Are You WildSmart?

Are You WildSmart?

Many of us live in or near the Bow Valley of Alberta. Those of us who are fortunate to live here know that we share the priviledge of being residing in this beautiful region with many species of wildlife. Most of the major faith groups teach that as believers we have a responsibility to share this home and to care for the wildlife around us. But how do we do this. Are we wildsmart?

The Canmore branch of the WildSmart Organization will be hosting a special speakers series to educate us on living with wildlife. This series is free of charge although donations will be accepted at the door in support the WildSmart program.

Wednesday, December 12 - 7 to 9 p.m.

Canmore Recreation Centre, Second Floor, Community Hall

Karsten Heuer (wildlife biologist, park warden, author) topic: "Squeezed Negotiation. Why and How Wildlife Move Around Developed Areas of the Bow Valley".

and

Dave Hanna (wildlife program coordinator, Alberta Parks) topic: "Bears of the Bow Valley"

Wednesday, January 9 - 7:15 to 9:15 p.m.

Canmore Recreation Centre, Second Floor, Community Hall

Pat Kamenka (Chair, Bow Valley WildSmart Program and wildlife tracker) topic: His personal experiences of living with wildlife in Canmore and the Bow Valley.

and

Melanie Percy (wildlife tracker and biologist) topic: "The history of wolves in the Bow Valley"

The third speaker in the series will be announced early in the new year, check back for details.

Table of Contents

Welcome - December 28, 2007

Are You WildSmart? - December 5, 2007

Youth Retreats Offered by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship = July 2, 2007

Rocky Mountain Center for Progressive Faith and Works Welcomes Announcement by the Church of the Holy Trinity Toronto - June 27, 2007


Blessing For Same Sex Relationships to be Offered - May 30, 2007

Anglican Double Standard Again - Canon 17 Hits Pastors But Missess Bishops Completely - May 10, 2007

Archbishop Peter Akinola - A Man Whose Season at Lambeth Should Not Come - May 4, 2007

Center to bless samesex unions – May 3, 2007

Another Anglican Bishop Discerns the Mind of the Holy Spirit - Peter Akinola - May 2, 2007

More on Bishops - May 1, 2007

Anglican Bishops - A Block to the Holy Spirit? - May 1, 2007

Eliminating Violence one family at a time, starting with our own - April 29, 2007

National Quiz on the 9th Commandment - April 29, 2007

Take Action on Climate Change - April 19, 2007

Where Does God's Love and Power End - March 22, 2007

Called to be God’s Stewards – Action Alert! - March 16, 2007

Greening Sacred Spaces - March 14, 2007

The State of our Canadian Clergy - March 13, 2007

The Anglican Double Standard - March 11, 2007

Resources for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity - March 7, 2007

Help for Religious Leaders : Help Us Support Clergy Who Have Been Mistreated or Denied Justice - March 6, 2007

Do You Know Where Your Charitable Donation Is and What it Has Been Doing? - March 4, 2007

Part One: Religious Charities in Canada

PartTwo: One Priest's Perspective

Part Three: What Churches can Learn From Others About How to Respect Donors and Their privileged position under Canadian Tax Law

PartFour: Finding the Information You Are Entitled To Have

Example One: The Anglican Diocese of Calgary

Example Two: St. Michael's Anglican Church Canmore March 4, 2007

Violent Homophobia in Jamaica – Call to Action – March 3, 2007

Institutional Church Threatens the Gospel Message - March 3, 2007

Bishops and the kingdom of Man and Monuments - March 2, 2007

Youth Retreats Offered by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship

Buddhist Peace Fellowship Teen Retreat
(for ages 15-19)

1. Dates and Places
2. Retreat Description
3. Registration
4. Cost and Scholarships

"These Teen Retreats offer a profound opportunity for youth meditation practice and the exploration of how to live our lives with kindness and wisdom. These retreats are a 'don't miss!' for any teen interested in experiencing meditation and mindfulness practices, truthful/heartfelt communication, wonderful mentors, safe community, great food, and a time to relax and reflect on the mysteries and truths of our lives."

-Heather Sundberg, Family/Teen Program, Spirit Rock.
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Follow these links to receive email notification of upcoming BPF Youth Program events, to find other resources for teens interested in meditation, and to check out our online forum.
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1. Dates and Places for Retreats

2007 October Teen Weekend
5 PM October 5th to 2 PM 8th (3 nights)
Site to be determined
Teachers: Tempel Smith and Others
To register please email: teen.reg.oct@bpf.org

2008 New Years' Teen Retreat
4 PM December 28th, '06 to 2 PM January 2nd '08 (5 nights)
Land of Medicine Buddha
Santa Cruz, California
Teachers: Pascal Auclair, Spring Washam, and Heather Sundberg
Registration to begin October 1st. Please email: teen.reg.ny@bpf.org

2008 April Dana Teen Weekend
Dates: To be announced (2 nights)
Hidden Villa
Los Altos, California (near San Jose)
Teachers: Tempel Smith and Heather Sundberg
To register please email: teen.reg.april@bpf.org

2008 June Teen Retreat
4 PM June 15th to 2 PM June 21st (6 nights)
Padmasambhava Peace Institute
Cazadero, California (west of Santa Rosa)
Teachers: Tempel Smith, Spring Washam, and Pascal Auclair
Registration to begin March 1st. Please email: teen.reg.june@bpf.org

2. Retreat Description
These retreats are an opportunity for teenagers to explore Mindfulness practice through guided periods of silent sitting and walking meditation, small group discussions, creative activities, and unstructured free time. Besides learning the formal meditation practices there are also times to go for walks, play music, tell stories, and enjoy a bonfire on the last night. Since meditation practice may be new to some teens each period of sitting meditation will be limited to half an hour.
"These retreats are a wonderful opportunity for any teen serious about deepening his or her meditation practice."
-James Baraz, Spirit Rock.

Typical Daily Schedule :

6:30am . . . Wake Up
7:00 . . . . . Sitting Meditation
7:30 . . . . . Breakfast
8:00 . . . . . Dana Jobs (work and cleaning practice)
8:30 . . . . . Free Time (music playing, walks, swimming pool, etc.)
9:15 . . . . . Sitting Meditation
9:45 . . . . . Meditation Q & A
10:00 . . . . Walking Meditation
10:30 . . . . Sitting Meditation
11:00 . . . . Walking Meditation
11:30 . . . . Discussion Groups (smaller groups divided by age)
12:30pm . . Lunch
1:00 . . . . . Free Time
2:15 . . . . . Mindful Movement (yoga, chi gong, stretching, etc.)
3:00 . . . . . Sitting Meditation
3:30 . . . . . Workshops (writing, painting, nature walks, etc.)
5:00 . . . . . Dinner
5:30 . . . . . Free Time
6:30 . . . . . Metta Sitting (Love/Friendship meditation)
7:00 . . . . . Metta Walk
7:30 . . . . . Dharma Talk
8:30 . . . . . Discussion Groups
9:30 . . . . . Sitting Meditation
10:00 . . . . Bed Prep
10:30pm . . Lights out
Blue times are talking
Black times are silent

Teachers:

Tempel Smith has been practicing Insight and Metta meditation since the 1989 including a year as a fully ordained monk in Burma. He is the founder of BASE House, a collective of socially engage Dharma practitioners. He is currently organizes the Young Adult programs at the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, and is in teacher training at Spirit Rock. Tempel has been leading retreats for adults and youth for ten years.

Spring Washam is the Executive Director of the Mind Body Awareness Project, an organization that teaches meditation and yoga to at-risk youth. She has been practicing insight meditation since 1996 with several renowned teachers. She is a graduate of the SRMC Community Dharma Leaders program and is a member of the diversity council. She also teaches classes and day long retreats for people of color throughout the bay area.

Marvin Belzer has practiced vipassana since 1982, studying primarily with Sayadaw U Pandita since 1986. He teaches philosophy and meditation at Bowling Green University in Ohio, and has helped develop the Teen Retreat from its beginning 15 years ago.

Heather Sundberg is the Spirit Rock Family/Teen Program teacher and manager. Having practiced meditation for 12 years and attended numerous extended retreat periods, she has taught meditation and dharma to teens, children, and families since 1999.

Diana Winston, author of Wide Awake! A Buddhist Guide for Teenagers, is the founder of the BASE program. She has been practicing Insight meditation since 1988 including a year ordained as a Theravadin nun. She is currently in the Teachers' Training program with Jack Kornfield at Spirit Rock.

Additionally, facilitators will be available to support teens whenever needed. Meals are vegetarian and are prepared with tastes and preferences of young people in mind.

This retreat is also endorsed by the Land of Medicine Buddha, Insight Meditation Center, San Francisco Zen Center, Spirit Rock, Jack Kornfield, James Baraz and Gil Fronsdal.

3. To Receive and Application
To receive an application form email the address above connected with that retreat.

4. Cost and Scholarships
The total cost of the 6-day retreats are $395 - $295 sliding scale. A $100 deposit is needed when the application is sent in, though only send in $25 with the application if you are applying for a full scholarship.
We have three ways to help those teens with greater financial limitations. The first is a payment plan where the retreat can be paid for over many months. The second is a partial scholarship each teen can apply for. The third is a small grant to any teens whom have worked or volunteered in a progressive non-profit agency in the last 6 months. Please call or email us for more information concerning financial support.
Follow these links to receive email notification of upcoming BPF Youth Program events, to find other resources for teens interested in meditation, and to check out our online forum.

http://www.bpf.org/html/current_projects//teenprogram/teenretreat.html

The Rocky Mountain Center for Progressive Faith and Works Welcomes Announcement by The Church of the Holy Trinity Toronto

Holy Trinity Church (Anglican) Toronto announced that it will proceed with the blessing of same sex relationship. "Holy Trinity Church has long been a powerhouse for justice and worship in the Toronto Diocese. We rejoice in this announcement which comes shortly after the Rocky Mountain Center's own announcement that it will bless saem sex relationships. All clergy who are threaztened or have their licences removed by their bishops because of taking such a stance are welcome to contact the Center to have their credentials translated into Holy Orders within the Rocky Mountain Center" Rev. Frank Doe, the Executive Director of the Center announced.

The announcement by Holy Trinity can be found at http://www.integritycanada.org/docs/Holy%20Trinity%20to%20Bless%20Same-Sex%20Marriages%20-%20Release.pdf