Dear Members of the NAWTA​

Greetings from the Northern Great Plains and Boreal Forest of Saskatchewan.    As hosts to the NAWTA AGM, Scott Lipsit (our Department Head) and I would like to invite you to join us for a few day in late June to conduct the business of the association, review accreditation packages, and experience some of the landscapes, applied research programs, biodiversity and natural resource management issues of Saskatchewan, Canada.​

About 25 years ago, I served as a President and subsequently as the Executive Director of the NAWTA.   The experience of exchanging program information with member institutions, accrediting new programs, visiting new schools, and the exceptional comradery of the association members were important influences on my career, and the development of a cluster of Natural Resource Management programs at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.  As post-secondary institutions, all of us have a responsibility to pass along resource management techniques and mentor sound environmental ethics.  Members of NAWTA are responsible to inspire the technicians, technologists and conservation officers who are our front-line workers.   The faculty and staff of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Natural Resource Technology programs are looking forward to hosting you 25-28 June 2017.   

The Campus of the Natural Resource Technology Programs at Saskatchewan Polytechnic is located in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.   This is about 90 minutes north of the international airport in Saskatoon SK.    Weather at the end of June is quite variable.  Prairie folks always say “if you don’t like the weather – wait 15 minutes”.    In Canada – we use the metric system for distance (km) and weather temperatures (C).  Late June temperatures have daily highs that average 23C, and nightly lows frequents drop into the single digits.     Best to be prepared with everything from rain gear to shorts and T-shirts.  You might also get ready for an exposure to northern mosquitoes and blackflies !     Those pesky invertebrates feed on a wide range of boreal lifeforms – including wildlife biologists ! ​

The 2017 meeting will be hosted in Prince Albert, but we plan on taking the group to our field camp, The Hannin Creek Education and Applied Research Facility about 90 minutes north.    Together with a sportsman’s group called the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation – Saskatchewan Polytechnic has purchased and renovated a camp that provides us with the opportunity for year round field work.  Nestled along a creek in a significant watershed, the camp has a mixture of boreal forest habitats, riparian zones, and lake ecosystems.  Commercial logging, exploration and tourism provide the back drop for a variety of field activities.   We hope to introduce you a range of training possibilities, the biodiversity of the area, research programs, and work of some of recent graduates of our programs. 

The HCEARF has 8 bunk houses, a modern classroom, and a commercial kitchen.  Please note on the registration form whether you can bring your own sleeping bag and towels for your stay at the camp. If it is too much trouble to pack a sleeping bag, please let us know and we will rustle-up a liner and sleeping bag from our working stock.​

Details of the agenda follow this note.  Please consider joining us and please don’t hesitate to give me a call if you have any questions.  

Dr. Hamilton Greenwood

306-765-1616

Hamilton.Greenwood@saskpoltech.ca

President NAWTA 2017

Faculty Member – Natural Resource Technology Programs

Saskatchewan Polytechnic