The map shows the 5 parcels of forest lands that have been identified as ‘The Children’s Forest’ that stretch contiguously from west to east, encircling Carrington Lagoon.The vision of a Children’s Forest begins.The text for Forest Alphabet is written and the artwork for A to Z is created by 33 Linnaea School students, inspired by their love of forest & nature. “F is for frogs, red-legged and tree…hopping happily through forest and stream!” An art exhibit of the student art panels is held at The Old Schoolhouse Gallery, Cortes. Forest Ent clay works are created by youth for promotion and raising funds, and Forest Ents come alive on trees throughout Cortes. Daniel Pierce of Ramshackle Productions comes to Cortes to film youth in the Children’s Forest for a documentary. The Artists’ Journey sees visiting artists join local artists in the Children’s Forest to create beautiful works of art inspired by the forest. An art auction of their work is held on Saltspring Island to raise money to publish the book, Forest Alphabet, and is hosted by Paul Horn & our very own Ann Mortifee, an honorary director.A community celebration is held at Mansons’s Landing Community Hall to officially announce and launch the Children’s Forest The Forest Trust for the Children of Cortes Island Society is officially registered as a BC Society on November 15.The FTCCIS sponsor a logo contest for local youth and the winning logo was jointly created by Mira & Shantima Braaten. This design is the backdrop to all the slides. A second Artists’ Journey art auction is held on Cortes at the Coop to raise more funds for publishing of the book Forest Alphabet.The Forest Trust for the Children of Cortes Island Society is granted charitable status by Revenue Canada on May 15. Forest Alphabet, Artistic Visions of a Forest in Trust to the Children is published. A book launch party is held at Linnaea, and a big cake is made by a locally renown Austrian pastry chef, Trude.Monthly nature study day/forest walks are started on the first Sunday of each month, and are still happening, 6 years later. Why don’t you join us?! Homeschooling children learn basic stream assessment skills, and monitoring of fish and the riparian area begins in James Creek.The Children’s Forest youth perform a Solstice celebration at the Gorge Community Hall with animal puppets & youth performers. The Forest Rap is performed, which was a joint effort by Dan Peters and youth. “A is for awesome animals…”The first youth interpretative training workshop is held in the Whaletown Commons. Youth interpreters lead walks into the Commons for summer guests.The Children’s Forest youth troupe do a Forest Alphabet school tour for 6 schools on Saltspring Island, and have a special visit with Robert Bateman. The Children’s Forest youth troupe write and perform Shades of Green at the Gorge Harbour Marina which shared their favourite stories of playing in nature.The first annual bioblitz is held focusing on small mammals, bats, fish & plants. The midnight watch for flying squirrels was everyone’s favourite activity. A second interpretative training, So You Want to Be a Naturalist, is held at Linnaea School – an amazing examination of bones & mysterious objects.The Children’s Forest youth troupe perform Shades of Green at Hollyhock Learning Centre as a fundraiser. The Forest Rap is produced as a music video by Immanuel McKenty. “… R is for the rainforest we will not fail…!”The 2nd bioblitz is held focusing on bugs, bugs and more bugs with entomologists from the Royal British Columbia Museum. The Children’s Forest youth troupe perform Without One, None for the Quadra School and Cedar School in Campbell River. This is a murder mystery set at a bioblitz in the Children’s Forest.The first youth streamkeeper training, Gently Down the Creek, is held at Hansen Creek, Cortes Island. Water, water, everywhere! “Oh, where are those fish hiding?”Imagine… a Forest in Trust to the Children Art Show is held at the Old Schoolhouse Gallery, Cortes, curated by Krista Smith which featured over 25 youth artists.The 3rd bioblitz is held focussing on plants with provincial plant guru and campfire musician, Dr. Andy Mackinnon.The Wild Cortes Exhibit has its official public opening and the Cortes Wild Interpretative Centre and EcoLab are launched. “Watch out for endangered animals milling about!”A 2nd youth streamkeeper training, Gently Down the Creek, is held at James Creek in the Children’s Forest. “It’s a coho! How long is it?” An introduction to iNaturalist is held at the Linnaea Ed Center and 2 youth make a presentation at the FTCCIS Annual General Meeting. The FTCCIS youth participate for the first time in the Christmas Bird Count, in association with the Cortes Museum & Archives and Bird Studies Canada.The 4th bioblitz is held focusing on herons, fossils & plants. The first alumni gathering happens and Alma, Kiera, Liam and Kai share how important the Children’s Forest has been to them. The first forest ambassador ceremony happens around the campfire, and the graduating youth are tasked to continue sharing the story of the Children’s Forest.The first meeting of directors happens with Mosaic, who are now responsible for on-the-ground operations for Island Timberlands. Mosaic personnel and FCTTIS Board directors take a walk into the Children’s Forest. Youth participate again in the national Christmas Bird Count.What will the next 10 years look like? Let’s begin to imagine…
