When the Time for Nature idea was first mentioned during an all-staff conference call, I was thrilled to learn about the idea. Not only was it a great benefit to provide the employees of NCC, it was also just what I had wanted to have this summer. With the first mention of the Time for Nature my mind started to race with different adventures I could do during my week off. I took some time to think about what the Time for Nature project meant to me and landed on a road trip that my girlfriend Nicole and I had discussed taking for a long time.

Growing up in Calgary I have spent years exploring the Bow Valley and all the great outdoor activities it offers. Through my work at

NCC I have been able to expand my horizons and spend more time in southern Albberta around Waterton. I have always wanted to do a trip down south to explore of

the “Crown of the Continent” and take a detour to see the town of Sandpoint, Idaho. We decided to take advantage of the time off I had been given and planned

our route to explore the area. We planned to maximize our week off by leaving on the Friday before the week off began and stretched our trip to 9 very full days.

The stories throughout this paper give greater details to some of the adventures I enjoyed during my Time for Nature. I had an amazing trip and a great opportunity to reflect on my work at NCC. This time away reminded me of the beauty that exists in my own backyard and made me proud to work for an organization that works to protect the special places that have shaped me into the person I am today.

Volume 1, Issue 1

NCC Staff Celebrate 50 Years of Conservation Success with Time of Reflection and Celebration

June 29—July 8

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Crown of the Continent Earns its Title: Road Trip through the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

One of the major highlights of my trip was driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road through Glacier National Park. The awe-inspiring view from this tight and winding drive up through Logan’s Pass is one of the most amazing drives I have ever done. As you start to climb up the road you can’t help but imagine what it would have been like to be a part of the building of this

passage in 1932. Eventually you reach the top of the road as you (continued on p. 3) Crown of the Continent Trip 1, 3

Profile: Sandpoint, ID 2

Hwy 22 Voted Best Drive in AB 2

Health Study: Cabin Life 3

Species: Mountain Goat 3

Roadside Turnout 4

Conservation Legacy: Waterton 4

Inside this issue:

Photo: At the crossing between the two parks

Photo: Enjoying my Time for Nature while on a hike

Sandpoint, Idaho is a great little town nestled between the Selkirk Mountains and Lake Pend Oreille. If you enjoy getting active outside this is a great place to visit. There are an endless supply of hikes in the surrounding mountains and national forest reserves. You can’t visit Sandpoint without getting out on the water. The lake has a surface area of 380km2 and 1,150 ft. deep making it one of the deepest lakes in the United States and giving you plenty of space to relax.

While in Sandpoint I made sure to connect with nature as often as possible and this town is designed to help you do that. There is great hiking in the Schweitzer Mountain and Priest Lake areas. Ask around at Outdoor Experience Store on 1st

Ave for local recommendations of hike locations. You can do just about every water activity imaginable on Lake Pend Oreille. If you want to get your bearings on the lake I recommend going out for a boat cruise. The relaxing trip around the lake will show you some great (and quiet) locations to spend your time. If fishing is your interest (as it was mine) you have come to the right place. Being fed by the Clark Fork and Pack Rivers, the lake

has an abundance of fish species including Rainbow trout, several Bass species, Whitefish, Walleye, Northern pike and Kokanee salmon. If you have a vehicle I recommend heading up the Clark Fork River for some fly fishing on this quiet and slow moving river.

There are a number of great state parks in the Sandpoint area that are

worth checking out including Round Lake,

Farragut and Priest Lake State Parks. When you are ready to head back into civilization Sandpoint has many great spots to put your feet up. My favorite spot was MickDuff’s Brewing Company which serves great local micro brewed beers. The people of Sandpoint are very friendly and accommodating.

If you are looking for a place to get away from the world Sandpoint is a great choice.

and broad ecological diversity. This attracted First Nations peoples to the area hundreds of years ago. Alberta ranching families first settled the territory in the 1880s and transformed the rolling grasslands into cattle country. Right from my hometown of Cochrane, the Old West is still evident in the art, history, food, hospitality, and culture of the foothills residents. Every community you pass by has a unique story and an opportunity for you to meet someone new. There are boundless opportunities to get out into this beautiful country and experience

If you are heading into Southern Alberta and have the opportunity to take Highway 22 make sure you don’t pass it up. Anytime I head out on the road I always try to make my way down The Cowboy Trail. Along

the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains is a narrow band of mixed forests and grasslands known for its moderate climate, a wide variety of wildlife species

the natural landscapes that exist here. Great spots to check out along the way include Kananaskis Provincial Park, Chain Lakes Provincial Park and Bob Creek Wildland Park.

Make sure to stop in to the Longview Beer Jerky shop to stock up on some road snacks. When you are ready for the drive turn on some great driving music and enjoy the ride!

Highway 22 South is Voted the Best Drive in Alberta

Sandpoint, ID: The Little Town on the Lake

“To catch the reader's

attention, place an

interesting sentence or

quote from the story here.”

Page 2 TIME FOR NATURE PRESS

Photo: Hiking in the Selkirk Mountains above the Sandpoint town site

Photo: Cruising down Hwy 22 South passing beautiful rolling hills

Another major highlight of my trip was relaxing on Glen Lake in Montana. After driving to Sandpoint and then heading over into Montana, I was ready for some time off the highway. Glen Lake is a quiet spot nestled against the Flathead National Forest. I spent 4 days at the cabin and used this time to relax and reflect on life. The area we stayed in was very quiet and our only company was a family of deer that stopped by to eat grass near the road each day. I really enjoyed staying next to the lake. I had time take pictures, catch up on some reading, explore the area and relax near the water. Each night we would slowly watch the sunset over the lake and then spend the evening

playing board games and reading just like I had enjoyed doing as a kid in the Bow Valley.

From the cabin we were able to explore a bit of the surrounding area. We visited the town of Eureka to learn some of the

local heritage and then made our way over to Lake Koocanusa to enjoy more time on the water.

This was my first visit to Glen Lake thanks to a friend renting us his cabin there. My time spent at the cabin was very quiet and peaceful – just what I needed to rejuvenate myself before heading back home. After our 4 days at the cabin we packed up our vehicle once again and headed back out on the road. I left the cabin with the sense that I would be booking

another trip to explore and relax on the shores of Glen Lake very soon.

a real treat to get to see them up close during our drive.

Fast Facts:

Type: Mammal Diet: Herbivore Average life span in the wild: 9 to 12 years Size: Height at shoulder, 3.5 ft (1 m) Weight: 100 to 300 lbs (45 to 136 kg)

We had the great fortune of spotting some Mountain Goats on our journey up the Going-to-the-Sun Road. They were perched above us on a cliff side looking down at the route they were about to take. We were able to snap a few photos of the goats before they headed down the cliff at a very quick pace. I have only seen Mountain Goats a few times in the wild so it was

Crown of the Continent Earns its Title (Continued)

Species Spotlight: Mountain Goat

After finishing the road we headed up the Chief Mountain Highway to get a closer look at the mountain that gives the road its name. I have long admired Chief Mountain when I travelled to Waterton but I have never seen it so close. I have always dreamt of one day hiking this mountain. It stands as a silent monument to the ages that have

passed through the area. From the aboriginal communities that still view the mountain as a sacred place, to the first settlers in the area and the generations that followed them, I feel that this place must be special to so many people.

To me this place is a special indicator that I am headed home back to Alberta.

cross through Logan’s Pass. The views from the top of the road are breathtaking and hard to put into words. Looking out at over 1 million acres of this protected landscape gives you a sense of how meaningful conservation efforts can be for the ecosystems that exist there and the citizens that get to enjoy them.

Scientific Study Shows: Spending Time in a Cabin Good for Your Health

“To catch the reader's

attention, place an

interesting sentence or quote

from the story here.”

Page 3 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Photo: Evening outside the cabin on Glen Lake, MT

Photo: Mountain Goat nanny and kid spotted on Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier Park

The Top 10 Songs From The Road Trip Playlist:

1. Setting Forth—Eddie Vedder

2. Something Beautiful—Alexi Murdoch

3. The Travelling Song—Avett Brothers

4. Keepin’ It Real—Mason Jennings

5. The Great Exhale—Great Lake Swimmers

6. Brand New Day (reprise) —Joshua Radin

7. The Best Of What’s Around—Dave Matthews Band

8. Come Pick Me Up—Ryan Adams

9. Better Than—John Butler Trio

10. Take Me Home, Country Road—John Denver

out at the lookout point on the north end of the park front area that you can truly appreciate the hard work that has gone into this project.

I purposely planned to end my trip with a visit to the Waterton Park Front as I couldn’t think of a more perfect place to end my trip and take one more moment to pause and reflect on my time for nature. So I finished off my trip with a drive into Waterton and a stop at the point of interest along Highway 6 where NCC has interpretive signage. I spent some time at this turnout admiring the beauty that exists in the Waterton Park Front. This area is such a great example of the power of people when conservation of our natural heritage is our

I joined NCC in 2010 and was amazed to learn about the conservation efforts that have been made in Alberta. Many of the areas that NCC works in have been lifelong activity areas for me. From the Red Deer River Natural Area where I lived for several years on Pine Lake to the Bow Natural Area where I grew up camping and hiking, NCC has had an impact on areas that have played a significant role in my life. One area that I had never spent an extended period of time in growing up was Waterton. So when I was taken on my first donor tour I was thrilled to learn that it would be to the Waterton Park Front. Reading about this conservation success story does not do the area justice. It isn’t until you stand

focus. As I sat on a rock at this site looking out at this incredible accomplishment I couldn’t help but reflect on the great work of NCC over the last 50 years and where I hope we will go in the future. As I sat watching the sunset over the Waterton Park Front I was reminded of a quote:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

Conservation Success: Waterton Park Front a Truly Incredible Place

Roadside Turnout: Moments from the Crown of the Continent Road Trip

Photo: Chief Mountain taken from the Chief Mountain Highway

Photo: A moment to reflect on our work in Alberta at the Waterton Park Front interpretive sign turnout

Photo: (Left to Right) A quick pit stop in Longview for the best beef jerky around before heading down Hwy 22 (The Cowboy Trail), Fishing on the Clark Fork River, Driving through the beautiful scenery in Montana, Stopping for a picture on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The Route:

Photo: Pointing out some NCC properties on the map