Field Trips

• As part of ISSRM 2012′s goal to highlight Edmonton’s local landscape and sustainability initiatives, eight field trips will be offered on Tuesday, June 19th.    By taking place in the middle of the conference, these field trips are designed to increase community involvement and delegate interaction. Field trips are optional, but participation is highly encouraged. You may choose your field trip of interest during the online conference registration process.
  

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  1. Upgraders and Ecosystems

  Visit Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and learn about attempts to integrate the petroleum industry, farming and natural areas management (NE Edmonton and Ft. Saskatchewan, <1 hour northeast of Edmonton). At Goldbar Park, learn about Edmonton’s innovative approaches to waste and water management, including an arrangement for use of recycled water from PetroCanada refinery in water treatment and recreational activities.  Stops: Astotin Natural Area, a local farm, Gold Bar Waste Management Center of Excellence and “Refinery Row.” (Est. trip length – 5 hours) Price: $35 (max: 52 ppl) – price includes lunch, bus transportation.

   

  2. Cycling & Walkability

  Learn about the City’s human-powered transportation initiatives on this guided cycle tour of the river valley and enjoy the sites of Edmonton. Edmonton has committed to sustainable transportation through its cycling and walking initiatives.  Cycling routes are included in its Master Transportation Plan, which aims to provide access across Edmonton.  Learn how the City is encouraging sustainable transportation and healthy citizens through the City’s cycling and walking plan and its focus on creating walkable neighbourhoods. (Trip length est. 4 hours) Price: $48; max: 20 ppl – includes bike rental, lunch, and bus transportation.

  3. Food Futures and Urban Development

  A bus tour exploring sustainable food production in NE Edmonton. A tour of rich agricultural land that features a case study of Edmonton’s recent updating of its Municipal Development Plan.  Meet local producers and planners to learn about tradeoffs between agricultural heritage, sense of place, local food production, and food security, and potential industrial development and urban growth requirements For more information about initiatives to promote local producers and processors, please visit http://www.sturgeoncountybounty.ca/ and http://www.startinsturgeon.ca/. (Est. trip length 4.5 hours).Price: $35 (max: 50 ppl) – price includes lunch and bus transportation.

  4. Stewardship in the Beaverhills

  The Beaverhills region is currently going through a Biosphere Reserve application process. Visit this region east of Edmonton to learn about the unique aspects of this moraine.  At Elk Island National Park a short hike of Astotin Loop will be followed by natural history presentation and a drive through the “Bison Loop”.  A visit to a second park, Blackfoot Cooking Lake Provincial Recreation Area will introduce visitor to local citizen science projects and progressive wetlands/beaver management initiatives.  (Estimated trip length 6 hours). Price: $36; max 52 ppl. Price includes lunch, bus transportation.

  5. Canoe the North Saskatchewan River (TRIP IS NOW FULL)
  

  The North Saskatchewan River valley winds through one of the most rapidly growing urban areas of Alberta: the Capital Region.  Protected through various land use planning restrictions for several decades, it is a natural asset valued for its recreational opportunities and aesthetic character. Experience the North Saskatchewan River as the early explorers did, in voyageur canoes.  Learn about the ecology of the region and the management issues confronting resource and land managers attempting to conserve the valley.  (Est. trip length: 1 hour bus ride and a 5 hour canoe downriver). Price: $ 48.00; max ppl: 44 – Price includes bus transportation, canoe rental, lunch.

   

  6. Greening our Campus: A walking tour of sustainability at the University of Alberta

  Did you know the weight of five blue whales in paper and cardboard recycling is diverted from landfills every year at the University of Alberta? This is just one sustainability accomplishment you’ll learn about on this Greening our Campus walking tour, hosted by the Office of Sustainability. In February 2012 the University of Alberta was recognized for its’ sustainability performance through a Silver STARS(tm) by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (stars.aashe.org). The highlights of the walking tour include visits to several LEED-certified buildings, learning about the efficiencies of our District Energy System and discovering several gardens including the student-led Campus Community Garden and the Faculty of Education’s patio garden. You’ll also experience Edmonton’s public transit system as you travel to visit the Green & Gold Garden on South Campus; this is a local garden achieves a global impact by raising thousands of dollars of proceeds for Tubahumarize, a non-profit, Rwanda-based organization that supports and empowers marginalized women.(Est. length of trip 3 hours) Price: $15; max 40 ppl. – price includes lunch and subway fare.

   

  Extra! Post-Conference trip to Jasper National Park

  Registration Information is now available. Click here for full details on this field trip.

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Photographs on this page provided by Alberta Tourism, Parks, and Recreation, the Green and Gold Garden, and Mara Erickson