New beginnings and continued exploration
FortWhyte Alive is a community of dedicated nature lovers, community builders, and changemakers. Whether you’re an occasional visitor or dedicated member, it’s people like you who share unforgettable experiences with nature and each other here at FortWhyte.
Here are just some of the transformative changes you will help bring to life through your gift:
A stunning new development on McGillivray Boulevard, Buffalo Crossing will welcome visitors at the long-awaited southern gateway to FortWhyte Alive.
The innovative, multi-purpose Buffalo Crossing facility will highlight the highest standards in climate-resilient architecture, educating and inspiring visitors to make their own earth-friendly choices.
An inviting walkway and bridge will take you across Muir Lake to immerse yourself in nature throughout FortWhyte’s 660-acres of marsh, woodlands, lakes, and prairie.
After 40 years and over three million people of all ages learning and exploring in the Richardson Interpretive Centre, it was time for an upgrade!
In 2020, we gave the Richardson Interpretive Centre (RIC) a Deep Energy Retrofit to ensure it can continue as a dynamic environmental education and recreation hub for many more years to come.
Now, the RIC includes:
Your support will help continue to develop the interpretive programming and outdoor learning spaces at the RIC.
Since 2003, FortWhyte Alive’s social enterprise and education program, FortWhyte Farms, has engaged thousands of underserved youth in hands-on learning opportunities in sustainable urban agriculture, food services, and paid employment.
Participants gain self-confidence and leadership skills, and many go on to further education and great jobs.
In 2017, FortWhyte Farms added a woodworking and carpentry training program that became so successful a new, fully outfitted, and dedicated space was needed.
This new studio, operational in 2022, will welcome even more youth and provide more public programming, along with supporting programming through social enterprise sales and rentals, and unique training opportunities.
Every day, people explore FortWhyte’s seven kilometres of trails by foot or on bicycle. This is where thousands of school children make lifelong connections to nature and learn about the importance of caring for the earth.
With your support, major portions of FortWhyte’s trail system will be revitalized, with more spaces for hands-on, nature-based learning for all ages.
The former 10-acre Waterfowl Garden will be transformed into the Biodiversity Trail – a beautiful winding network guiding visitors through constructed wetlands, mixed forest, and wildlife viewing opportunities. The Biodiversity Trail will restore the health of the area’s ponds and add outdoor environmental learning spaces and experiences.
FortWhyte has not been immune to the impacts of unstable weather conditions and increasingly common climate extremes.
Recent drought and flood conditions have led to drastically fluctuating water levels on our lakes. In particular, the lakeshore along our entry road, Sam Fabro Way, has become unstable.
A shoreline stabilization project will ensure the long-term stability of the water’s edge, while installing a permanent hard surface on Sam Fabro Way will strengthen and secure our main roadway.
FortWhyte Alive is home to Manitoba’s first Forest School, an immersive outdoor experience for preschool-aged children where learning takes place outdoors, year-round, rain or shine.
At Forest School, outdoor exploration helps children build an early and abiding connection to nature that provides a foundation for lifelong environmental stewardship. It also promotes critical thinking, safe risk taking, and knowledge and curiosity about the natural world.
A new permanent home will be created for the Forest School in a dedicated, learning landscape designed for outdoor learning and play. The expanded space will increase the capacity of this important, groundbreaking program, ensuring more children will connect with, and learn to care about, the natural world.