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Join us this fall for our first ever Wildlife EXPO!
Our Wildlife EXPO will bring ACTWS members together with their partners and families for a weekend of fun, camping, and workshops where you can learn new things or refine your skills. The EXPO offers great opportunities for networking and to share some of the wildlife work being done across Alberta.
Location: Snow Creek PRA Group Campground
Dates: September 10 – 12
From the evening of Friday September 10 to the afternoon of Sunday September 12, the ACTWS will host members at an Alberta Parks group campground. Here’s our basic agenda:
Friday September 10 – arrival and camp set-up; fireside chats and s’mores.
Saturday September 11 – workshops in the morning and afternoon, free time in between; fireside chats and s’mores.
Sunday September 12 – camp take down; optional hike in the area on your way home.
More details will be forthcoming over the summer, so stay tuned to this page.
Registration pays for all camping and workshop fees, and evening s’mores!
All are welcome! Bring your partner/spouse and kids to join you for a great weekend! Go to the shop below to buy your tickets today.
Workshop details will be refined as we go through August and more workshops will be added. Keep checking this page for updates.
Using Remote Cameras
This workshop will teach you the fundamentals of designing a remote camera study and the basic field skills needed to implement such a project. The workshop will cover:
By the end of the workshop, attendees will have a better understanding of the utility of remote cameras and the knowledge to explore the potential of using cameras in their own research.
Your host: Sean Konkolics has a diverse background in wildlife research and its application to real-world environmental management. During his career, Sean has worked with many interesting species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise, black bear, Canada lynx, and woodland caribou. He has helped design and manage large remote camera datasets to explore predator occupancy, scavenging dynamics, burrow activity, habitat use, and coat-color mismatch. Having completed his master’s at the University of Alberta and currently working at the ABMI, Sean is an active member of the Alberta wildlife community and we are excited to have his expertise at the ACTWS EXPO.
Wildlife Photography
In this workshop, Dragomir will share his experiences, mistakes made, and lessons and tricks learned during his times enjoying and taking wildlife and landscape photos. This workshop is for beginner and intermediate level photographers.
This workshop will focus on:
Get ready to learn some new ways to take amazing images that you are going to cherish and proudly display on your wall or media posts.
Your host: Dragomir Vujnovic has been working for decades in conservation, wildlife biology and protected area management, which has provided him with great opportunities and solid knowledge base about photographing different subjects. As we live in a world and time when human activities heavily impact the natural world, Dragomir has learned and promotes ethical photography methods, especially focusing on photography of rare and endangered wildlife.
Recreation Planning
Outdoor recreation in Alberta is on the rise and can have an array of impacts on wildlife and their habitats. Recreation planning that is strategic, holistic, and interdisciplinary is becoming more and more essential. This workshop will cover:
Learn how to conduct interdisciplinary research that can inform recreation management and legislation to improve experiences for Albertans and our wildlife. Participants will leave this workshop with a broad understanding of the complexity of recreation planning, and tangible management ideas to address multiple objectives.
“Rooted in Wisdom: Deer Aging Techniques”
Embark on a journey of precision and insight with the Lethbridge College Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL) at the ACTWS Conference in Jasper! Join our workshop, ‘Rooted in Wisdom: Deer Aging Techniques‘, to explore the secrets hidden within wildlife teeth. Explore both the field technique of ‘tooth eruption and wear’ and the laboratory marvel of ‘cementum analysis’ – both dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of ungulate ages. Delve into the heart of these techniques, comparing their accuracy and precision, with a revelation of the superior accuracy of cementum analysis. Learn the art of tooth extraction and witness the seamless process of submitting your own wildlife teeth to the WAL for aging through cementum analysis. Elevate your understanding of deer populations and contribute to the advancement of wildlife knowledge and bolster your resume with applied experience. Participants will gain hands-on familiarity with the field technique of jaw aging, and the lab process of tooth extraction, inspection, preparation, and cementum analysis. Join us in Jasper for a transformative experience at the intersection of field expertise and cutting-edge laboratory analysis!
Facilitated by the Wildlife Analytics Lab, Lethbridge College
Cost: $15
Professional refers to someone who works with wildlife and/or their habitats in a professional setting.
In this context, it is not in reference to a legal professional designation.
