Education and research have been two key components of MUN
Botanical Garden=s mission statement since its inception in
1971. Before the Garden was officially opened to the
public in 1977, staff and volunteers had been hard at work digging
flower gardens, building nature trails, and revegetating the
natural area, which was still badly scarred from a devastating fire
of 1962. Work was often hindered by the discovery of an
abandoned landfill, house foundation, septic tank and the
occasional car wreck.
In 1971, despite the fact that the grounds were anything but
beautiful and the field centre was still just a dream, a
curriculum-based school visit program was conceived. School
children and their teachers started what has now grown to a
tradition of visiting the Botanical Garden every spring and fall,
to enhance the learning in the classroom and to assist teachers in
the presentation of the Newfoundland and Labrador school
curriculum. Programs for youth groups, such as the Girl
Guides and Boy Scouts were soon to follow. At the same time,
local groups, such as the Newfoundland Horticultural Society and
the Natural History Society worked with and contributed to the
Garden, establishing relationships that are strong to this day.
Over the years, our links to the community have continued to grow
strong. Workshops in gardening, Newfoundland natural history,
conservation and art have been offered by Garden staff, volunteers
and local experts. These programs are as popular today as
they were over 30 years ago. Indeed, the Sunday Morning
Birdwatch program, led by volunteer Dr. Howard Clase, President of
the Friends of the Garden, originated before the Garden officially
came to be, making Howard our most senior teacher. Howard
generously passes on his knowledge each season, assisting with the
training of MUN students employed at the Garden in the areas of
education, research, visitor services, grounds maintenance,
gardening and more.
This year, a full schedule of workshops, lectures, hikes and tours
is planned. Every Sunday, rain or shine, families are invited
to hike a nature trail with education staff, watch a puppet show,
play games, and create crafts while learning about our local
natural history. The popular Parent & Tot program will be
expanded to six sessions this spring and fall. The highly popular
Junior Naturalist program will operate daily during the
summer. Special events such as our Seniors= Day, Open House,
Doors Open and Potato Festival entertain and educate hundreds of
people, while assisting such worthwhile causes as the Community
Food Sharing Association.
In 2005, our link to the community has expanded not only to
our vast province, but to the world! Thanks to the financial
assistance of the "Partnership for Plants in Canada" program,
developed in partnership with Botanic Gardens Conservation
International and HSBC Holdings, the Garden has created this new
website. The Newfoundland and Labrador Native Plant
Biodiversity Hub concentrates on our local flora, with a focus on
biodiversity and plant conservation. Further links to other
organizations performing similar work is also a component. It
is our hope that through our new website, our research and
educational activities and concepts will be accessible to
all. Be sure to check back to this site periodically, as we
will continue to update and expand our content on a regular
basis.
Anne Madden,
Education Coordinator
MUN Botanical Garden
