Facilitation Techniques for Community Building, February 14 (on-line)

ACE Communities (Active, Creative and Engaged Communities), an initiative of the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA), will be hosting a FREE on-line webinar, Facilitation Techniques for Community Building, on February 14, at 10:00 am.

Course overview:  "Community building happens when residents gather and talk about important aspects of their community.  Learn how to engage residents in discussions and decisions and how to gather community input and feedback.  This interactive webinar will provide an introduction to some of the popular and productive community conversation techniques."

Click here to register on-line.  There are only about five spaces left as of January 31.

For more information about the webinar and presenter, click here.

Holding the Reins: Landowner Summit for the Oldman Watershed, February 7

The Oldman Watershed Council's Rural Team will be holding their 6th annual "Holding the Reins" Landowner Summit for the Oldman Watershed  on February 7, 2012 at the Fort Macleod Community Hall, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.  The theme will be "Watershed Stewardship: where are we headed?"

For more information (including the agenda) and to register, click here.

Water Workshops

Sustainability Resources Ltd. is hosting some upcoming workshops and seminars dealing with water issues that might be of interest to stakeholders in southwest Alberta.

These include:

Water Conservation Toolkit, November 21st, 8:30am - noon (Red Deer)

Water for Life and the Land Use Framework, December 7th, 1-4pm (Edmonton)

One Water - Managing Water as an Integrated System, December 13th, 1-4pm (Calgary)

For more information about these sessions and to register, click here.

Volunteer Program Development Workshop, September 22

On Thursday, September 22nd, SASCI will be hosting a free workshop aimed at helping community service organizations to design and deliver a compelling volunteer program.  The workshop will explore the motivations and expectations behind volunteering, potential barriers to volunteering, and possible solutions.  The workshop will also include an examination of the essential qualities of the volunteer experience that ensure both the volunteer and the service organization achieve meaningful outcomes.  Finally, participants will work through a design process in which these learnings are applied to the real-world situation in their home organizations.

To deliver this program, SASCI has partnered with highly regarded Canadian consultants, Chris Jarvis and Angela Parker of Realized Worth (http://realizedworth.blogspot.com/), who specialize in providing training and hands-on involvement in the design and implementation of outstanding and sustainable volunteer programs in both the private and public sectors.   

Space is limited in this workshop; to engage as many community service organizations as possible, we may limit participation to one individual per organization.  The workshop will be held in Pincher Creek, but organizations from other parts of southwest Alberta are welcome to participate.  The workshop will run from 9 am to 3 pm; lunch will be provided.  Additional details will be provided soon to registered participants.

If you are interested in participating in the workshop, or if you would like more information, contact Celesa Horvath at chorvath@sasci.ca or the SASCI office at (403) 627-1750.

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact David Green at the SASCI office.

Wind Energy Day Camp for Kids - August 18

Lethbridge College is hosting a Wind Energy Day Camp for Kids as part of its continuing education program.

This 'green' camp is a full day of learning, interaction, games, crafts, and fun! Learn how wind energy is created and why it is important. Kids will get excited about wind energy and have a chance to create a little wind energy of their own! Campers will also walk away with information on how to make their own environments 'greener' through little changes they can make at home, at school, and other places in their neighborhoods.

Lunch and snacks provided.

Time: 8:30-4:15 (flexible drop-off and pick-up dates)

Cost: $25 per kid

Ages: 8-11 years old

To register, please call 403.317.3544 or 403.320.3319

Here's a link to Lethbridge College's Continuing Education event page.