The Medicine Hat Junior Forest Wardens is an outdoor oriented program, with an emphasis on the experience. The program is committed to providing opportunities to get outdoors: camping, backpacking, canoeing, mountaineering, tree planting and more! And to prepare for adventures like these, education is offered and promoted in wilderness skills development, first aid, trip planning and survival. To provide a greater appreciation of the natural resources while outdoors, Wardens are taught about tree, plant and animal identification, soil types, weather and water, resource management, threats to the environment and our resources and the list goes on…

Junior Forest Wardens is an exciting and educational opportunity for young people and their families to have fun, develop skills, and get educated in the many and diverse aspects of our natural environment. The Junior Forest Wardens have built their programs foundation using the four components of forestry, ecology, outdoor skills and leadership.

Young people between the ages of 6 – 18 can join a local club, and enjoy age specific programming in one of the four appropriate age classes. Pathfinders – Ages 6–8 Trailblazers – Ages 9–11 Adventurers- Ages 12–14 Challengers – Ages 15–17. 

The success of our club is largely dependant on the participation of parents and the contributions of parents/families.  When you join the Medicine Hat Junior Forest family, we ask that you will help with something:  it might be teaching a skill you have during a meeting, learning to become a leader, helping prepare for a camp, helping to watch over and guide some of the younger ones, helping in food prep, helping with admin, etc. 

JFW Program

PROGRAM

The Junior Forest Wardens activities focus on our 4 Pillars of:  Forestry, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, and Leadership

Forestry

Wardens will develop an understanding of the contributions that forests make to life on earth; show an awareness of the interdependence of all life on earth, renewable and non-renewable resources used by people, and the impact of people on the environment; and develop the basic understandings, attitudes and skills necessary to protect, manage and renew the forest environment. Wardens will also develop a personal concern and community awareness, as well as practice responsible use of natural resources through community service projects.

Ecology

The wardens will develop an appreciation for the beauty and uniqueness of all living things by observing and comparing the differences in colour, form, texture, arrangement or design of objects in the environment and demonstrating knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding the diversity of the environment, including the life found within.

Outdoor Skills

The wardens will increase their knowledge of outdoor living skills and become confident in their ability to use these skills.

Leadership

Wardens will demonstrate the following abilities: to plan, execute and evaluate their program, based on the JFW 3 Rs; to manage tasks and demonstrate appropriate attitudes, skills and understanding to work cooperatively; to plan, execute and evaluate programs for younger people through the presentation of activities and by role-modelling expected behaviour to demonstrate skills, willingness and confidence to initiate and manage community service