Grant MacEwan University students will participate in a Summer 2025 project extracting iNaturalist data to integrate it into SAPAA’s operations, emphasizing data management and visualization. The project encourages mentorship and professional networking.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Administration
Site Inspection Training
SAPAA has conducted over 90 site inspections. Simplified and full inspection forms are available. iNaturalist will be utilized for biophysical data collection, and training sessions will be offered to enhance member engagement and support.
Continue readingOrganizational Steward – May 13 CoP Session
SAPAA will host 1-3 best practice sessions in 2025 for organizations managing nature areas. The first session will include a presentation on QR Code technology by Miles Constable, enhancing reporting in Lois Hole Provincial Park.
Continue readingMinisters Report – 2024
SAPAA’s second annual report highlights volunteer-led inspections of Alberta’s protected areas, covering over 25% of WAERNAHR Natural Areas. While 80% of sites rated good to excellent, 20% faced issues like dumping and off-highway vehicles.
Continue readingThe Miistakis Report – What Did We Learn?
The 2022 Miistakis Report evaluated Alberta’s lapsed Volunteer Steward Program, revealing significant weaknesses like insufficient support and lack of data on conservation impacts. It recommends reintroducing citizen science, enhancing government capacity, and employing modern technology for data management. This Post provides notes on from the Miistakis Report – January 30 Debrief.]
Continue readingMiistakis Report – January 30 Debrief
The Alberta Government commissioned the Miistakis Institute to evaluate the Volunteer Steward Program, resulting in the ‘Miistakis Report’. SAPAA is hosting a private debriefing for members and guests to discuss the findings. Registration is needed for the meeting link, but not for report access.
Continue readingCSL Projects – SUST 202
SAPAA partners with the UofA CSL program and runs student projects. For the winter semester, we are welcoming about 7 individuals from the Sustainability 202 course. For students unfamiliar with SAPAA, see the Annex at the end of this post.
Continue readingGWS and SAPAA in 2025
Google Workspace (GWS) is a powerful tool generously provided for free to nonprofits by Google. This is the anticipate strategy for using GWS to support SAPAA’s program efforts.
Continue readingVolunteer Stewardship – Backgrounder
A quick reference guide for those interested in the Alberta Volunteer Stewardship and our organization, the Stewards of Alberta’s Protected Areas Association (SAPAA).
Continue reading2024 (Interim) Site Inspection Report
This is an interim report of Site Inspections for the SAPAA Annual General Meeting. It will be updated and finalized in January, 2025 and represents cumulative inspections conducted since June 2023.
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