Reconnecting The Community To The Land

2007 - 2008

SCEP

Report #2008-4 March 2008 Kim Reeder St. Croix Estuary Project Inc. St. Stephen, NB, Canada Occasional Report No. 2008-4

Fundy Community Foundation New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund

NB Wildlife Trust Fund Province of New Brunswick

Atlantic Coastal Action Program Environment Canada

Reconnecting The Community

Introduction Brockway Adventure Campobello Adventure Passamaquoddy Adventure St Croix Adventure Waweig Feast & Traditions Ministers Island Adventure Kings Landing Adventure

Introduction
The St. Croix Estuary Project Inc. (SCEP) was established in 1992 as one of 14 Atlantic Coastal Action Program groups. The group fosters a community-based response to environmentally-related challenges such as water quality, air quality, ecosystem health and community sustainability. A 12-member Board of Directors consists of citizens elected from the group fs membership which is open to the community at large. The organization carries out work in four main areas: environmental monitoring; restoration and remediation through effective planning, education and outreach and operation of parks & lands including 350 acre Ganong Nature and Marine Park (GNP) located in the lower St. Croix River Estuary and the 40 acre Camp Waweig Site. The ownership of the GNP was accomplished with a fund raising of $610 000 in 2002 and because of the confidence expressed by the community, in December 2005 SCEP Inc was given an important community asset, Camp Waweig. Located on 40 acres of forested land bordering the Waweig River, this property has served the community for more than 80 years and includes 9 camper fs cabins, a director fs cabin, storage sheds, a large cook-house, bathroom facilities and a large meeting hall overlooking the Waweig Estuary, as well as established nature trails throughout the adjacent forested area. The property is assessed at over $100,000. The organization serves New Brunswick, with specific interest in Charloe County as well as outreach to other areas through involvement with Atlantic Coastal Action Program and other organizations. The Ganong Nature Park has served up to 10 000 visitors annually from diverse locations, the land area covers 170 acres of forest, 10 acres of fields and 170 acres of tidal zone of the Estuary of the nationally recognized St. Croix Heritage River. elementary students through the springtime Ducks Unlimited Greenwing program . SCEP Inc. has also developed and delivered a local version of the Yellow Fish Road Program twice, with Trout Unlimited and the Shell Environmental Fund a program which reached approximately 200 students . We have conducted scientific research as well as knowledge generation and community outreach programs on an annual basis, with the help of the NB Environmental Trust Fund, the NB Wildlife Trust Fund and Environment Canada. In recent years we have also offered winter sessions including; a lecture series called Caring for your Share of the Shore which engaged coastal landowners to employ stewardship activities on their own lands as well as encourage them to become familiar with the purposes for planning and public policies, 67 local people participated. In another series, SCEP Inc. offered sessions which developed the skills of volunteers to help with water monitoring in the St Croix River. SCEP Inc. also offered a stewardship program encompassing all aspects of the environment (social, ecological, economic) of the St Croix River Valley, 40 people participated in this 10 week program. Also developed and delivered through SCEP Inc. was the Program for Estuary Steward Training, a stewardship training program for kids, which was offered 2 years in a row.

We have most recently developed an Elderaction program offering various events and stewardship opportunities for elders in our area and an intergenerational program called Reconnecting The Community To The Land, heavily supported by the NB Wildlife Trust Fund and the Fundy Community Foundation. Presently, we are conducting presentations to schools, chambers of commerce, town planners and public, regarding our communitys nature-based SCEP Inc board, staff and volunteers deliver annual Nature assets, and a look toward the future. Camps for youth each year during the summer months. We have also participated as a delivery partner twice for 400 local

Reconnecting The Community

This years events added to diversity of the already established program developed in 2005. Since 2005 we have provided opportunities for youth and seniors, both urban and rural to experience New Brunswicks natural heritage and wildlife first hand. engaged and motivated a spectrum of participants. Program activities took place in the natural world where participants can see, smell, hear, and feel the subject maer. To this experiential understanding we added a cognitive component as our participants engaged the current topic through storytelling, field guides, discussion and other resources. Mentors helped This years events have introduced participants to nature through participants to gain the skills to question, investigate and explore special one day field trips to an international park, to a local isolated the world around them. Key elements of our programs are woods camp and firing range, to the forested site at Camp Waweig, enhancing participants sensory awareness of nature, developing to the Canadian Heritage River - the St Croix, to Ministers Island, their observation skills and creating a solid knowledge base about a national Historic Site and to Kings Landing a provincial historic Canadian nature, wildlife and protected areas. selement. We believe that introducing participants to this mix of designations The program is carried out so that all learning events are safe and will help them to acquire a fuller understanding and appreciation fun and encourage participants to understand wildlife, ecosystems of the natural environment and perspectives thereof. Events are led , ecosystems protection the linkages between. by passionate volunteers and the staff of partners.Programming includes the opportunity for youth to learn experientially from guided hikes and outdoor experiments and from mentors rather than lecturers. The program has contributed to building the next generation of environmental stewards by connecting youth to nature through experiential learning offered by passionate naturalists and knowledgeable environmental stewards in Canada and New Brunswicks natural areas and historic sites. Programming also provided an opportunity for participants to interact with mentors who are willing to share their knowledge and passion with others. Program activities allowed for exposure to multiple natural sites and within those sites realize that the staff and volunteers involved have multiple reasons for their involvement in the area and through this, participants learned of the many values which nature provides. We believe that by providing various techniques of experiential teaching including guided hikes by naturalists as well as exposure to the sustainable living village concept, we have

Brockway Adventure
The first event this season was the trip to Brockway, NB. This event took place in May and 36 individuals participated in this event. This event allowed mentors to guide the youth in traditional sport and game of the 1700s, discuss selement of the area and the wildlife that was established here at that time. They discussed how the game laws came to be developed and why conservation is important. The youth were led through a pine barren as well as to a local bog. The youth were able to locate salamanders at the bog and had the chance to view a moose - which most of them had never seen in real life!

Reconnecting The Community

The trip to Roosevelt Campobello International Park was held within the first few days of June. On this trip we had 56 participants. We toured Lower Duck Pond, which is a salt water cove open to Grand Manan Channel, the cove is a favourite stopping place for waterfowl and shorebirds and also was a hit for the participants. We also passed through what is called the fog forest because of the great number of days it is subjected to cold fog. A look at the trees told of the great stress they must be subjected to with limited light, low temperatures, 100 percent humidity, and, at times, winddriven salt spray. The fog forest was carpeted with mosses, not the usual ferns found in other sections of the Natural Area. We visited several stages of bog development in the Natural Area, which included beaver ponds, grassy marshes and brushy marshes - all on their way to becoming bogs if their progress is not interrupted by flooding, draining, or burning. We took a boardwalk that offered an excellent dry opportunity to explore the bog and to view the vegetation and birds there. As we walked through the bog, we encountered masses of leatherleaf, sheep laurel, pale laurel, bog rosemary, Labrador tea, winterberry and sweetgale as low shrubs among the many sphagnum mosses. Among the shrubs, and particularly in the weer places, were cranberries, pitcher plants, sundew, coon grasses, and sedges. Where it is drier, lichens were abundant, especially reindeer and red-tipped moss. Plants peculiar to Campobellos bogs, and to others on the mainland within reach of the frequent fogs that roll in from the sea, are cloudberry, crowberry, and a grass called deer hair. We discussed what types of wildlife utilize the bogs for food and habitat. We also went through the FDR summerhome and viewed various photos of Franklins summer excursions into nature on the island. The youth participants were amazed at how someone could keep so busy without a TV to watch or computer games to play.

Campobello Adventure
On the way home from the Campobello trip we asked the participants to complete a survey, when asked, what would you like to do to protect nature? comments included; make a park, pack out what you pack in, leave the stuff you find in nature there for other people to enjoy, tell stories about what I do outside to make other people excited, car-pooling, use paths that are already there, pick up garbage, plant trees, own an electric car, recycle, organize more protected areas to encourage people to respect nature. When asked what the participants learned on the trip responses included; I learned alot about plants, moose, birds, bears and bogs, some plants actually eat bugs and some are poisonous, I learned about the harbour seals and their home, being outside is way better than watching TV, I learned why parks are important, I learned that this place used to be covered by really thick ice, I learned that changes affect all kinds of things - not just the thing that changed, I learned about the creatures like the harbour seal and the lobster and the fish, I learned about the black spruce and tamarack tree, I learned about seaweed and pitcher plants, I learned about wildlife and plants and that I get seasick, I learned I should care about nature cause it helps to keep me alive, I learned that peat moss has a lot of jobs, I learned why there should be parks, I learned about glaciers, I learned that nature works to clean the air and water, I learned the word fragmentation, I learned we should set put more land under protection for habitat, I learned we are losing a lot of homes for plants and animals, I learned how to be a steward. This adventure was an exciting and very educational experience for many of the yoth and even some of the adult participants. Many of the youth had never been to Campobello Island or a park besides a local playground which they referred to as a park, a majority of the youth had never been on a boat in the Bay of Fundy either.

Passamaquoddy Adventure
For millions of years, humans lived in direct contact with the natural world and our senses developed to aend to its rhythms and sounds. It is only in the last couple of hundred years that we have insulated ourselves from nature with buildings, cars & pavement. One unfortunate result of this separation is that our senses atrophy. Through this years programming we created an educational environment that helped the community to engage their natural intelligence and awaken their innate abilities to perceive and connect with the world around them. In partnership with the US Parks Service, SCEP Inc. held an event to deliver the basic lessons found in the Parks Services Passamaquoddy Kit. We were able to contribute to fuller understanding of our participants cultural and natural heritage as well as to extend that interest into the future. During this event, for 24 participants held at Camp Waweig, we spent part of the day learning about artifacts, how they are discovered, what they were used for and what they mean to us, in an effort to teach that; the first peoples in this area, the Wabanaki keenly adapted to their changing evironment; created everything they needed from the natural resources around them; and craed everyday items that were functional and showed artistry. Using items provided in the Kit, we were able to investigate casts of archaeological artifacts. We discussed our observations and answered historical questions to discover what the object could tell us about the people that made and used the object. The Kit holds many different types of Passamaquoddy baskets and we were able to convey that baskets, like other first peoples cra was and still is, made from natural materials such as brown ash, sweetgrass and birchbark. Many birchbark items are useful, but as well are highly decorative, telling stories of the snowshoe hare (mahteqwes) and the barred owl (kokogus) as well as the Passamaquoddy trickster/ culture hero Koluskap.

Passamaquoddy Adventure
We provided information regarding food, shelter and clothing of the Wabanaki, all of the days information was summarized from information provided in the Passamaquoddy Kit. We discussed the use of deer, moose, caribou, bear, beaver, oer, hare, muskrat and sea mammals, like seals, walrus, porpoise and whales. The Wabanaki hunted birdsducks, Canada geese, swans, partridge, wild turkey and the now-extinct passenger pigeon and great auk. In addition, they gathered eggs. Dogs were the only animal domesticated by the Wabanaki, and they were an important part of the hunt, tracking and worrying animals like deer, caribou, moose and bear. Animals like bear and beaver, and sometimes smaller animals like oer and mink, were also taken in deadfall traps. Snares were used to catch small mammals and birds like rabbits and partridge, and even larger animals like deer and moose. Snowshoes, made of white ash or beech with rawhide webbing, were important winter hunting gear. They allowed the hunters to stay on top of the snow and follow game like moose, deer and caribou through the winter woods. Toboggans, made of planks split from rock maple, were used to carry the catch back to camp. A single person could haul about 200 pounds on a toboggan, or about half a moose. The Passamaquoddy, more than other Wabanaki groups, utilized maritime resources. The name Passamaquoddy roughly translates to pollock-plenty-place, a reflection of the abundance of marine life in the Passamaquoddy homeland. Flounder, cod, sturgeon, porpoise, seals, sculpin, smelt, sea bass, sea perch, eels, salmon and sea trout, and other species were taken. Intimate knowledge of the environment and of the characteristics of the different species of fish were important in matching the fishing method to the intended prey. Also, the shell middens found all along the NB and Maine SHELTER Wigwam is a Wabanaki word which means house or home. It doesnt specify shape or material, and several different types of structures are mentioned in early accounts. By far the most common type of wigwam in Passamaquoddy territory was made of birchbark and cone-shaped. The frame was made of white cedar or spruce poles, held together with cordage of basswood bark and tied to a supporting wooden hoop about head high. It was covered with pieces of winter bark from the white birch.Balsam coasts are testimony to the importance of shellfish. When thinking about how the Wabanaki lived on and with the land, we need to remember that the land wasnt the same as it is today. Population density was much lower, and the forest and marine resources more plentiful. There were, of course, fewer cleared areas and more forest. The Wabanaki were not, however, passive inhabitants of the landscapethere is evidence that they managed the land to encourage certain species by periodic burning.

Passamaquoddy Adventure
and hemlock boughs were spread on the floor, providing insulation and comfort. CLOTHING Before the arrival of the Europeans, clothing was primarily made of leather from deer and the now-extripated caribou. Moccasins were made from thick seal or moose hide. Special boots for use with snowshoes were made from skin from moose shanks, le whole and tanned with the hair le on, making them especially waterproof. Clothing was decorated with painted designs, or with porcupine quills or moose hair embroidery. By the early 20th century, Wabanaki clothing was much like that of the Anglo population, but regalia was, and is, still worn on ceremonial occasions.

St Croix Adventure
In August we took a group of youth and adults out on the St Croix, this is considered a Canadian Heritage River. This day was a chance for participants to discover what makes a heritage river, to look at fresh water fish species, to try fishing, kayaking, tubing, canoeing and see water-access only camping sites, as opportunities for outdoor active living. We also used this opportunity to discuss the log drives as there are many places throughout the river that as we passed we could view the remenants of this tradition. We discussed the use of rivers as travel routes, as a source of livelihood and as a source for residential and non-residential game fishing. Canada honours and respects its leading rivers by distinguishing them as Canadian Heritage Rivers (CHR System) -- places of great pride and importance to Canadians. Having CHRS outstanding natural and/or cultural values, and offering quality recreational opportunities, these rivers showcase the benefits and enjoyment of healthy river environments, now and in the future. Rivers in the CHRS must have their heritage values and integrity protected. Every river named to the CHRS strengthens our identity as Canadians, and enables us to beer understand, appreciate and celebrate our rich river heritage. The St Croix forms 185 km of the Canada-United States border between southwestern New Brunswick and northeastern Maine, and it is a beautiful example of an eastern Canadian maritime river. The entire St. Croix River basin is a blend of rolling wooded hills, extensive marshes and lakes, granite outcrops and glacial deposits. The combination of the rivers strategic location, history, natural beauty and recreational potential give it special potential as a destination area for visitors from Canada, the United States and abroad. The St. Croix River corridor provides the opportunity for several short paddles and due to the relatively easy paddling conditions and virtual absence of hazards, the river is especially appealing to SCEP Inc. for our educational events and we had 32 participants for this event, not all went out on the river, some spun fish-tales on the shoreline. There are three large campgrounds located in the river area and a number of primitive campsites along the lakes and river, we visited a few sites to show participants what the St Croix system has to offer and we had a chance to see fish, a white-tail deer and 2 porqupines. There is excellent game fishing in the St. Croix River and surrounding lakes for smallmouth bass, land-locked salmon, lake trout, perch, chain pickerel and brook trout. Our mentors on this trip discussed with us various types of fish habitat and behaviour.

St Croix Adventure

This day was spent at Camp Waweig, some of our volunteers brought in various foods and skills regarding outdoor, primitive and wild game cooking. We also set up games and music and enjoyed a large crowd (200+) on this day. At each experimental cooking station the volunteers discussed the history of the method they were using and what game the method would have been used for, for instance fish were commonly cooked on fry-rocks, tripods were used and are still used but originally the cooking vessel would have been birch bark containers. One participant brought with him venison and moose jerky to share. We had a modern dessert, cake with local fresh blueberries, and were able to discuss the various wildlife that polinate and others that eat bluberries.

Waweig Feast & Traditions

Ministers Island Adventure

Approximately 25 local citizens of all ages gathered at the Bar Road, in St. Andrews on Tuesday aernoon, March 4th. The Quoddy Learning Centre (SCEP), arranged an outing on Ministers Island for local youth and volunteer mentors. This event was planned with help from the Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island organization, as well as the St. Andrews Community College and St. Stephen High School. The rain held off, the day was warm, so the aernoon was perfect for beach discovery on the way over to the Island. The group discussed everything from razor clams and the long-ago introduced species, periwinkles (Liorina liorea) and how invasive species like this can affect marine areas particularly protected areas such as the Musquash Marsh and the new planned Marine Management zone in Southwest NB. Upon arrival at the Island, everyone strapped on snowshoes, only about 5 of the group had ever been on snowshoes before but, Susan Goertzen, of Ministers Island advised that shed been on the Island the day prior and the snowshoes were definitely necessary to cross the fields we were about to encounter.

Anne Noddin, staff of Camp Waweig, commented on how wonderful it was to see that everyone in the group was excited to try something new. Mrs. Goertzen and a commie of the Islands local volunteers led the group through the cedar hedge toward Covenhoven, William VanHornes 50 room summer home. The group stopped both to rest (many times) and to talk about why the Island is a game reserve. The island has approximately 60 head of white-tailed deer, as well as being a fantastic place to see various bird species. Along the trail, the youth were able to spot deer which encouraged conversations about where the deer sleep, how they get their food in the winter and about the effects of the deep snow on the deer. Once the group reached Covenhoven, everyone stopped for water and a snack provided by Mary Bell, a volunteer from the Passamaquoddy Childrens Centre. When the tour of the mansion was done the group carried on to the barn, over the old airstrip and explored while they listened to more stories from different members of the group about trips to various parks, and historic sites in the area. When I mentioned marshes and wetlands I was surprised how much the youth already understood the importance of these types of areas and why they should be protected, stated Kim Reeder of the Quoddy Learning Centre. At the barn, hot chocolate and cookies were served to re-energize the group and to close the day, the group was led through activities prepared by Mrs. Noddin and Amanda Lee, staff of the Quoddy Learning Centre (SCEP) and Camp Waweig. In one game, two teams were created and questions about the Island were asked by Mrs. Noddin to each team member, questions were answered with the information gained throughout the day. Those with no answer, or the incorrect answer, performed consequences that ranged from hopping on one foot backwards 10 times to creating crazy animal calls. The group le the Island by 4:30 to meet parents, to avoid the tide and to prepare for bed early aer all that fresh air and snowshoeing!

On March 29th, participants took a trip to Kings Landing, and a trip back in time. This site is nestled in a majestic seing in the St. John River valley, Kings Landing Historical Selement depicts the one hundred year transformation of a young colony into a vibrant nation. We witnessed first hand how ordinary people lived and worked in the 19th century. The property has over 70 historic buildings, complete with artifacts, furniture, tools and equipment, of which we visited 6, but we spent most of our day outdoors. Kings Landing grew out of the massive Mactaquac Dam Project which began in the 1960s. The New Brunswick government, in an aempt to meet rising demands for electric energy, decided to build a dam across the St. John River at Mactaquac and create a headpond that would extend 100 kilometres up river to Woodstock. It was obvious that the flooding of the Valley would disrupt long established communities and farms on the banks of the St. John River. The first selers used the river as a highway and therefore built their homes along its banks. Any trace of these original selements would be wiped out by the ensuing flood. We discusse how this may have affected the ares wildlife and we also discussed the Muskie, a more recent inhabitant of the area. Due to the dam project a new selement was created by moving historically and architecturally significant buildings out of the flood plain to what is now Kings Landing. Over the course of a number of years, they were restored to their original time periods and appropriately furnished. The purpose of Kings Landing Historical Selement is to represent life in the central St. John River Valley throughout the 19th century. During the Kings Landing trip, participants met costumed staff who were boiling sap in iron cauldrons over open fire, demonstrating the art of maple syrup and sugar making as it was preformed 150 years ago. Horse drawn wagon rides were a hit as well.

Kings Landing Adventure

Reconnecting The Community

An example of certificates created for participants of each event

Congratulations!
This Certificate Attests To Your Participation In The

March Break at Ministers Island Learning Day

We work to foster the next generation of environmental stewards by providing opportunities to youth to experience nature and its inhabitants with seasoned and passionate local naturalists.

Kim Reeder Program Manager St Croix Estuary Project Inc

~ New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund ~ Nature Canada Parks & People Program ~ Fundy Community Foundation ~ ~ St. Croix Estuary Project Inc ~ Quoddy Learning Centre ~ Van Horne Estate At Ministers Island ~ Camp Waweig ~ www.quoddylearningcentre.org ~ www.campwaweig.com