Clare Butterfly, an Indigenous knowledge keeper, will be at Ellis Nature Centre on Saturday, July 27 to teach two hand drum creation workshops. With Clare’s guidance, participants will get to make their own hand drum using materials that Clare has harvested for the workshop. This workshop is beginner friendly and anyone aged 12+ is welcome to participate. Younger children are also welcome to participate so long as an adult is accompanying them to help them make their drum. Spots are limited to 15 people per session.

Let’s go Garage “Sale-ing” at St. Joseph High School

We open at 10 am - closing at 7 pm so you can get some treasure shopping in after work!

As you know we are not Government funded and rely on various fundraisers like our Ultimate Garage Sale to help us care for the animals in our care here at CA Humane.

This year we are at a NEW location!
St. Joseph High School in the Fieldhouse! 2700-67 Street ~ Red Deer

We have added another hour for your shopping convenience we are open 10 am to 7 pm

Bring your wagon to shop over 20,000 square feet of items.

And if you have been before – you know the amazing items that get donated to our sale! 

For more information 

Give us a call 403.342.7722 ext. 207

Let’s go Garage “Sale-ing” at St. Joseph High School

Get ready to shop Red Deer our Ultimate Garage Sale 

We open at 10 am - closing at 6 pm

As you know we are not Government funded and rely on various fundraisers like our Ultimate Garage Sale to help us care for the animals in our care here at CA Humane.

This year we are at a NEW location!
St. Joseph High School in the Fieldhouse! 2700-67 Street ~ Red Deer

Clare Butterfly, an Indigenous knowledge keeper, will be at Ellis Nature Centre on Saturday, July 27 to teach two hand drum creation workshops. With Clare’s guidance, participants will get to make their own hand drum using materials that Clare has harvested for the workshop. This workshop is beginner friendly and anyone aged 12+ is welcome to participate. Younger children are also welcome to participate so long as an adult is accompanying them to help them make their drum. Spots are limited to 15 people per session.

Join Ellis Nature Centre for an inside look at the process of owning honey bees! In this one and a half hour program, you’ll work alongside our bee keepers to remove the honey combs from our hives & then harvest the honey from them. If you want an inside look at a bee hive & the work of bee keepers, this is the session for you! Proper equipment, including protective gear, will be provided. All participants will even get to take a small jar of honey home with them! All ages are welcome, only $5 per person. Pre-registration is required as spots are limited.

50% off Garage Sale at St. Joseph High School

We open at 10 am - closing at 3 pm 

Help us clear out all the items!

As you know we are not Government funded and rely on various fundraisers like our Ultimate Garage Sale to help us care for the animals in our care here at CA Humane. 

This year we are at a NEW location!
St. Joseph High School in the Fieldhouse! 2700-67 Street ~ Red Deer

Bring your stuffed animal, your picnic, and your smile to the 2^nd annual A.L.W.A.Y.S. Companion Animal Rescue Teddy Bear Picnic, hosted at Sunnybrook Farm Museum, 2879 Botterill Cres, Red Deer, AB T4R 0T9 on Sunday, July 28 from 11:00am-4:00pm.

These fun filled activities are included in the amazing Admission of just $5 per person or $15/family:

• Facepainting
• Train Rides
• Live Music
• Bubble Station
• Craft Station & Colouring Station
• Selfie Station
• Story Corner
• Backyard Games
• Farm Animals
• Scavenger Hunt – winner will be announced after the event

For more details of the event contact: alwaysanimalrescue@gmail.com

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about Bees on July 30 from 2-3pm! We’ll learn about bees, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre for Junior Naturalist day camp on July 31 from 9am-3pm! This camp will have an outdoors and hands-on focus. We’ll also spend more time exploring the birds we have on our site during this day.

The fee for the camp is $30 per child and is open to children aged 7-12. Please note that we do allow drop-off beginning at 8:30am and pick-up until 3:30pm, but there will not be direct instruction at this time.

An email with the information you need to prepare your camper will be sent 1 week before the camp.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about Badgers on August 1 from 11am-12pm! We’ll learn about Badgers, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Join us at Timberlands Coop in Red Deer for a BBQ fundraiser on Thursday, August 1st, between noon to 6 pm. Donations will be matched by Scotiabank (up to $3,000). Funds raised will go towards our Healthy Relationships Program. Hope to see you there!

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about Badgers on August 1 from 2-3pm! We’ll learn about Badgers, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre for Junior Naturalist day camp on August 2 from 9am-3pm! This camp will have an outdoors and hands-on focus. We’ll also spend more time exploring nature art during this day.

The fee for the camp is $30 per child and is open to children aged 7-12. Please note that we do allow drop-off beginning at 8:30am and pick-up until 3:30pm, but there will not be direct instruction at this time.

An email with the information you need to prepare your camper will be sent 1 week before the camp.

Join the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery on August 5, 2024 in celebration of Alberta’s heritage with a vibrant community event featuring food trucks, live entertainment, a charming artisan market and old-time games and contests for all ages!

This all ages event is free to attend and will take place in Heritage Square next to the museum. In the event of inclement weather, activities will move indoors to the museum.

For full details, please visit our website.

Kentwood Alliance Church invites children aged 5-12 for four days of Free Vacation Bible school from August 6 to August 9th, 2024 at Kentwood Alliance Church located at 4 Kennedy Drive, Red Deer.

From 9 a.m. To 12 p.m., children will be led by teachers from Child Evangelism Fellowship in a voyage of discovery concluding with a Friday celebration and barbeque.  

Applications will be available via email from timlasiuta@hotmail.com, or online registration at 5DAYCLUBS.COM.  Contact Kentwood Alliance Church at 403-347-9600 for more information.

Make a Joyful Noise

United Kids Camp 2024

August 6 - 8     9 AM- noon

Gaetz United Church

Cost- By Donation . Tax receipts issued for donations over  $25

Join us as we celebrate creating harmony within God's Diverse world through games, arts & crafts, bible stories and music. All are welcome 

For more information or to register contact Gaetz United Church 403-347-2244 or Sunnybrook United Church 403-347-6073. Registration forms available at both church offices .

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about snowshoe hares on August 6 from 11am-12pm! We’ll learn about snowshoe hares, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about snowshoe hares on August 6 from 2-3pm! We’ll learn about snowshoe hares, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre for Junior Naturalist day camp on August 7 from 9am-3pm! This camp will have an outdoors and hands-on focus. We’ll also spend more time exploring Indigenous knowledge about land & nature during this day.

The fee for the camp is $30 per child and is open to children aged 7-12. Please note that we do allow drop-off beginning at 8:30am and pick-up until 3:30pm, but there will not be direct instruction at this time.

An email with the information you need to prepare your camper will be sent 1 week before the camp.

Kentwood Alliance Church invites children aged 5-12 for four days of Free Vacation Bible school from August 6 to August 9th, 2024 at Kentwood Alliance Church located at 4 Kennedy Drive, Red Deer.

From 9 a.m. To 12 p.m., children will be led by teachers from Child Evangelism Fellowship in a voyage of discovery concluding with a Friday celebration and barbeque.  

Applications will be available via email from timlasiuta@hotmail.com, or online registration at 5DAYCLUBS.COM.  Contact Kentwood Alliance Church at 403-347-9600 for more information.

Make a Joyful Noise

United Kids Camp 2024

August 6 - 8     9 AM- noon

Gaetz United Church

Cost- By Donation . Tax receipts issued for donations over  $25

Join us as we celebrate creating harmony within God's Diverse world through games, arts & crafts, bible stories and music. All are welcome 

For more information or to register contact Gaetz United Church 403-347-2244 or Sunnybrook United Church 403-347-6073. Registration forms available at both church offices .

Kentwood Alliance Church invites children aged 5-12 for four days of Free Vacation Bible school from August 6 to August 9th, 2024 at Kentwood Alliance Church located at 4 Kennedy Drive, Red Deer.

From 9 a.m. To 12 p.m., children will be led by teachers from Child Evangelism Fellowship in a voyage of discovery concluding with a Friday celebration and barbeque.  

Applications will be available via email from timlasiuta@hotmail.com, or online registration at 5DAYCLUBS.COM.  Contact Kentwood Alliance Church at 403-347-9600 for more information.

Make a Joyful Noise

United Kids Camp 2024

August 6 - 8     9 AM- noon

Gaetz United Church

Cost- By Donation . Tax receipts issued for donations over  $25

Join us as we celebrate creating harmony within God's Diverse world through games, arts & crafts, bible stories and music. All are welcome 

For more information or to register contact Gaetz United Church 403-347-2244 or Sunnybrook United Church 403-347-6073. Registration forms available at both church offices .

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about Chickens on August 8 from 11am-12pm! We’ll learn about Chickens, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about Chickens on August 8 from 2-3pm! We’ll learn about Chickens, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre for Junior Naturalist day camp on August 9 from 9am-3pm! This camp will have an outdoors and hands-on focus. We’ll also spend more time exploring our nature trails during this day.

The fee for the camp is $30 per child and is open to children aged 7-12. Please note that we do allow drop-off beginning at 8:30am and pick-up until 3:30pm, but there will not be direct instruction at this time.

An email with the information you need to prepare your camper will be sent 1 week before the camp.

Kentwood Alliance Church invites children aged 5-12 for four days of Free Vacation Bible school from August 6 to August 9th, 2024 at Kentwood Alliance Church located at 4 Kennedy Drive, Red Deer.

From 9 a.m. To 12 p.m., children will be led by teachers from Child Evangelism Fellowship in a voyage of discovery concluding with a Friday celebration and barbeque.  

Applications will be available via email from timlasiuta@hotmail.com, or online registration at 5DAYCLUBS.COM.  Contact Kentwood Alliance Church at 403-347-9600 for more information.

A day dedicated to insects!

This all-day event on August 10th is full of activities and interactive learning.  Come explore and learn all about the beautiful and wondrous world of bugs!  These tiny creatures are essential part of our ecosystems and make up the diet of mountain bluebirds, purple martins and many other birds.

Guest entomologists including John Acorn, a.k.a. “The Nature Nut”, share their expertise and show off their collections of butterflies, beetles and more.  

Fun for all ages! Go on a bug hunt, a butterfly walk, use nets to find aquatic invertebrate in the pond and learn about native bees and pollinators! 

Send your kids for a whimsical village art workshop with Ellis Nature Centre & local artist Sally Towers-Sybblis!

Discover the art of whimsy by learning how to draw quaint buildings, rolling hills, trees, streets and sidewalks to create an entire whimsical village scene. Learn how to use water soluble markers to infuse bold bright colors into your village painting. This class is for children & youth aged 8-17. The workshop will take place on Sunday, August 11 from 10am-12pm. Only $45 per person & 20 spots available.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre for a whimsical village art workshop with local artist Sally Towers-Sybblis!

Discover the art of whimsy by learning how to draw quaint buildings, rolling hills, trees, streets and sidewalks to create an entire whimsical village scene. Learn how to use water soluble markers to infuse bold bright colors into your village painting. This class is for adults. The workshop will take place on Sunday, August 11 from 1-4pm. Only $45 per person & 20 spots available.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about Owls on August 13 from 11am-12pm! We’ll learn about Owls, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about Owls on August 13 from 2-3pm! We’ll learn about Owls, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre for Junior Naturalist day camp on August 14 from 9am-3pm! This camp will have an outdoors and hands-on focus. This camp is designed to be sensory friendly with smaller group sizes and engagement in activities on the quieter areas of our site.

The fee for the camp is $30 per child and is open to children aged 7-12. Please note that we do allow drop-off beginning at 8:30am and pick-up until 3:30pm, but there will not be direct instruction at this time.

An email with the information you need to prepare your camper will be sent 1 week before the camp.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre for an AWE Walk on August 14 from 11am-12pm! The purpose of an AWE Walk is to walk in a place of meaning & beauty, where your sole task is to encounter something that amazes you, be it big or small. The leader of our walk will cue people to purposely engage in the nature around them as they lead the walk around our site. This event is free but pre-reg is encouraged. Only 10 spots available!

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about Squirrels on August 15 from 11am-12pm! We’ll learn about Squirrels, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre to learn all about Squirrels on August 15 from 2-3PM! We’ll learn about Squirrels, do a craft, read books, and of course explore our site to look for them. This program is for children 3-6 years of age and we request parents accompany them for the program. Cost is $8 per child.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre for Junior Naturalist day camp on August 16 from 9am-3pm! This camp will have an outdoors and hands-on focus. We’ll also spend more time looking for birds on our site during this day.

The fee for the camp is $30 per child and is open to children aged 7-12. Please note that we do allow drop-off beginning at 8:30am and pick-up until 3:30pm, but there will not be direct instruction at this time.

An email with the information you need to prepare your camper will be sent 1 week before the camp.

Medicine River Wildlife Centre will be visiting Ellis Nature Centre on Saturday, August 16 from 11am-12pm! During their time here, they’ll give a presentation about the work they do & what wildlife rehabilitation is. They’ll also be bringing their educational owl Olive to assist in the presentation.

This event is free, but pre-registration is encouraged & donations for Medicine River & Ellis Nature Centre will be gladly accepted at the event. Medicine River will also be bringing copies of their Otis the Owl book to sell. Please reserve a spot for each person who will be attending, both children & adults.

Free BBQ, live music, Tipi raising & backpacks stuffed with school supplies. 

Visit Ellis Nature Centre as we welcome Daisy & Dill for a Harvest Workshop on Sunday, August 18 from 1-3pm! In this workshop, we’ll cover different harvesting techniques as folks prepare to head into the harvest season. This will include how to harvest your garden, store your harvest, and different preservation techniques.

In addition to a presentation, there will be a hands-on demonstration in one of our gardens. The fee for this workshop is $15 per person & only 25 spots are available.

Join us for the Central Alberta Treasures Market at the Red Deer Resort & Casino,
featuring Local Makers, Bakers, Artisans & More!

Visit Ellis Nature Centre with host Gavin McKinnon for an evening dinner & birding walk on Saturday, August 24 from 7-8:30pm.

We’ll start the night with a dinner prepared by the Ellis Nature Centre cafe, where folks can ask Gavin their questions about birding, his experiences, and more. After dinner, Gavin will lead the group on an evening birding walk around our site, giving tips about best practices for birding in the evening.

The fee for this event is $50, which covers dinner & the fee for the walk. There are only 15 spots available, so don’t wait to register.

Visit Ellis Nature Centre with host Albertan author, biologist, & conservationist Lorne Fitch for a discussion of his book “Streams of Consequence”. Lorne will be visiting on Sunday, August 25 from 11am-12pm to host a discussion of his book & the insights he gained about conservation as a biologist in Alberta for decades. This talk is free! Copies of Lorne’s book will be available for purchase & he’ll host a book signing after the talk.

Bottle Drive to raise funds for Terry Fox Foundation and Cancer Research.

T-shirts for sale and donations gratefully accepted.

Saturday, September 7, 2024 - 10:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m.

Canadian Tire South.

Lacombe Museum’s 3rd Annual Harvest Dinner Fundraising Gala with Ellis Nature Centre

September 7 @ 5:45 pm – 10:00 pm

Join us for an unforgettable evening of culinary delights at the 2024 Harvest Dinner Fundraising Gala, presented by and to benefit the Lacombe Museum and Ellis Nature Centre. This exclusive fundraising event promises an extraordinary farm-to-fork experience, featuring Guest Chefs from Lacombe & District.

Savour locally sourced ingredients, expertly crafted into delectable dishes, while raising a glass in celebration of Lacombe’s rich history and heritage. Your support will benefit both the Lacombe Museum and Ellis Nature Centre, contributing to the preservation and interpretation of our local culture.

Together, let’s make the 2024 Harvest Dinner Fundraising Gala an event to remember.

The Annual Terry Fox Run takes place Sunday, September 15, 2024 at Gateway Chrisitan School.  Run, walk, wheel for Cancer Research.  Family event - no registration fee required.  Register on-line at www.terryfox.org.

Right now there are over 45 wishes waiting in Central Alberta - we need your help to grant them.

WHAT IS THE HEROES CHALLENGE?

Corporate & Community Teams of 5 adults will participate in exciting challenges at The Dome in Red Deer. Challenges run the gamut from easy activities like minute-to-win-it games and relay races to more sports themed activities utilizing the batting cages, soccer field and more! Each completed challenge earns your team points to win the day. Each team will be paired with a wish kid captain to inspire your journey. Lunch will be provided and the day wraps up with a celebration at Bo's Bar & Stage where prizes will be awarded.

Girls In Aviation Day is a FREE event for the community to learn more about the aviation industry.

At Girls in Aviation Day you can expect to see an array of pilots, aircraft, local companies, colleges, and aviation schools, along with numerous professionals present to engage in conversations about aviation careers, aiming to ignite the aspirations of upcoming generations.

The event primarily caters to girls aged 8 to 17, but it warmly welcomes attendees of all backgrounds. Gather your family, friends, troops, and groups to delve deeper into the realm of aviation! Experience hands-on educational activities designed to impart knowledge about aviation principles and the STEM fields encompassing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at the Red Deer Regional Airport on September 21, 2024 at 11am.

Swag bags are guaranteed for the first 500 registered girls under 18yrs.

Ellis Nature Centre is thrilled to be hosting Susan Nielsen of Eliza Jane Studios for another soap making workshop on Sunday, September 22! Many will recognize her lovely soaps from our gift shop, so this is the perfect opportunity to make your own, unique soap bars. Susan will guide people through the soap making process at every step. You’ll get to choose your own scent & will take home roughly 6-8 bars of soap. This workshop is $80 per person. Adults only. Only 12 spots available!

In celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month, Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN) is pleased to present the third annual DEAM IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) Conference in Red Deer, Alberta on October 4th 2024. This conference will provide attendees with the opportunity to build upon their knowledge of inclusive and equitable employment and recruitment while examining topics of disability intersectionality within diversity and equity. Attendees will walk away with actionable steps they can use in their communities and workplaces.

Building on momentum from last year, attendees will gain insight from industry leaders with lived experience and will be provided with tangible tools that they can implement within their workplaces. The DEAM IDEA Conference is expected to have 200 attendees from across Alberta in human resources, business leaders, disability and human services, inclusive employers, employment service providers, community members, and self-advocates.

The 2024 conference call to action is "Authenticity in Action".