Alberta Junior Forest Rangers

08/17/2026

What's up? We're the Lac La Biche crew, and our summer has been amazing! 🚁🔥

So far, one of our biggest highlights has been wildfire mop-up, where we got to fly in by helicopter. Being in the helicopter was exhilarating! Seeing the wildfire from the air gave our crew a new perspective on how hard wildfire fighters work to put out these massive fires.

Another project highlight was our tour of the Slave Lake Fire Hall. Our crew learned about the training that structural firefighters undergo, including proper "door-breaking" techniques and vehicle rescue procedures using different hydraulic tools.

Now that our crew has been together for a month, we have lots of great memories to look back on, including our paintball trip with the Fort McMurray crew. This experience was especially memorable because it helped us bond with the Fort McMurray crew, and for many people on both crews, it was their first time paintballing. We mixed the crews together and set out to win against the other team. There were plenty of fun moments, especially when our leaders moved like they were in a video game, running and sliding, jumping and dashing across the field, and calling out directions like they were in battle!

The Lac La Biche crew's favourite pastimes together are swimming and playing single-player games by taking turns using one controller.

These activities and projects have helped strengthen our crew's bond through shared interests, conversations about our hobbies, improved communication, and teamwork. They've helped us build trust in one another and become a stronger crew.💪

If you want to keep up with the Lac La Biche Crew this summer, you can check out their video blogs ➡ https://tinyurl.com/JFR-LLBCrew

08/15/2026

Introducing the 2026 Grande Prairie JFR crew!
We are having an incredible summer filled with adventure, learning and hard work 💪

Some of our season’s highlights include a fire lookout tower climb, whitewater rafting, Remote First Aid training, and a mock fire. During the lookout tower climb, we met a fire lookout and got a glimpse into what life in the role is like. Our crew was excited to learn about the job and have the opportunity to climb the 100-foot tower.

We also participated in whitewater rafting as part of a work exchange. It was rewarding to spend the first day helping maintain their trail and stairs while enjoying beautiful views, then walk down that same trail the next day to go rafting. At the start of the summer, our crew also completed Remote and Standard First Aid training and practiced our skills through mock scenarios. This was an engaging activity that was both fun and practical, with real-life applications.

One of our more recent projects involved a Helitack crew setting up a mock fire in the woods for us. We were responsible for everything, including setting up the pump, laying hose, and suppressing the mock fire. This activity was a great test of teamwork, communication, and performing under pressure.

🌩⚡A memorable moment from our season was our first camping trip, when a crazy thunderstorm rolled in during the middle of the night. The thunder was incredibly loud, and when we looked up at the sky, it seemed as though cameras were constantly flashing in our faces. We decided it was safest to take shelter in our vehicles, spending the night divided between our truck and SUV. This early-season adventure demonstrated our crew’s ability to adapt to unexpected situations and brought us closer together as a team, quite literally, as we spent the night sleeping in our vehicles!

We are so incredibly grateful for our crew, the memories we have made and the adventures that are yet to come!
Golf Papa’s Signing off.

f you want to keep up with Grande Prairie Crew this summer, you can check out their video blogs ➡ https://tinyurl.com/JFR-GPCrew

08/11/2026

Hello, we’re the Hinton Crew, the “Not-Shots”, and we’ve been having an awesome summer! 🚁 🛶

Some of our season highlights were getting to spend a few hours on a helicopter trip around Edson, driving up to Narrow Lake to spend a few days learning canoeing skills and getting certified, spending our weekends hiking in the mountains, and getting to go up to Jasper for a day of trail building in the mountains.

Our crew's teamwork has been our biggest success; everyone is always eager to get to work and help each other out. We've been able to get our projects done early, and we are always complimented by our project partners. Everyone works so well together that you would be surprised they have only known each other for just over a month!

After our hard days of work throughout the week, we love getting the chance to relax on the weekends. However, having to be out of our cabins by 7 a.m. makes it very difficult to sleep in. So, we make up for it by heading out to nearby lakes to swim and fish, or making the longer trip to the hot springs in the mountains for some R&R.

Water has been a focal point of our crew. From weekends spent fishing in nearby lakes and water fights at community events to the end of our nightly campfires, this source of life has been at the core of our team and community building.

If you want to keep up with "Not-Shots" Crew this
summer, you can check out their video blogs ➡
https://tinyurl.com/JFR-HintonCrew

08/07/2026

Hello, we're the Fort McMurray Crew, also known as “The Fort,” and we have been having a drop dead summer! 🔥

So far, our summer has consisted of various helicopter sightings, numerous rec centre visits, lots of mosquito bites, and some insane car karaoke sessions!

One of our favourite activities that we have done as a crew was our four day camping trip to the Richardson back country, where we stayed at Keith lake, did maintenance work, explored some beautiful lakes and visited the epic sand dunes. The northern lights visited us during our time there, and it was awesome getting to see them swirl across the night sky. 🌌

We loved getting to build a helipad on the first day, and it was rewarding to see our work in use. We visited a bison farm on one of our many weekend trips, and learned that bison are resilient animals that can be used for land reclamation. Our crew has navigated this summer in a way that has helped us all feel connected to one another, and we have truly become a family.

We hope everyone reading this is having as wonderful a summer as we are!

If you want to keep up with "The Fort" Crew this summer, you can check out their video blogs ➡ https://tinyurl.com/JFR-TheFort

07/25/2026

Hello! We are the Peace River crew, and we are having an incredible summer! ✨

We have completed several amazing projects so far, with more to come. One project that stands out is the Culture Camp with Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement. Our crew had an excellent experience teaching other youth a variety of skills and activities, including melon rolling, table building, bushcraft, Atlatl throwing, and tool use. Everyone on the crew had a chance to step up as a leader, challenge themselves, and share their knowledge with others.
It has been an awesome experience working with all of our project partners and learning so much about their careers and the forestry industry as a whole. Overall, it has been a 10/10 experience living on base and spending the summer together as a crew. We are all excited to continue the summer and see what other opportunities and experiences it has to offer. 😁

07/23/2026

Meet the 2026 Calgary crew! 🌈🍀
From left to right: Amara, Autumn, Joséphine, Angel, Sarah, Avery, Madelynne, Carmen, Ava, and Alairiel!

It’s only been a couple of weeks, yet the Calgary crew has become a close-knit group of people!
Starting at HTC, the girls spent every waking moment together. They ate meals together, travelling to training, and spending afternoons learning to bachata. Many hours were spent attempting to convince other crews to create a mega table during meals- however, only during one meal was that goal accomplished.

After saying goodbye to everyone until Bull of the Woods, the Calgary crew started the long drive to the Gap. A large assortment of animals was spotted along the way, and the views were breathtaking. Arriving at the Gap, the girls immediately continued to foster their obsession with spike ball and prepared for their kayaking course the following weekend. They spent two days attempting to learn the basic moves of white-water kayaking, most of them made it out unscathed, except the stress levels of their leader Angel!

If you want to keep up with the Calgary Crew this summer, you can check out their video blogs here ➡
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPuut_ufsUDcCdJ2g2moWI-rBtzBlL56u&si=scQJFMUv7IOjbkIN

07/21/2026

A huge thank you to the organizers, partners, and community members who made this event such a success!
Our Whitecourt/Fox Creek crew was excited to contribute to this FireSmart initiative and help reduce wildland fuels in the Goose Lake area. Every branch chipped and every yard cleaned helps build a safer, more wildfire-resilient community.🌿

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the Goose Lake Community Chipping Event this past weekend! 🪵🌲

To all our partners!
• Alberta Wildfire Crews
• Whitecourt/Fox Creek Alberta Junior Forest Rangers
• The Regional Community FireSmart Coordinator
• The Goose Lake Fire Hall for hosting the wind-up BBQ
• Blue Ridge Fire Department, for displaying the Sprinkler Protection Unit

Your expertise and partnership were instrumental in the success of reducing wildland fuels in the community. Strong regional FireSmart partnerships like these are essential to protecting our communities today and for the future.

Every branch chipped and every property cleaned up is another step toward reducing wildfire risk and protecting our homes, neighbourhoods, and forests.

👏 Thank you for doing your part to help keep Goose Lake safe!

07/21/2026

Partnerships like these create unforgettable learning experiences for our crews!
Thank you to HSAR for welcoming the Hinton Crew to your training night and giving them the chance to learn about search and rescue operations through hands-on participation! 🌲🚁

07/18/2026

Meet the 2026 Fox Creek/Whitecourt Crew! 🌲💚

The Whitecourt/Fox Creek Crew has been having an incredible summer while camping and working at Goose Lake. Throughout the week, we've been completing Fire Smart projects and trail maintenance while working alongside active forestry professionals. Having the opportunity to learn directly from experienced members of the forestry industry has given us valuable hands-on experience and a better understanding of the work that goes into protecting Alberta's forests and maintaining public recreation areas.
Living and working together at camp has also strengthened our teamwork. Whether we're tackling projects, learning new skills, or simply figuring out the best ways to survive the seemingly endless mosquitoes, every day has brought new experiences. We're proud of the work we've accomplished so far and are excited to continue learning and making a positive impact throughout the rest of the summer.

If you want to keep up with the Fox Creek Crew this summer, you can check out their video blogs here ➡ https://tinyurl.com/foxcreek26

07/17/2026

Each week, crews recognize one member who goes above and beyond by demonstrating JFR's four Core Values: Honesty, Humility, Respect, and Bravery. These individuals are recognized for their exceptional teamwork, leadership, and dedication both on and off the project site.

This week, we're proud to highlight the following members for their outstanding commitment and hard work: "Big Ben" from our Fox Creek/Whitecourt Crew, and Autumn from our Calgary Crew! 👏✨

To recognize their achievements, we asked them a few questions about their experience with JFR, what motivates them, and what they've learned so far this season. Here's what they had to say! 👇

- What would you say to someone who is thinking about applying to the program?
Autumn: "Be ready for a lot of unpredictable and unexpected moments"
Big Ben: "Absolutely go for it, I'm only a week in and I have made so many memories and learned so much. An absolute 10/10 program."

To learn more about our highlighted members and read their full interviews, visit our website:
https://alis.alberta.ca/junior-forest-rangers/jiffers-of-the-week/