Plant & Wildlife Resources
Birds of the Lethbridge Forests Field Guide
Over 200 bird species spend time in Lethbridge each year! This book aims to provide a little more information about the bird species featured you are likely to encounter in Lethbridge’s forests. Lethbridge is located on the territory of the Niitsitapi, Blackfoot speaking people. This book includes the name of each bird species in both English and Blackfoot. The birds in this book are grouped together loosely by families, as they are in most field guides. Specific attention has been placed on their songs and their seasonal movements through Lethbridge.
This is the beginning of your bird identification journey!
Coulees & Cottonwoods Field Guide
This booklet brings together the vast knowledge of local naturalists, both past and present, thanks to collaboration between the Lethbridge Naturalists Society and the Helen Schuler Nature Centre. An excellent resource for educators and anyone interested in the natural history of the Lethbridge area.
Rattlesnakes
Lethbridge is home to a very small population of prairie rattlesnakes. Learn more about this important species at risk and the Lethbridge Rattlesnake Conservation Program.
Pollinator Café
This plant guide for container gardening is an excellent resource to help you discover what you can plant to help support pollinators. These plants will add vibrancy to your yard and offer critical infrastructure for pollinators within our urban ecosystem.
Pollinator Partners
Discover how
flowers are adapted to attract and reward insect pollinators to ensure
successful fertilization.
Lethbridge Through the Seasons - Colouring Book
Featuring the line art of Beth Porter - Nature Centre #FactFriday Volunteer extraordinaire - this colouring book explores Lethbridge’s parks and wildlife that you may encounter throughout a typical year in the Oldman River Valley.
- Click here to download the Lethbridge Through the Seasons - Colouring Book
Xeriscaping
The City of Lethbridge is located in a semi-arid ecosystem. Learn how to grow native prairie plants in your garden, help to conserve water and reduce the use of chemicals.
Water Conservation
This research package is a compilation of current, local research in the area of water. It was prepared as a resource for the Nature Centre. The document is a wealth of local and regional sources for both educators and the public.
Grassland Conservation
This video was created in 2010 as part of a larger community mapping project, in which participants explored what the Oldman Watershed means to members of our community.
Elizabeth Hall WetlandsThis preservation area of 32 hectares is tucked away alongside the Oldman River. A dipping dock can be found on the north east corner of the pond and there is interpretive signage around the 22km pedestrian trail.
Collections
Did you know? The Nature Centre has hundreds of natural history items as part of our collection! Some of these items are available to local environmental non-profits and environmental educators to support increased awareness and appreciation of our natural world. Whether you are seeking artifacts, programming resources, or exhibit information panels, be sure to contact us for more information about what we have available and how we can work together.
Get Outside 101
Enjoy the benefits of being outside year-round!
Challenge yourself to try at least one fun outdoor activity every week!
Click here to download - Spring & Summer Activities
Click here to download - Fall & Winter Activities
Not All Classrooms Have 4 Walls!Check out this new series of fun and educational exploration cards, designed to assist teachers & parents
in promoting numeracy, literacy, sensory exploration, physical literacy & creative expression skills
in the great outdoors.
Lesson Plans
The following lesson plans have been developed by the City of Lethbridge for local educators. They include ideas for activities in your classroom as well as links to information sources.
Lifecycle of a T-shirt
Discover the environmental impacts involved in the manufacturing of a t-shirt.
Storm Water
Examine where our storm water goes and the effects it has on local ecosystems.
Bottled Water
Explore the environmental impacts of bottled water vs. tap water.
The following resource was developed by the Prairie Conservation Forum & Alberta Environment for use by educators.
Grasslands
Explore the tremendous diversity of life found in our local grasslands.
