The super-volunteers who get involved year-round in various Domaine Saint-Bernard projects and activities are called “les Amis du Domaine” — the friends of the Domaine. Their contribution is much appreciated, and without their presence and support, the success of many Domaine events would be compromised. In other words, the Amis are an essential ingredient in the Domaine’s recipe for success.

The Amis du Domaine participate in various events such as the family picnic, the Symposium des arts and the Dr. Julien camp. The spring and fall clean-ups are also an important get-together for the members of this community, which is created through meetings and activities. The Amis are also central to the various gardens: the bird garden, the plant garden, the garden of medicinal plants and most recently, the garden of edible plants. They handle some activities, as well, such as geocaching and the hosting of some workshops.

“Ami” with a capital “A”
The volunteers get involved in the activities they want, depending on their interests and availability. When a volunteer has logged a certain number of hours, he or she becomes, officially, an Ami du Domaine and receives some special privileges, including free access to the Domaine and its workshops, discounts on the fee for astronomy evenings and on-site accommodation, plus a recognition dinner at the end of the year.

Want to get involved, or to learn more?
The annual meeting of the Amis will be held on Saturday, April 21, at 10 a.m. at the Velan astronomy pavilion. The meeting provides a perfect opportunity to learn more about the Amis du Domaine and to find out about the activities, events and projects planned for this year. If you can’t be at the meeting, you can also fill out the form online.