Education Centre Showcases New Web Site

In conjunction with the official opening of the Musquodoboit Valley Education Centre, the Department of Natural Resources will be showcasing one of its millennium projects on Monday, June 4. The project -- a new education and extension programs Web site -- has been developed by Natural Resources’ education staff.

The new Web site, located at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/extension , contains three of the education programs that are delivered at the department’s Natural Resources Education Centre. The centre, located within the school in Middle Musquodoboit will hold an open house from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., on June 4, to showcase the Web site.

"The goal of this project is to promote forest sustainability by improving access to our forestry education programs," said Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage. "The more people learn about our forest and how it is managed, the more likely they are to make wise decisions about how they use it."

Each year, 10,000 visitors participate in the centre''s natural- resource education programs. Visitors participate in programs such as Wildlife Walk, A New Forest -- The Next Generation, and Products from a Sustainable Forest. The Web site makes these educational programs available to more Nova Scotians in both official languages. The site also includes modules of the Woodlot Management Home Study Program, the Nova Scotia Hunter Education Course, links to publications, outdoor recreation, and consumer information pertaining to Christmas tree selection and care.

"The increasing use of the Internet permits improved access to our programs," said the minister. "It allows Nova Scotians to bring the information into schools, homes, public libraries and the workplace."

The Web site is the result of two years'' work. Funding and other support has been provided by a number of partners, including the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, the Canada Millennium Partnership Program, the Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia, Heritage Canada, the Nova Scotia Youth Conservation Corps, the Nova Scotia Community College-Truro Campus, Stora-Enso, the Nova Forest Alliance and MacTara.

Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray, federal Minister responsible for the Millennium Initiative, said, "The Government of Canada is pleased to have had a role in developing educational tools that will raise public awareness of the importance of forest management to ensure the preservation of our natural resources and to protect the future of our environment."

The federal government, through the Canada Millennium Partnership Fund and Heritage Canada, has contributed more than $28,000 to the Web-site project.

The Natural Resources Education Centre, formerly part of the Musquodoboit Forestry Complex, is now located inside the new Musquodoboit Valley Education Centre. Natural Resources donated a former nursery building and 11 hectares of land in Middle Musquodoboit to the Halifax Regional School Board for use as school property. The unused building space was converted into classrooms and offices, and a cafeteria and gymnasium were added. As part of the arrangement, Natural Resources retained space within the state-of-the-art school from where the department will continue to offer its educational programs.