For the first couple days of this internship, I was quite uncertain of what to expect and how I felt about it all. I’ve slowly settled in and after being here for three weeks, the uncertainties have gone away. As you can see by the picture, until recently Spring was an uncertainty.

The seedlings in the picture above are now being transplanted into bigger soil blocks stored in the greenhouse.

by Al Thorleifson

April 22, 2013 – Envirothon is an international program and competition where high school students from around the province get together to test their skills in public speaking, forestry, aquatics, soil analysis, wildlife and, this year, rangeland management. Usually, we hope for a bright spring day; well, in Clearwater this past week, the celebration was that the snow falling onto the snow drifts was at least dry.

The Western Regional competition took place in venues all around the community of Clearwater: the community hall, the United Church, the school (Harvest Moon Learning Centre), the museum, the Clearwater Junction restaurant and at several venues around the grounds of these buildings. The students pretended they were herding cattle, to learn techniques that ensure the cattle are not spooked by the process, how to rope cattle; how to key out fish species; how to measure the height and girth of trees; how to test soil samples; and how to identify animal calls. The list is rather long.

The Envirothon concept began in the 1990’s and has since spread across North America. The competition in Clearwater is just the first step. Four teams from Manitou, four from Baldur, three from Glenboro, one from Miami, three from Brandon, and three from Carman all came together in one of the four regional competitions being held this year.

The morning began with a presentation on a First Nations approach to the land given by David Scott from Swan Lake First Nation. This was followed by individual training sessions on each of five topic areas given by specialists from across the province. David Pogson gave a presentation on rangeland management and Nick Pharoah guided the students on preparing to speak in public.

After lunch, the teams’ trail tests took them out into what became a rather nice day and a great show of teamwork. One volunteer, who had not participated in this program before, remarked on how positive, focused, and supportive of each other the members of the teams were. Another volunteer noted how dedicated the students were to the ideals of the program. One could say the same thing for the volunteers—dozens of them—who willingly came from across the province to help to guide and train the members of the teams and to ensure the day went well.

The Western Regional was hosted by the Pembina Valley, LaSalle Redboine, and Assiniboine Hills Conservation Districts, with Cliff Greenfield and the PVCD staff taking the lead role this year. Their work ensured the event would come off without a hitch. Thanks should also go out to the Prairie Spirit School Division, the Harvest Moon Society, MAFRI, and the Manitoba Forestry Association, sponsors of the Envirothon program in Manitoba, for their support of the program.

The most successful of the teams will go on to participate in the provincial Envirothon competition in May at the International Peace Garden.

This volunteer position oversees the preparations for Volunteer & Performer Food for the annual Harvest Moon Festival, held Sept. 13-15, 2013 in Clearwater, MB. Now in our twelfth year, the Festival connects 1,400 urban and rural folks in the beautiful Pembina Valley to celebrate healthy land, healthy communities and inspire a more sustainable tomorrow.

This position is ideal for an energetic person, passionate about local delicious food, who wants to support a wonderful project, gain experience and work with a fun group of volunteers. The Volunteer & Performer Food Coordinator is a member of the Harvest Moon Festival Committee, a volunteer group who works on a consensus basis to organize the Festival. This could be a shared position between two people.

Responsibilities

• The Volunteer & Performer Food Coordinator oversees the planning, preparation, serving and clean-up of food for 150 volunteers and performers during the festival (Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner; drink station throughout; meat and vegan meals throughout).
• Oversee late night performer snacks for evening bands.
• The Coordinator may assemble a committee to help organize the food.
• Work with Volunteer Coordinator and Festival Committee to find head chefs for meals.
• Identify volunteer needs to the Volunteer Coordinator (The Festival Volunteer Coordinator has overseen the volunteers in the kitchen for the last several years. We are fortunate to have a great crew of experienced kitchen volunteers, many of whom return year after year).
• Manage expenses within budget. Solicit food donations where appropriate.
• The Harvest Moon Learning Centre kitchen is used for these meals. The Coordinator arranges an inventory, ensures equipment needed is in the kitchen, oversees set up of the kitchen for the event and ensures the kitchen is returned to its previous state after the event.
• Procure local food from Harvest Moon Society, Harvest Moon Local Food Initiative and other local producers where possible.

Time commitment

• Participate in Festival Committee meetings (monthly May – July and biweekly August – September)
• June/July:
  • find head chefs and/ or committee
  • design menu around available food and interests of head chefs/ committee members
  • liaise with local food producers.
  • arrange for an inventory of kitchen to see what supplies have and are needed (big pots, cutting boards, crock pots etc…)
• August:
  • review number of volunteers needed with Volunteer Coordinator based on last year
• September:
  • liaise with chefs to ensure they have supplies and ingredients needed within budget
  • make a list of additional supplies needed
  • source supplies/ ingredients as needed
• Week before Fest (Fest is Sept 13- 15)
  • oversee food prep as required (ie Friday lunch meal is usually soup and bread. Soup is make ahead of time, frozen and heated up on site)
  • ensure deserts or other things that can be made ahead.
• During Fest
  • lead meals that do not have a head chef
  • support head chefs and crew chiefs
  • oversee shift changes
  • troubleshooting as required

Skills and Experience

• experience planning, overseeing and organizing meals for large groups/events
• safe food handling skills
• passion and commitment to local food
• good communications and conflict resolutions skills
• knowledge of working in a consensus-based / committee environment
• affinity with the values/ goals of the Harvest Moon Society and Festival http://www.harvestmoonsociety.org/about/
• access to a vehicle is an asset

A $300 honourarium is provided for this position.

How to apply

Please email volunteer@harvestmoonfestival.ca with the subject heading “Volunteer & Performer Food Coordinator”. Explain why you are interested and how your experience and skills will help you in the position. A CV or resume would be appreciated.

Applications accepted until May 15, 2013.

This volunteer position oversees the marketing and communications activities for the annual Harvest Moon Festival, to be held Sep. 13 – 15, 2013 in Clearwater, MB. Now in our twelfth year, the Festival connects 1,400 urban and rural folks in the beautiful Pembina Valley to celebrate healthy land, healthy communities and inspire a more sustainable tomorrow.

Responsibilities

• draft communications plan based on prior years for feedback from Festival Committee
• post festival information broadly in Public Service Announcements
• drafts press releases for Festival Committee feedback
• finalize and send out press releases
• outreach with rural media to ensure high profile communications on festival
• outreach with key Winnipeg media (ie Uptown, CBC, Breakfast TV) to ensure high profile communications on festival
• manage social media for the festival (Facebook and Twitter)
• ensure “key messages” of the festival are communicated (ie share the good news story)
• arrange spokespeople and artists for media opportunities with help of Committee
• draft a media report on coverage received by the festival for grant reporting purposes

Time Commitment

• participate in Festival Committee meetings (monthly May – July and biweekly August – September)
• 2 – 10 hours / week from July – September

Skills and experience

• strong written and verbal communications skills
• experience doing public / media relations for community-based / arts organizations
• knowledge of working in a consensus-based / committee environment
• affinity with the values/ goals of the Harvest Moon Society and Festival
• ability to multi-task and prioritize media opportunities for maximum impact

How to Apply

Please email volunteer@harvestmoonfestival.ca with the subject heading “Communications Coordinator”. Please explain why you are interested and how your experience and skills will help you in the position. Applications accepted until May 15, 2013.