Registration now open for Living Prairie Museum Winter Speaker Series

Rare species, coexisting with wildlife, native plants among topics covered in virtual sessions

The Living Prairie Museum in winter.
The Living Prairie Museum in winter.

Are you wondering about Manitoba’s most unique plants or how to transition to a native plant lawn? Consider signing up for one of the free sessions as part of the Living Prairie Museum Winter Speaker Series.

“The Winter Speaker Series sessions are a fun and fascinating way to stay engaged and beat the winter blues while learning about nature,” said Sarah Semmler, Curator of the Living Prairie Museum.

The sessions are in partnership with the Friends of the Living Prairie Museum and run every second Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. starting on January 16. Registration opens two weeks prior to each event.

Donations to Friends of the Living Prairie Museum are welcomed.

Sessions take place virtually or in person, and live American sign language interpretation will be available at each event.

  • January 16 – Coexisting with Wildfire – Learning from the Past and Adapting for the Future, presented by Dr. Lori Daniels, from the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Wildfire Coexistence.
  • January 30 – Skippers, Longspurs, and Lady's-slippers: Rare Species of Manitoba's Grasslands, presented by Chris Friesen of the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre.
  • February 13 – Niiyaap Ninabatoomin Wendakaneziin (Restoring Our Roots) presented by Taylor Galvin of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, the University of Manitoba, and the Manitoba chapter of the Wildlife Society.
  • February  27 – Connectivity of Poweshiek Skipperling Habitat in the Manitoba Tall-Grass Prairie Preserve, presented by Dr. Katherine Dearborn, from the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences at the University of Winnipeg.
  • March 12 – Native Plants for Native Lawns - Ash Burkowski, expert native plants grower and Chair of the Friends of the Living Prairie Museum.

The museum will also be hosting Snowshoe Sundays again this winter. They start January 28 and run on alternating Sundays through the end February from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. – dates are posted on the Living Prairie Museum website. No experience is necessary and snowshoes are loaned out for free on a first come, first served basis. Just make sure to bring winter boots. You can also visit the interpretive centre to enjoy the exhibits.

Snowshoeing depends on having enough snow, so check first to confirm the conditions are suitable. If you'd rather book a group outing, call 204-832-0167 in advance.

While the Living Prairie Museum Interpretive Centre is open by appointment only for educational programming, the outdoor self-guided trails and cross-country ski paths are open and free to explore daily from dawn until dusk. Visitors should stay on the trails and dog owners are reminded that the preserve is on-leash only, and to pick up after their pooches. (Manuel sur les sentiers autoguidés)

Kids can also print off the Living Prairie Museum colouring book for an interactive way to learn more about creatures living on the prairie.

Originally posted on February 4, 2021

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