Northern Lights Forest Education Society

Northern Lights Forest Education Society Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Northern Lights Forest Education Society, Nonprofit Organization, Box 414, High Level, AB.

The NLFES represents a non-profit group of organizations and individuals committed to enhancing the forests for the benefit of communities in Northwest Alberta.

As we approach the end of camping season, we wanted to take a moment to remind everyone about proper wildlife etiquette ...
09/02/2026

As we approach the end of camping season, we wanted to take a moment to remind everyone about proper wildlife etiquette while camping and spending time in the Boreal.

During our Machesis camping trip, we had a few close encounters with bears around the campsites. Fish and Wildlife set a bear trap and caught a large male bear who had become a little too comfortable around the campground.

It can be difficult for us, as humans, to remember that wildlife experiences the world very differently than we do. Bears and other animals have incredibly strong senses of smell and can detect food and other interesting scents from much farther away than we can.

That’s why it’s so important to keep all food securely stored and never leave food or food-scented items unattended. And remember, it’s not just food! Things like camp stoves, coolers, dishes, garbage, and other items that carry food smells can also attract wildlife.

Wildlife encounters are an incredible part of spending time in the Boreal, but keeping those encounters wild and respectful is up to all of us.

Stewardship is everyone’s job.
Let’s do our part, camp responsibly, and help keep both people and wildlife safe!

**Zama City Adventure Campout, September 4-6th, is more than a weekend away — it’s a chance to experience the boreal for...
09/01/2026

**Zama City Adventure Campout, September 4-6th, is more than a weekend away — it’s a chance to experience the boreal forest with your hands, your eyes, your camera, your appetite and a little northern curiosity!**
Find the schedule of events for the weekend! If you have one, bring your **telescope** for stargazing under the Zama night sky. Bring your **camera** and get ready for a forest trek filled with foraging, photography and the chance to discover what’s growing, flying, crawling and living all around us.
Come hungry, because some of the best parts of the weekend happen around the fire! You’ll help **prepare and cook food outdoors**, try pie iron creations, enjoy moosemeat and bannock, build your own foil-pack supper, dig into a corn boil and finish the night with **S’Mores Under the Spruce**. 🔥🌽
There will be hands-on crafts inspired by the **Zama boreal forest and northern life**, including beading, wool crafts, bison painting kits, fish scale art, birch bark canoe crafts and mini moose calls. Add in fireside storytelling, a gratitude walk, dragonflies and Mother Earth, boreal trivia, coffee around camp and plenty of time to simply enjoy being outside.
This weekend is about **doing**, not just watching — walking the woods, creating, cooking, learning, sharing stories and experiencing a little piece of what makes life in the North so special.
🏕️ **We still have a few campsites available!** If you're a local you won't need a campsite, so just come down and join in with the Adventures!
Book your site at **[https://letscamp.ca/camps/zamacity](https://letscamp.ca/camps/zamacity)** and use promo code **ADVENTURE** to receive a discount on your **Friday and Saturday night campsite bookings**.
Bring your boots. Bring your camera. Bring your telescope. **Bring your sense of adventure, get ready to unplug and enjoy.** 🌲✨
Partnership between the Zama Recreation Society and the Northern Lights Forest Education Society along with our forestry partners and Alberta Culture Days
**Zama City Adventure Campout**
🌲 *Discover • Experience • Celebrate*
🔥 *Celebrate in the Boreal Forest*

🫎 Have you noticed fresh rub marks on trees in the boreal forest?By late August, a bull moose’s antlers have nearly fini...
08/28/2026

🫎 Have you noticed fresh rub marks on trees in the boreal forest?

By late August, a bull moose’s antlers have nearly finished growing. Throughout the summer, they are covered in a soft layer called velvet, which carries blood and nutrients to the developing antlers.

Once the antlers are fully grown, the velvet begins to dry and peel away. Bulls rub their antlers against trees and shrubs to help remove it—sometimes leaving behind scraped bark or small pieces of velvet!

This seasonal change also signals that fall is approaching and the moose are beginning to prepare for the upcoming rut.

If you’re exploring the Mackenzie Region, keep an eye out for signs of antler rubbing—but always admire moose from a safe and respectful distance. Their behaviour can become less predictable as breeding season approaches.

Have you spotted any fresh antler rubs in the forest lately? 🌲

🍄 Something fascinating is appearing across the forest floor!Late-summer rain, cooler nights and damp forest conditions ...
08/26/2026

🍄 Something fascinating is appearing across the forest floor!

Late-summer rain, cooler nights and damp forest conditions create the perfect opportunity for mushrooms to begin popping up throughout the boreal forest. Look closely around fallen logs, beneath the trees and among the moss—you may be surprised by the variety of colours, shapes and sizes you discover.

While we often think of mushrooms as something to forage, the part we see above ground is only the fruiting body of a much larger fungal network. Fungi play an essential role in the forest by breaking down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil and forming important relationships with trees and other plants. 🌲

Next time you’re exploring, slow down and see how many different mushrooms you can spot. Take only photographs and share your most interesting finds with us in the comments! 📸

⚠️ Never eat a wild mushroom unless it has been positively identified as edible by a qualified local expert. A photograph, app or social media post is not enough to confirm that a mushroom is safe.

🌲 Monday Morning Forest Check-In! 🌲Did you spend any time exploring the boreal forest this weekend? Maybe you hit the tr...
08/24/2026

🌲 Monday Morning Forest Check-In! 🌲

Did you spend any time exploring the boreal forest this weekend? Maybe you hit the trails, went camping or fishing, gathered berries, spotted some wildlife, or simply enjoyed a quiet moment surrounded by nature.

We’d love to see what you discovered! Share your weekend photos in the comments and tell us where your boreal adventures took you. 📸👇

The best classrooms don't always have 4 walls, sometimes they are made from sticks and tarps! Learning how to thrive in ...
08/20/2026

The best classrooms don't always have 4 walls, sometimes they are made from sticks and tarps! Learning how to thrive in the wild at Hutch Lake with the Friendship Centre camp kiddos.

This campout is going to be a so much fun!
08/20/2026

This campout is going to be a so much fun!

🦫 While we’re soaking up the final weeks of summer, beavers in the boreal forest are already preparing for winter!Beaver...
08/19/2026

🦫 While we’re soaking up the final weeks of summer, beavers in the boreal forest are already preparing for winter!

Beavers don’t hibernate, so before ponds and waterways freeze, they begin collecting branches and twigs from favourite foods such as willow, aspen and birch. They anchor this food underwater near their lodge, creating a winter pantry known as a food cache.

Once the ice forms, beavers can safely swim beneath it, retrieve branches from their cache and carry them back to the lodge to eat. No trip to the grocery store required!

If you’re exploring the forest this fall, watch for piles of freshly cut branches near a beaver lodge. You may be looking at a winter food supply in the making!

Have you ever spotted a beaver—or signs of one—near a local pond or waterway? 🪵🌲

🌲 Heading into the forest? Pack for more than the plan.Even a short adventure can take an unexpected turn. Before headin...
08/17/2026

🌲 Heading into the forest? Pack for more than the plan.

Even a short adventure can take an unexpected turn. Before heading into Northern Alberta’s boreal forest, make sure your pack includes:

💧 Plenty of drinking water and a backup purification method
🥪 Extra food or high-energy snacks
🧥 Weather-appropriate layers and rain protection
🩹 A basic first-aid kit and personal medications
🗺️ A map and compass—don’t rely solely on cell service
📱 A fully charged phone and portable power bank
🔦 A flashlight or headlamp
📣 A whistle for signalling
🪲 Insect repellent and sun protection
🧣 An emergency blanket or shelter
🐻 Bear spray kept somewhere easily accessible—and the knowledge to use it safely

Before you leave, check the weather and local conditions, tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return.

A safe day in the forest begins before you reach the trail. Pack thoughtfully, explore responsibly and leave prepared for the unexpected.

What’s one item you never head into the forest without?

🎶🌲 Have you ever stopped to listen to the forest?By late summer, the boreal forest has developed a soundtrack all its ow...
08/14/2026

🎶🌲 Have you ever stopped to listen to the forest?

By late summer, the boreal forest has developed a soundtrack all its own. Ravens call overhead, woodpeckers tap against tree trunks, insects hum in the warm afternoon sun, and leaves rustle as the first hints of fall move through the canopy.

Near wetlands, you may hear frogs calling or waterfowl gathering as they prepare for the changing season. Even the sudden quiet between sounds is part of the experience.

The next time you’re outdoors, pause for one full minute. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and count how many different forest sounds you can hear.

What would be on the soundtrack of your favourite forest place? Share it with us in the comments! 🎧🍃

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Box 414
High Level, AB
T0H1Z0

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