RCE Saskatchewan - 2020

Hannin Creek Education and Applied Research Centre (HCEARC)
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Hannin Creek Education and Applied Research Centre (HCEARC)
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Saskatchewan
Contributing organization(s) : 
Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Scott Lipsit, Program Head, Natural Resource Programs
Organizational Affiliation: 
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
E-mail: 
scott.lipsit@saskpolytech.ca
Name: 
Deanna Herman, Academic Chair, Natural Resource Programs
Organizational Affiliation: 
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
E-mail: 
hermand@saskpolytech.ca
Name: 
Darrell Crabbe
Organizational Affiliation: 
Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation
E-mail: 
dcrabbe@swf.sk.ca
Name: 
Sarah Schmid
Organizational Affiliation: 
Prince Albert Model Forest and Saskatchewan First Nations - ‘Stewards for The Land’ (Affiliate)
E-mail: 
s.schmid@gmail.com
Name: 
Al Bertschi, Executive Director
Organizational Affiliation: 
North American Wildlife Technology Association (Affiliate)
E-mail: 
Al.Bertschi@portagecollege.ca
Name: 
Shannon Anderson
Organizational Affiliation: 
Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation - youth conservation camps (Affiliate)
E-mail: 
sanderson@swf.sk.ca
Format of project: 
Manuscript
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Web link: 
https://saskpolytech.ca/news/posts/2018/hannin-creek-education-and-applied-research-centre-grand-opening.aspx
Additional resources: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq9aYMxSUDs
Power Point Presentation attached.
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Saskatchewan Polytechnic Statement of Organizational Values: Sustainability (https://saskpolytech.ca/about/strategic-plan/)
At what level is the policy operating?: 
Subnational
Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/conservation/sustainability/federal-sustainable-development-strategy.html)
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
Canada
Location(s): 
Saskatchewan
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Candle Lake, Saskatchewan
Ecosystem(s):
Forest
Target Audience:
Community, TVET, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The Hannin Creek Education and Applied Research Centre (HCEARC) is a multi-functional camp in the boreal forest at Candle Lake Saskatchewan. HCEARC is the only boreal field station in Saskatchewan that enables study and research in areas of conservation, sustainability, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, resource management and engineering. Socioeconomically, the education facility introduces hands on, conservation learning to local, northern & remote youth, conservation groups, environmentalists, Indigenous peoples, scientists and academia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic students and investigators of government and non-government agencies.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Current challenges to regional sustainability include climate change, overpopulation, deforestation, urbanization and economic austerity. The application of conservation, education and research are of critical importance to mitigate these challenges. The Hannin Creek Education & Applied Research Centre serves to educate and facilitate research the next generation of Resource Managers affiliated with Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs, Saskatchewan Wildlife youth education, First Nations and Metis, and other regional stakeholders.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Rationale: 
We define sustainability as ‘the management of our resources in a manner which does not deplete their availability for future generations’. The HCEARC is located on a watershed in a remote area of the mid-boreal forest ecosystem of central Saskatchewan, surrounded by a Provincial Game Preserve with an abundance of natural forests, wildlife, birds and fish. For over 40 years, students have participated in hands-on applied learning in sampling, data collection, testing and analysis, laboratory and field experiences, simulated investigations, wilderness survival, and applied research.

Phase 1 of the SaskPolytech/SWF partnership was the renovation of the facilities with locally resourced materials and labour. Phase 2 was construction of a wet laboratory, which allows year-round study and applied research. Phase 3 will be the development of an Indigenous encampment and outdoor learning centre for Indigenous cultural experience and study, as well as a three-season greenhouse to focus on food security, and will use alternative energy sources. Students, guests and researchers have the opportunity develop skills and investigate environmental practice for effective management freshwater and forest ecosystems. The HCEARC is used as a base station for applied research applications in new technologies but is also a venue for traditional Indigenous cultural practices.
Objectives: 
We hope researchers, graduates and conservationists from all cultures benefit from the facility to contribute a body of knowledge on world sustainability issues, including climate change, water resources and environmental management. The facility's unique role as the only boreal forest field station in Saskatchewan means that it is well-positioned to support vital research on sustainability in a vulnerable region and society.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
Students access the HCEARC in the spring, fall and winter, which allows students to experience first-hand the demands of a career that requires working outdoors year-round in challenging conditions. New technologies include remote sensing with unmanned aerial vehicles, GIS, and sophisticated hydro acoustic equipment. Hydroacoustics broaden student’s capabilities to include sonar data and its applications in aquatic communities. The practical training and applied research provided in this field-based setting offers the most immediate and comprehensive route for delivery of leading-edge knowledge and skills. More traditional skill training includes winter survival, trapping, fishing and canoeing.
Size of academic audience: 
Several hundred students attend HCEARC annually in formal education activities from public school camps to post-secondary learning with Saskatchewan Polytechnic Natural Resource Technology programs.
Results: 
Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs include Integrated Resource Management, Resource and Environmental Law, Geographic Information Science for Resource Management, Civil Technologies: Water Resources, Recreation and Community Development and Environmental Engineering Technology.
Additional educational user groups of the HCEARC include:
• University of Saskatchewan, Global Institute for Water Security - research;
• Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Wildfire Management Branch - training;
• Nature Saskatchewan - training;
• Government of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada - research and training;
• Saskatchewan Co-Operative Association - youth camps;
• Prince Albert Model Forest and Saskatchewan First Nations - ‘Stewards for The Land’;
• Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation - youth conservation camps and women’s outdoor camps;
• North American Wildlife Technology Association - AGM.
Each of these groups attend the camp centre for training and education in sustainability, conservation and resource management or research. The centre allows visitors to connect with natural ecosystems in activities such as water resources (fishing, canoeing), forestry, wildlife (birding, large mammals) with hands-on experience. These visitors return to their communities with deeper understanding and value for natural systems and sustainability issues which threaten them. The laboratory facilitates data collection, sample analysis, applied research and hands-on learning for students, managers and investigators in the field of resource management.
Lessons learned: 
The HCEARC lab/classroom has enhanced the educational experience of hundreds of students, learners and researchers. It provides a venue to accommodate researchers from around the world to explore the boreal forest. What began as a basic forest camp that served the needs of students, also provides an outdoor learning experience that lasts a lifetime for visitors. We found that partnerships (Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and Saskatchewan Polytechnic) and inclusion of all stakeholders provides a much more robust effort for environmental learning, employment and sustainability.
Key messages: 
Ecologically speaking, we know that habitat is key for healthy populations. HCEARC provides a habitat for environmental education and understanding. Likewise, communities rich in partnerships/relationships are robust and more resilient to environmental challenge. HCEARC is a hub for those committed to conservation, education and sustainability.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
HCEARC was the host site for the 2019 RCE Saskatchewan ESD Recognition Event. Hosting the event required planning with the HCEARC which commenced in October 2018 culminating in the event on May 8, 2019.
The program for the event is available here:
https://www.rceskrecognitionevent.com/RCE%20program%202019.pdf
The full video of the event is available here:
https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/html5/html5lib/v2.69/mwEmbedFrame.php/p/2167551/uiconf_id/42585571/entry_id/0_pj2ivanw?wid=_2167551&iframeembed=true&playerId=kaltura_player_1558019443&entry_id=0_pj2ivanw&flashvars%5bstreamerType%5d=auto
HCEARC is a 2020 "Acknowledged Flagship Project" of RCE Saskatchewan through the Global RCE Awards program for its contribution to "SDG #15: Life on Land".
HCEARC is to be included in an upcoming UNU-IAS online publication featuring RCE biodiversity projects.
Funding: 
HCEARC operates as a partnership funded by Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. Third-party activities are supported by various funding sources, including the federally funded Stewards for the Land program.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Hannin Creek gate.jpg (182.95 KB) Hannin Creek Education & Applied Research Centre entry gate and lab building Sask Polytech
Image icon Hannin Creek bridge.jpg (242.57 KB) Bridge over Hannin Creek, one of the waterways accessed for applied learning Sask Polytech
Image icon Hannin Creek students.jpg (422.38 KB) Students from Sask Polytech Natural Resource Technology programs, in the outdoors Sask Polytech
References and reference materials: 
PDF icon Hannin Creek Flagship Project submission RCE SK Oct 2020.pdf
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Indirect
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Traditional Knowledge  
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No