunted and are poisonous? Is there any benefit to learning about snakes? |
| Hunting Lodge
This is a view from a window in a Mexican hunting lodge. Is this how you would expect a hunting lodge to look? Who would this lodge attract? What would you hunt from here? |
Hot Moose in Cool Water
What is going on here? What can you tell about this critter? What does this tell you about his habitat? Any problem with this photo? |
Albino Deer
What is the prognosis for this deer? What causes albinism? Is there an advantage to being albino? What species is this deer and why? |
Deer in Hospital
Why is this Texas whitetail with a broken neck in this veterinary hosptial? What do you need to hunt big Texas whitetails? |
First Deer
What can you determine from this picture about where and when this animal was taken? What kind of deer is it? How is this hunter dressed for success? |
| Poop
What kind of poop is this? Who left it on the road? If that cartridge is approximately 9 cm long, does that give your a clue to the animal's size? |
Mule Deer in Velvet
Why does this deer have fuzzy antlers? Is there any other physical differences between this and a rifle killed deer? How would this deer taste? How is this hunter dressed for success? |
Antelope
When is antelope season and how long is it? When you apply for antelope, why do you have to wait longer for your draw status than with other species? |
Breakfast
Why would these handsome hunters be cooking breakfast in the field? What is for breakfast? Would you enjoy breakfast out here? |
Locked White Tails
Why are these animals locked together? If only one of these animals was alive and you harvested it, what would you have to do about the one connected to it? |
| Giant Cougar
Why have cougars been in the news? How are cougars hunted differently than any other Albertan big game? Can you harvest only males? only females? What are male cougars called? |
First Duck
This hunter is posing with her first duck. Why are more and more women starting to hunt? What is behind the increase? How is this changing the face of hunting? |
Now THAT'S a Fish
Ron caught this fish off the coast of Mexico. What kind of special precautions do you have to take when deep sea fishing? How about when handling the fish itself? |
Beaver Dam
Are any dangers created by beavers building dams? What are the benefits? |
Billboard
What do you think of this billboard? Is it offensive or not? Is it funny? What picture does it create in the mind of the viewer? |
| Duck Hunt 1
What are you seeing in this picture? Where do you think it is? What is on the water, besides the boat? This is the mouth of the Pimlico River. Where is that located? |
Duck Hunt 2
What kind of boat is this? What has it been modified to do? Is it legal to hunt in one of these? |
Duck Hunt 3
What kind of duck is Isabelle bringing back? Why are retrievers so important to big water duck hunters? Should they be manditory? Why or why not? |
Duck Hunt 4
Have you ever been inside a blind like this? Do you think there are many blinds like this? Does the guy with the Hardee's pork chop biscuit look like he really needs it? Does the dog think she really needs it? |
Duck Hunt 5
What kind of hunting is this? What species of decoys are laid out? What can you assume from the decoy spread? |
| Duck Hunt 6
What unique problems does hunting in this setting produce? There are no gators here, but there are water moccassins. What are they? |
Three Little Duckies
What kind of ducks are these? Are they all Albertan? What condition is their plumage? |
Duck Hunt 8
What kind of duck is the handsome guy on the right holding? Why would he fly thousands of miles in January to hunt it? |
Speed Goat
What does the terrain in the picture tell you about where these animals live? Is this usual? Does this animal have horns or antlers? |
Duck Hunt 10
What kind of duck is this? What do you think of the picture? What message does it portray? Who would like this picture? |
| 2005 Moose
Where was this photo taken? What can you assume about the moose by looking at it? Why wasn't this handsome hunter wearing orange? |
Kid and Deer
How big is this mule deer? Does the addition of the kid in the picture put the size into perspective? Why does this kid have such a goofy grin on her face? |
BIG Fish
This fish made the top 100 in the province it was caught, in the year it was caught. What kind of fish is it? Where was it likely caught? How big is it? |
Another Biggie
What could cause this fish to swell up this much? What would that fish weigh? |
Smile!!!
What is the purpose of the whiskers on the fish? on the fisherman? Why is this fisherman wearing a lifejacket? |
| Napper the Bear
What kind of bear is this? Why is the gun in the picture? Why is there electrical tape on the barrel? |
Swimmer
What would you do if you saw this in deer season? If it was another time of year, what would you do? |
Ducks and Palm Trees
What kind of ducks are these? What does the vegitation tell you about where this sunburned creature is? |
Are You Kidding?
When a non-hunter looks at this picture, what kind of ideas do they get about hunters? Is this safe? |
Post Hunt
What is the purpose of the trailer? What species are hanging on it? Why doesn't everyone use trailers for this type of hunting? |
| What are you doing?
What is this doofus doing out in the middle of the ocean on a spit of rock? What safety concerns should he have? |
Bush Chickens
What kind of birds are these? Can you tell their sex? |
Mikey Moose
Is this the first or last load out of the bush? How much would these weigh? |
Strange Playmates
Why are they doing this? What dangers does this create? Is there a way to prevent this? |
Nice Pair
What are these birds? Where are they hunted? What different equipment do hunters of these birds need? |
| BIIIIGGGG PIKE
What sex is this fish? species? What would you do with it? |
Sturgeon
Why would you catch this fish, only to release it? |
Coyote Barn
What do you think of this picture? What would the public think of this picture? |
A Plan Came Together
Why are stories important in hunting? Should a good story supercede a big deer? |
How many?
How many ducks are in this picture? If ducks are migratory, how are limits in different countries connected? |
| Swamp Hunting
What species of ducks are pictured? How could this type of hunting be described? Is it for everyone? |
Truck of Bone
How would you describe this picture? What do the hunters have ahead of them? Is the work created by doing this worth it? |
Saskatchewan Gator
This gator came out of the North Saskatchewan River near Lloydminster. How did it get there? How could it survive? Could it last the winter? Is there more behind this story? |
Smoochin'
Is this safe behaviour? What could go wrong? |
Bear Hunting
What does this image portray to non-hunters? Is it possible for anyone to take this seriously? |
| 5 on the Car
When was this taken? Do you see hunters carry animals this way today? Why or why not? |
You Shot What?
What is this bird? Can you legally shoot them today? Why would he have shot this specimen? |
Audrey Hepburn
Why are few public figures today seen in shooting or hunting photos? Is it possible to become a celebrity because of shooting or hunting? If so, who has done it? |
Say Cheese
This hunter hauled his bear from the field to a photo gallery for this picture. Why? Is this done today? Why or why not? |
Foxy Hunter!!!
Why is this man posed this way? Why would he be proud of shooting this animal? How could this photo have survived if it isn't a famous person? |
| Gems in Cover
Where was this taken? Do you see the animals? What are they? |
What is going on?
What is this bird? Why do you suppose it is sitting in someone's hand? ? |
Birdy Tree
Why are these guinea fowl sleeping in a tree? What problems could they encounter while sleeping? |
Croc or Gator?
Is this a crocodile or alligator? What information would you need to determine croc or gator? How can you determine their size? |
Ouch!!!
Why do some plants have thorns like this? Can you imagine what could happen to the plant if it didn't have thorns? Can anything eat these thorns? |
| Pretty Birdy
How can you find out what type of bird this is? Can you determine the type if the only information you have is that the photo was taken in the Limpopo province of South Africa? |
Big Kudu?
Is this a big kudu antelope? How can you tell? How are spiral horned antelope measured? Who keeps records for African game? |
Turtle or Tortise
What is the difference between a turtle and tortoise? Which is this? |
Ol' Baldy
Why do vultures have very few feathers on their head? Does the type of feathers tell you anything about them? |
Sweet as Honey?
How is this honey badger similar to the American badger found in Alberta? What special adaptations does he exhibit? Is he camoflaged? |
| Zebra?
If this is a zebra hide and zebras have stripes, what's with the dots and blobs? |
Nice Zebra
This is a Burchells zebra from South Africa. Is there more than one kind of zebra? Why isn't it black and white, or is it? |
A Sable By Any Name...
This is one of the rarest and most desirable antelope in Africa. How come it can be hunted? |
Get the Points?
This animal is often referred to as the "desert warrior"? Why? How would it use its horns? |
Ain't That Cute?
What are these two animals? Why would this be an unlikely scene in the wild? |
| Thatch
Many buildings in South Africa are traditionally roofed with grass, called thatch. Why? |
SNAKES? Why does it have to be snakes?
The great Indiana Jones feared snakes. What is so special about African snakes? What is the most feared African snake? Why not feed the monkeys? They are so cute.... |
Zulu TV
Open fires like this are called Zulu TV. Why? This enclosure is called a bouma. Why would walled enclosures with fires in the center be common in Africa? |
Nice
Africa is known for the golden sunrises and sunsets. Why are they so colorful? |
Hey Brother!!
What does this baboon track look similar to? Baboons are not welcome in most places. Why? |
| Ol' Spots
Is this a leopard or a cheetah? Jaguar? How can you tell them apart? |
Bateleur
Is this bateleur a hawk or an eagle? How can you tell eagles from hawks from falcons from....? |
Walk like and Egyptian...
What are some ways these Egyptian geese are similar to Canada geese? |
Look Familiar?
This bird is similar to a north American bird. Which one? Are they related? How? |
Birds of a Feather?
What is going on between this grey heron and black stork? How can you tell? |
| Gulp!!
Do ostrich really stick their heads in the sand? Where did this saying come from? |
Nice Rhino, good boy, just stay there...
This white rhion isn't really white. Why is he called that? Why are so many rhinos poached? |
Who is the other guy?
The guy behind the proud hunter is a PH. What does PH stand for? How do you become a PH? |
The Black Death
Why is this guy called the black death? What is it? If you hunt them, what precautions do you need to take? |
Pecker Head?
What is going on in this picture? Who benefits from this relationship? |
CTS Construction and Fabrication
This portion of the page will include a few links to webpages that are of interest to anyone who enjoys woodworking and metalworking. There will also be a variety of documents relating to courses previously - and currently - offered in the shop at J. C. Charyk Hanna School. As mentioned at the top of the page, these documents have been created specifically for courses once offered at J. C. Charyk Hanna School in Hanna, Alberta. Feel free to use any course documents, but remember they are the author's interpretation of curricular goals and program requirements and do not include all assessed materials.
The shop is a multi-activity shop that offers cabinet making, building construction, welding, and a limited amount of small engine mechanics and automotives. The focus of the shop in recent years has become the woodworking and metalworking areas. This has been due largely in part to the evolution of the vehicle into a user-unfriendly creature. It seems to be more difficult to change a fan belt on a 2016 GMC truck than it was to do a complete tune up on a 1985 Chev truck. The cost of diagnostic equipment and specialized tools has made continued automotive mechanics nearly impossible, except for basic maintenance and upkeep.
CTS (CON, MEC, FAB) Course Documents
These documents are in .docx or .doc format which need to be opened with Word, and a few are pdf files. I could could go through and make them all web-view friendly, but that is a lot of work and I really, really don't need that at this point. As the Google Docs platform continues to become our standard platform, I am finding sharing documents to the general population is becoming tougher. I will likely save them as pdf files for posting on the site. For students, saving them and completing them on your computer is best, and remembering to send them to me by email is even better. For teachers, feel free to use these documents for your classes - or modify for your own situation - and if you are finding them useful I would appreciate a note. It is one thing to do this work for students and hear only complaints, but it is another thing to hear the occassional positive comment. Remember that these documents are ones I did, or currently, use in the shop and I don't always post the most upated version unless I am directing students to access it online. Thanks.
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CTS Wildlife Modules
The following links are for a few modules I developed for the CTS Wildlife course. The course documents that are used by students, as well as outlines, videos and other materials are included. This is a complete module, with everything self contained on this website and in the Fishing and Hunter Education Manuals. The links to fishing and hunting regulations are found in the Environmental Links located further up in this webpage, but are subject to change from year to year.
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- WLD1080 Angling & Fish Management Theory
The following links are for the WLD1080 Module. The course documents that are used by students, as well as outlines, videos and other materials are included.
- WLD1080 Angling & Fish Management Theory
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- WLD1010 Intro to Wildlife
The following links are for the WLD1010 Module. The course documents that are used by students, as well as outlines, videos and other materials are included.
- WLD1020 Wildlife Diversity
The following links are for the WLD1020 Module. The course documents that are used by students, as well as outlines, videos and other materials are included.
Teacher Webpage
If you have a password from me, you will be able to access the teacher page containing quizes and answer keys, as well as student manuals, videos and other files.
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Shop Links
These links are aimed at the "Project Seeker", with a focus on free plans. Please let me know if you find any other sites that offer free plans - especially ones that have downloadable plans.
- Woodworker's Workshop
- Canadian Plywood Association
- Minwax
- Bear Woods
- Small Woodworking Projects
- Lowe's Creative Ideas
- Delta/Porter Cable Plans
- Amateur Woodworker Free Plan Archive
- Canadian Plywood Association
- Windsor Plywood plans
- Craftsmanspace
- Blacksmithing Webring
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Adventures in Further Educationby Kelly Lewis
Learning never ends. Once a person comes to accept this statment, they can begin to actively live the life of a lifelong learner. It is a good life and I am living it to the max. A few years ago, I felt my brain wasn't being challenged as much as I would like. Most people would buy a puzzle book. I took a masters degree.
Lifelong learning doesn't have to mean going to school. It could be reading a magazine about something that interests you, like mechanics, flying or hunting. A committment to that learning could be as simple as committing to a subscription to that magazine, or it could be taking a night class in a subject that interests you. Learning can be fun - it doesn't have to be tied to a job or involve taking notes and studying. Following personal interests and working towards discovering new information and trying new things is all it takes.
There are lots of things to make you think. I was introduced to a website which made me think. It has lots of speakers on a wide variety of topics which in turn generate a lot of different ideas. The website is TED. If you have some time to burn, it is well worth a look.
A Short Biography
