There’s no better way to learn about the boreal forest than to spend some time exploring it. The boreal forest is the largest ecosystem in Canada, extending from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador.

More than 1,000 students, parents and teachers in the Bay of Islands - Corner Brook - Humber Valley area participate in the Western Newfoundland Model Forest Partnership’s annual Urban Forest Ecology Walking Tour every fall.

We lead students ranging from Kindergarten to Level 3, as well as members of local groups and the public on a tour of the forest in our backyard, bringing them to the urban forest environment of the City of Corner Brook and letting them see, smell and feel the forest around them. We don’t want to just tell students how important the forest is to our environment, our economy, and our lives – we want to share the forest with them. The tour highlights the flora and fauna of the boreal forest, focusing on animals, plants, diseases, soils and ecology of the area, and identifying tree and plant species along the trail.

Participants have an opportunity to experience life within a forest ecosystem, learn about how different plant and animal species interact, and spend time outdoors to enjoy the forest at a beautiful, dynamic time of the year.

The WNMF has been offering walking tours every fall for the last seven years. Providing an opportunity for students to explore a little bit of forest in the heart of the city is an important component of the Model Forest program. We all have a part to play in working towards sustainable forest management for the future. Whether it’s government and industry leaders making management decisions, researchers and educators learning about our forests and sharing their knowledge with others, or students understanding how one tree in the forest interacts with the environment around it - we are all responsible for our forests.

The Forest in Your Backyard

Western Newfoundland Model Forest

Forest Ecology Walking Tour

Students enjoying nature. Photos: L. Skinner, WNMF

Text Box: 2007 Walking Tours begin in September 2007 and run until the end of October. Call 637-7304 to book a tour for your class, organization or private group. It’s free!