One of the first Native Habitat Grants was awarded to the Gerhard E. Dekker Regenerative Education Center in 2023. The Center was established by a group of volunteers who wanted to develop nature-based programming and wholistic learning opportunities for children, families and people of all ages living in South-Eastern Manitoba.
With the Native Habitat Grant funding from Nature Manitoba, the Center offered a program at the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve for families with young children. Called “Seasons on the Prairie”, it gave families a unique opportunity to visit the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve three times over the 2023 growing season, and participate in interpretive hikes along the Prairie Shore Trail.
Participants braved rain and summer heat to admire the richness of the prairie, learning about its plants and animals from botanist and tall grass prairie enthusiast Laura Reeves. For a number of summers, Laura had worked on the Preserve giving guided hikes and carrying out various research duties. She was also involved with Nature Manitoba in developing a curriculum guide for teachers about tall grass prairie, making her an excellent choice to lead the families on these hands-on educational adventures. Across the growing season, families came together to build ecological literacy, and connect with this uniquely important ecosystem.
Photo by Deanna Kazina
The project had four goals they were able to meet through this initiative:
1) Introduce children and families to the beauty of the prairie, its plants and animals;
2) Increase ecological and botanical literacy and foster an understanding and appreciation of the interrelatedness of species;
3) Promote awareness of the need to conserve and protect this critical and endangered habitat; and
4) Promote community connection and mental health through exposure to nature.
Project volunteers reported that “for many children, it was their first experience of the striking diversity and significance of the prairie habitat. It was amazing to see all the families enjoying their time on the prairies. Each session started with an ice breaker game, storytelling or informal sharing circle, that emphasized the power and interrelatedness of the natural world. These activities really set the stage and reinforced some of the themes that arose organically during the interpretive hikes.”
You can learn more about the Gerhard E. Dekker Regenerative Education Center and its programs at www.gerhardcenter.org
Photo by Deanna Kazina