Caribou Lichen Collection and Calgary Zoo Trip 2025

 

The Calgary Zoo has once again approached Caribou Patrol with a request for lichen for its resident caribou. Lichen is the caribou's favourite and primary source of food. Lichen requires specific environmental conditions and ample time to grow properly. Lichen is used as an enrichment item for the Zoo's caribou and can only be collected from the wild.

Through this program, youth aged 12-15 will have the opportunity to participate in a lichen collection field trip near Grande Cache as well as enjoy a 3-day trip to Calgary that includes a special tour of a part of the Calgary Zoo, and the opportunity to meet the Zoo's resident caribou. This is an excellent hands-on and experiential way for youth to learn about caribou habitat and diet.
 

A motor coach will be used for the trip to Calgary. It will leave Grande Cache on Friday, October 24th, and return on Sunday, October 26th, requiring all attendees to miss one day of school. The trip to the Calgary Zoo will be on October 25th. The lichen collection date will be on October 4th. It will be a day trip and will occur at a yet-to-be-determined location between Grande Cache and Hinton. Participants will travel by school bus.

An appropriately gendered chaperone is also required to sleep in the same dorm-style room as the youths. If you are an adult who thinks this might be a good volunteer opportunity, whether you have children who want to attend or not, please reach out to Stephanie. An older teenager (17-18) who has experience working with youth (references describing their experience are required) can inquire about attending as a chaperone to be paired with an adult. All volunteers are required to provide proof of their criminal record (including the Vulnerable Sector) checks.

 

All travel, dorm-style hostel accommodations, and basic food expenses will be covered, as well as entry to the zoo on Sunday, October 25th.

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If you are interested in attending, either as a youth participant or a volunteer chaperone, download and fill out the form linked below. Participants are required to give us a write-up indicating why they want to be part of this experience. We aren’t looking for essays, but the participants will be chosen based on this, so we are asking for thoughtful responses. Adults who wish to volunteer but don't have children attending can just fill out the contact information part of the form; no written description is necessary. 

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Completed forms may be turned into the AWN Main Office, the AWN Land and Resource Department Office, or emailed to stephanie@aseniwuche.com. Forms must be submitted by September 12th, 2025.