A Rocha Manitoba

Join A Rocha at three different locations in Winnipeg for a week of summer fun on the theme of "Curious Curators"! This year our focus will be on collecting and curating a tiny nature museum. We’ll spend our week exploring different parts of the natural world and discovering all we can about the things we create and collect. A Rocha camps always include lots of chances to play games, create art, make and eat snacks, meet new friends, go on field trips, and opportunities to explore and discover outside. Sliding scale pricing starts at just $100/week! Register at arocha.ca/mbdaycamps

The clothes we wear are responsible for ten percent of the world's carbon emissions and the second greatest use of water. Repairing and repurposing our clothes can extend their lifetime and greatly reduce environmental impact.
So we're hosting a mending workshop! WildRoots staff, Seika, will walk us through some basic Sashiko techniques that you can use on your own clothes!
https://arocha.ca/event/sashiko-the-art-of-japanese-mending-workshop-winnipeg-mb/

Our first summer workshop was a big success! We learned all about book binding, and got the chance to make our own booklets using one of the binding techniques. Then Ellis taught us a basic nature journalling technique called "I notice... I wonder... It reminds me of..." and we got to practice that in our new books. Stay tuned for the next workshop on June 16, all about the Japanese practice of sashiko, or visible mending!

Next Tuesday is Bike to Work Day 2026. Cycle by the pit stop that we are co-hosting with the Diocese of Rupert's Land at the corner of Ethelbert St and Westminster Ave between 6:30 and 9:00 am for a breakfast treat!

Despite a bit of drizzle, we had a fantastic morning on Saturday planting trees in George Heshka Park. We planted 430 trees! Thank you to all who came out to join us in creating more habitat for the birds and animals that make this space their home too. The next planting day will be on June 6th at Bruce Park. Let us know if you or your church would like to participate!

Having meals together is a common feature in church events and gatherings of all sorts. There are many ways from food purchasing to preparation, even in the set up of the meal times, in which we can practise care of God’s creation collectively. Join us for an earthkeeping idea exchange as we swap stories and imagine new possibilities of congregational earthkeeping that encourage and inspire.

Sign up at arocha.ca/events

Here are just a few of our friends at the Boreal Ecology Centre! Biodiversity is the foundation of life on this planet, yet over a million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction due to pollution, climate change, and habitat loss. Our work to protect ecosystems and restore habitat locally, can have ripple effects that reach far beyond our property lines and borders.

Today for you are invited to look and learn more about biodiversity in your area and to participate in actions to protect nature, such A Rocha's tree planting days on March 23 and June 6.

A Rocha's first summer workshop is coming up next week on Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00 pm at Munson Park and you're invited!

We'll be learning how to do some simple book binding, making our own booklets, and then Ellis, our Environmental Education Coordinator, will walk us through how to start nature journalling.

It's a practice to help us pay attention to the world around us in an age of digital distraction.

All supplies will be provided, and all ages are welcome! (Kids should come with an adult)
Register here: https://arocha.ca/event/nature-journaling-101-winnipeg-mb/

The month of May is kind of like Christmas in the Manitoba office because we get the gift of our WildRoots Summer Workers finally joining us! These three intrepid conservationists will be working with us this summer growing fresh veggies, monitoring the forest at the Boreal Ecology Centre, and leading our day camp programming. To learn more about Seika, Tai, and Michelle, check out our lastest blog post: https://arocha.ca/introducing-the-manitoba-wildroots-team-of-2026/

We had a fantastic (though a little chilly!) John Stott Birding Day on Saturday May 9. We had a group in the city and one out at the Boreal Ecology Centre and saw a total of 47 species. This is a little lower than usual, but I think the cold weather kept some of the birds away. Thanks to Kristen McLean for these fabulous shots of an Eastern Bluebird, American Kestral, and Broad-winged Hawk.