Nature Manitoba has been championing the natural world since 1920, and Program Coordinator Tami Bradford is one of the passionate people helping to bring that century-old mission into the modern era. As a volunteer-driven organization rooted in education, conservation, and community, Nature Manitoba connects people of all ages to the province’s remarkable ecosystems — whether through citizen science bird surveys, hands-on indoor workshops, or backcountry adventures out of their beloved Mantario Wilderness Cabin.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Nature Manitoba is people sharing a passion for nature. Our goal is to provide opportunities to connect with and protect nature, promote an appreciation and understanding of nature, and to enjoy Manitoba’s natural spaces in a way that is ecologically sound. We deliver nature-based educational programs, facilitate projects which encourage citizen science and environmental action, and since 1920, we have been protecting some of Manitoba’s most vulnerable ecosystems.
What problem does it aim to solve?
Helping to protect nature by educating and promoting sustained interactions with the environment. We have a number of indoor and outdoor programs that facilitate this, from collecting data on various bird species in the province to indoor workshops and presentations on various nature-related topics. Also, we own a cabin in the Mantario Wilderness Zone, providing recreational programs and field trips.
When did you start/join it?
I started working for the organization in January 2023 as the Program Coordinator, which included promotions and communications.
What made you want to get involved?
I love nature and enjoy being a part of an organization that aligns with my beliefs. I have a background in marketing and knew I could help promote and bring a wider audience to this amazing organization.
What was the situation like when you started?
We were just coming out of the pandemic, and many of the programs had been cancelled and memberships had fallen off. The main goal was to try and get back our attendance and memberships back to near pre-pandemic levels. There was also a need to bring back an awareness of who we are as an organization and what we represent.
How has it changed since?
We have grown in all areas of the organization over the past 3 years. It’s wonderful to see our programs filling up early, and the membership base has exceeded our expectations. Our office procedures have been streamlined substantially as we now work more digitally with less physical paper.
Also, given the environment we are living in now, we’ve seen more interest in nature-based activities for physical and mental health.
What more needs to be done?
There are always more opportunities to educate and provide more nature-based activities. Our challenge tends to be volunteers who have the experience and want to lead programs and provide their time.
We are largely volunteer-run, so we don’t have a lot of resources; however, the volunteers we have are incredibly passionate and are very engaged with the programs they are involved in.
How can our readers help?
– Visit our website and see all the resources, information, programs and opportunities we provide
– Become a member of the Nature Manitoba and enjoy all the benefits
– Sign up for our monthly newsletter, which has a wealth of information on what we do, along with how you can get involved
– Volunteer
– Make a donation
Do you have any events coming up?
– Educational Workshops (Winter/Spring) – hands-on learning
– Outdoor activities (year-round)
– Discovery Evenings (Fall/Winter) – presentations on various nature-based subjects
– Mantario Wilderness Cabin (Summer programs) – year-round bookings for approved cabin users
– Gardens’ of Distinction Garden Tour July 4th, 2026 – Fundraiser
Where can we follow you?
Website | Facebook | Instagram
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
We love Hentleff Park Foundation, Paddle Manitoba, Save our Seine, Manitoba Eco-Network
