When it comes to volunteerism, there are few as well versed on what it takes to get people fired up and wanting to be involved than Fred Blackstein.
Fred has had his hands in countless projects in the Pembroke and Valley area for decades and this one is especially near and dear to him as an avid outdoorsman. As Co-Chair of the Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre, located off Bolger Rd. in North Algona-Wilberforce, Fred oversees a very special piece of local land that has remained largely untouched since the beginning of time:
The land had been owned by The Shaw Lumber Company who just celebrated their 175th anniversary. 150 acres of the total 175 was donated to the Shaw Woods Education Centre. Blackstein describes the land which is open for public enjoyment with nothing short of a gleam in his eye:
Their mission statement pretty much sums up the spirit of the place and gives visitors a sense as to what it’s really all about:
“To foster an ethic of responsible environmental stewardship, by providing educational programming and self-directed learning to educational groups, community organizations and the public at large. In conjunction with the foregoing, to teach sustainable forestry practices which manage the social, economic and ecological values provided by forests.”
What makes this especially worthwhile for Blackstein is that it is the perfect educational experience available to anyone who wants to learn more about the planet and why it’s preservation is absolutely essential:
There is never any charge or fees of any kind and the space is available whenever folks want to enjoy a prefect example of Valley natural space. Classroom space is onsite as are restrooms and a variety of other installations to make your visit unique.
Fred leaves us with a message that he made clear is very important to convey:
Anyone interested visiting the Shaw Woods site or wanting to volunteer is encouraged to go to their FaceBook page at the link below or reach out to Fred personally at 613-635-2256 or by email at fblackstein@live.com.
https://www.facebook.com/ShawWoodsOEC/
(Written By: Richard Evans)
