We know that you're busy preparing for a night full of ghosts and goblins but don't forget that this is the last day to submit your #getsustainablefwa photos AND your family leak detector tests (www.fortwhyte.org/fall-leak-detector-challenge/) to be eligible to win GREAT prizes! Good luck everyone!

It's Sustainability Month! This October, we'll be profiling FortWhyte staff and volunteers to find out what they're doing to live sustainably. Kathryn is one of our FortWhyte Farm Composting Gurus - Read on to find out her tips and tricks for successful composting! Home Composting-Staying sustainable in the city My family has always composted even before it was a popular thing. Growing up on the edge of the forest in BC my dad would be fending off the odd bear, raccoons and the occasional skunk that would come and nose around the pile at night! Now at my house in the inner city of Winnipeg I compost all of our kitchen waste while discouraging smaller local pests such as squirrels, yellow jackets (wasps) and rodents. Check out my tips for solving some common issues with home composting and to succeed in making your own sustainable and sweet smelling soil amendments from stinky kitchen cast offs! www.fortwhyte.org/getsustainablefwa-staff-profile-kathryn

Only one more day to take the Family Leak Detector Challenge for a chance to win great prizes! Have a look at www.fortwhyte.org/fall-leak-detector-challenge/ for more info!

Don't forget to tag us on instagram before midnight tomorrow night with #getsustainablefwa to show us how your family celebrated sustainability this month for a chance to WIN great prizes!!

Step into the wild for an intentional experience. Treat yourself to an afternoon of learning and laughter in the woods. Warm your fingertips and soul over a hot cup of hand-picked tea and an indigenous story around a smoky campfire. Rub fresh rosehips between your fingers and taste the bounty that nature, even covered in a thin layer of snow, has to offer. Feel Rejuvenated. Revitalized. Relaxed. We welcome back our Wildcraft Series for two Saturdays this November! November 4th join Sara McIvor-Prouty as she leads the group through an Indigenous experience complete with collecting ancient medicinal plants, tea crafting and tipi teachings. November 25th embark on a unique meditation journey with Barret Miller as he awakes your senses with nature through a ‘5 Senses Walk’ through the Forest. For more information and to register have a look at the event series page: https://www.fortwhyte.org/event/wildcraft/ or phone our bookings office 204.989.8355 ex311. Please note that registration is limited to create an intimate experience for participants.

It's Sustainability Month! In October, we have been profiling FortWhyte staff and volunteers to find out what they're doing to live sustainably. Katharine has been volunteering at FortWhyte for 7 years in various roles including Birding and Breakfast leader, Goose Flight Evenings and as a gardener in our Biodiversity Garden. What choices do you make to consume less or make choices that are healthier for our planet, big or small? We have taken cloth/reusable bags for grocery and all other shopping since the mid 1990’s, and I keep a folded bag in my purse and one in the car for unplanned shopping. The wastage of fresh water is one of my major concerns so I take the time to talk to management whenever I encounter leaking taps or toilets (a sadly frequent occurrence) in any public locations. What’s the most recent sustainable action you’ve adopted and why? The most recent additional sustainable action I have adopted is to take a travel mug with me almost everywhere I go because it is shocking to see the huge number of unnecessary disposable cups used in our world, along with the plastic lids, straws and insulating sleeves – sometimes people even use two disposable cups because the beverage is hot! What’s your favourite tip for reducing, reusing and/or recycling? One of my favourite tips is to never, ever buy plastic garbage bags – why buy a plastic bag specifically to throw it out?! One seems to acquire an endless supply of various plastic bags even when expressly trying to avoid it; therefore, use any other possible bags for garbage. I use the plastic and mesh bags in which my birdseed is packaged for general garbage and I line my bathroom garbage cans with the carefully opened plastic packaging from toilet paper and paper towels.

FortWhyte Alive Volunteer Victor has been lending a hand at our organization for the past 12 years. We caught up with him on his recumbent bike to talk sustainability! fortwhyte.org/getsustainablefwa-profile-victor

Last night’s Frightening Fiver was definitely a night to remember! The wind howled and the snow blasted us the in face, but that didn't stop 263 racers from championing the conditions for a great race. You should have seen the costumes that these troopers donned - our finalists included a full-body Gumbie outfit, a team of "Where's Waldo", and some glowstick superstars. Thank you to all who dressed up and everyone who participated in the largest race under the cloak of darkness, all in support of environmental education at FortWhyte Alive. Congratulations to all of our winners! Results will be posted as soon as they are received back from our wonderful race timers from City Park Timing. Medals for those who placed will be available for pick up for one week once results are posted. After this time, they will be mailed out. All winners will be contacted directly by email. Even if you didn’t place, everyone who supports environmental education is a winner in our eyes, so THANK YOU! As always we need to thank our amazing crew of FortWhyte Alive volunteers, but this year they deserve an extra shout-out for braving the cold for us. We couldn't do what we do without you volunteers - you are the real MVPs! A big thanks also to Winnipeg Search and Rescue for ensuring all racers made it out of our trails safely. Special thanks to all of this year’s sponsors who provided goods and services for your race day needs: Gorp Clean Energy Bars Lululemon Athletica Woodcock Cycle Works Winnipeg Spine and Sports Therapy

**5 days left in sustainability contest!** Don't forget to tag your pictures on instagram that show how you are getting sustainable this month with #getsustainableFWA for your chance to WIN!!

BEWARE OF PHANTOMS! Phantom power, also known as standby power, vampire power, and leaking electricity can account for up to 10 per cent of all electricity used in our homes. Across Canada phantom power consumption totals approximately 5,400,000,000 kWh. That is equivalent to the electrical consumption of all households in Manitoba and PEI combined. Here are a few tips for reducing phantom power: • Unplug battery chargers as soon as the device is fully charged or when the charger is not being used. A battery charger draws power even when the device it is charging has been removed. • If you regularly use a number of battery chargers (for power tools, cell phones, etc), make a charging station where all of the chargers are plugged into a single power bar that may easily turned off all at once. • When you are finished watching a movie or playing a video game, turn off the DVD player or game console, not just the TV. The average gaming system, when left idle, can use 90 watts of power or roughly $60 in electricity costs every year. • Unplug infrequently used electronics, such as a second TV, DVD player or audio system or use a power bar that can easily be turned off to avoid standby power consumption. Approximately 40 per cent of all electricity used to power electronics is used when the products are turned off but are in standby mode. • Try turning off your computer when it's not being used. In the case of computers, most electricity waste occurs when they are left on overnight, on weekends. If you purchase a new computer consider an ENERGY STAR® certified computer that up to 70 per cent less electricity. For more information on standby power: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/products/categories/electronics/14195 https://www.hydro.mb.ca/your_home/appliances_electronics/standby_power.shtml

A little birdy told us that you promised yourself that THIS would be the year when you would get all of your Christmas shopping done early… well now is your chance! Don't miss the Nature Shop's Pre-Renovation Sale this weekend! Join us for some family fun and get a head start on your holiday shopping. For some kid-friendly fun head over to the interpretive centre for a family photo hunt, to celebrate halloween in the forest and/or to make a fun halloween craft! Check out our calendar of events for more info: https://www.fortwhyte.org/events/calendar/ Friday, Saturday and ‪Sunday, October 27, 28 & 29 ‬Members save 15%, Guests save 10% See you there!

Escape to an exotic destination, with a little help from your friends at FortWhyte Alive. Our annual Adventure Travel Raffle is back! Win a trip to one of three amazing travel destinations, all while supporting environmental education in your community. Or, take the cash and plan your own dream vacay! 1st Prize – Mediterranean Sea Yacht – or $7000 cash 2nd Prize – RAW: Churchill – or $4000 cash 3rd Prize – Pacific Rim Yurt Adventure – or $3000 cash Tickets are 3 for $10 and available in person at FortWhyte Alive, from one of our profit share groups, or NEW! buy your tickets on our website at fortwhyte.org/adventuretravelraffle. Each ticket includes one FREE admission to FortWhyte Alive. The draw takes place on December 28 at 3 pm. Good luck! Special thanks to Canada One Travel - check them out at www.canadaone.travel.