Tantramar Wetlands Centre
Tantramar Wetlands Centre is located in the heart of the world-famous Tantramar Marshes and has been operating since 1997, when Tantramar Regional High School, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Service, New Brunswick’s Department of Natural Resources, the Town of Tantramar, and the Anglophone East school district collaborated to develop a 'centre of excellence' in wetlands education. Our unique indoor lab and outdoor 50 acre restored open water wetland offers students and visitors from throughout the Maritimes opportunities to experience the value of wetlands through innovative educational programming.
Hours: 9am-3pm (except for special events)
Seasons: Fall (September-December), Winter (January-March), Spring (April-June), Summer (special events only)
Email: TWC.weted@gmail.com, melanie.ball@nbed.nb.ca
Location: 223 Main Street, Sackville NB, E4L 3A7
Teacher and Educator TWC Program Brochure
Executive Director-Melanie Ball
Melanie Ball (B.Ed. Biology and Outdoor Education, M.Sc. Biology, B.Sc. Hons. Biology), is a teacher at Tantramar Regional High School and a former Wildlife Technician with the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Melanie organizes and runs field trips, develops education programing and research, supervises employees, mentors student volunteers and does the day to day running of TWC.
Education Technician-Austin Magstadt
Austin Magstadt works in the Tantramar Wetlands Centre as an education technician. He teaches classes, assists with field trips and helps with maintenance.
Austin has a true eye and passion for birds. He manages and takes care of the bird data in the wetlands along with keeping an eye on the bird count and teaching others how to do so as well.
Education Technician-Seth Thomas
Seth Thomas works as one of the Tantramar Wetlands Centres Education technicians. He helps with organising field trips and with classes such as Environmental science and science 9.
Seth is well versed in the world of creativity and has created the designs of the Tantramar Wetlands Centres merch (Flip Wear and Swag Bags). His creativity is endless and he aids in the expansion of the Wetlands Centres culture and design.
Education Technician-Ren
Data Technician-Kiersten Davis
Communication Coordinator-Jadyn Tower
Jadyn Tower works as a co-op student at the Tantramar Wetlands Centre. She posts on social media, edits the website, organizes events, and helps in prepping students participating in Envirothon with knowledge as a seasoned competitor.
This year Jadyn and Melanie coordinated with EOS to put together the Tantramar Wetlands Centres annual Holiday Thrift Exchange. People all around the community donated in support of the Wetlands and EOS, leading to a big turnout.
Education Technician-Ramona K.S
Ramona K.S works as one of the Tantramar Wetlands Centres Education Technicians. Ramona aids in the organisation of field trips and in monitoring the bird count.
Ramona, this year, has been helping translate documents into Mi'kmaq and creating a more culturally diverse environment for the Tantramar Wetlands Centre.
Mount Allison Intern
Student and Community Volunteers
TWC understands that kids learn best from other kids! Tantramar Regional High School students help us run our programs conduct research, and act as great examples of how all of us can be environmental leaders! Our current co-op and special interest students and their areas of interest include:
PASSIONATE PEOPLE:
Join Our Team
Funding Agencies
TWC is a non-profit charity and operates because of the generosity of the organizations below:
Anglophone East School District
Canada Summer Jobs
Duck's Unlimited Canada
Eastern Habitat Joint Venture
J.E.A. Crake Foundation
New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund
New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund
SEED
Tantramar Regional High School
TWC History
Agricultural Dykelands
The Tantramar Wetlands Centre is part of the area of land originally settled by the Acadians in the late 1600’s. Located on the edge of the world-famous Tantramar Marshes, the area was almost entirely salt marsh in pre-settlement time. The Acadians drained and dyked these marshes creating agricultural dykelands, used principally as pasture and for producing hay. In 1755, the local French Fort Beauséjour fell to the British and the Acadians were expelled from the area. English settlers occupied the vacant Acadian lands and further drained the marshes. Today, over 80% of the original pre-settlement wetlands have disappeared.
A Wetland Restored
In 1997, students from Tantramar Regional High School assisted Ducks Unlimited Canada in the construction of a freshwater wetland on the school’s property. This wetland restoration is the centerpiece of 50 acres of wildlife habitat being restored and managed as an outdoor classroom by TWC. Wide trails and pathways provide immediate safe access to the site and connect this natural laboratory to an indoor wetlab and work area equipped to handle large groups of visitors. An extensive inventory of field and laboratory equipment is available at the Centre for use by program participants. Whether the activity calls for hip waders or binoculars, TWC will provide the necessary tools to reveal the mystery and excitement wetlands offer.
Site
The centre-piece TWC is its 15 ha fresh-water wetland, designed specifically for teaching and learning about wetlands. The impoundment was constructed adjacent to the campus of Tantramar Regional High School, situated on the edge of the world famous Tantramar Marshes. Just steps away from the cattails is the centre’s 6,000 ft2 indoor facility that provides laboratory space and a fully wired teaching theatre to support the outdoor programs.
Mission
The Tantramar Wetlands Centre’s mission is to promote wetland conservation through effective public education aimed primarily at students and their teachers. Past human practices that have led to a loss of over half of our freshwater and 65% of our coastal wetlands and these vital habitats continue to disappear.
Education can be a powerful and effective tool to address these issues. As more individuals come to understand the ecological, social and economic contributions wetlands make (and what really cool places they are!!) not only do the consequences of wetland destruction become clear, but the opportunity and public interest in protecting these areas grows. The challenge is to provide the right kind of education programs – ones that will capture the minds and the hearts of the learners and form lasting, positive impressions concerning these important habitats. The Tantramar Wetlands Centre project is providing this type of experience through its ‘rubber boots’ approach to teaching and learning about wetlands and with the continued support of our partners it looks forward to doing so in the years ahead.
Long term, our goal is to become self-sustaining provider of outstanding environmental education programs for students, teachers, and the general public. Through ongoing habitat and site restoration and by building on its reputation for excellence, TWC strives to become a model of community-based, environmental education. To achieve these goals, TWC will continue to work with groups and individuals interested in promoting environmental stewardship through innovative and exciting educational experiences.
Board of Directors:
President/Chairperson-Melanie Ball
Vice President-n/a
Secretary-Melanie Ball
Treasurer-Nathaniel Miller
Executive Director-Melanie Ball
Barbara Brush
Alison Butcher
Susan Lafford
Nic MacMillan
Al Smith
Sean Ward
