Conservation updates for member groups
Please pass this newsletter on to other members of your club.
Ontario Nature
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News from Member Groups
Do not miss WINGS OVER MUSKOKA. Register today!
Submitted by Patricia Davidson, Kids for Turtles Environmental Education
Wings Over Muskoka is an annual birding, wildlife and art festival which encourages people to learn about wildlife and threatened habitats in their own backyard. Weekend activities include birding hikes, dragonfly/butterfly walks and astronomy sessions with naturalists Bob Bowles and Robin Tapley, as well as art demonstrations and exhibits by artists John de Lang and Eleanor Kee Wellman.
Date: May 28-30th (Friday night-Saturday afternoon)
Cost: TBA.
Location: Lake Rosseau, Muskoka
Proceeds go to Kids for Turtles Environmental Education (KFTEE). Preregistration is required. For full program details please contact KFTEE at 705-325-5386 or info@kidsforturtles.com
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A Season to Learn
Submitted by Dan Bissonnette, The Naturalized Habitat Network
We are now accepting registrations for our next edition of the Naturalized Landscape Course, which begins in March. This adult evening course, which has benefited over 600 area residents, provides the best of traditional landscape concepts with an emphasis on planning and design. In addition, we offer insights on using native plants, attracting wildlife and creating a landscape that is suited to your needs. All levels of landscaping experience are welcome, from beginners to advanced. The cost of registration is $50, tax exempt. Each course is offered on a weekly basis, over a period of six weeks. All classes begin at 7:00 PM and typically last about 2 hours. This year, we are offering this course at three locations:
Beginning Monday, March 8 – Windsor
Beginning Tuesday, March 9 – Amherstburg
Beginning Wednesday, March 10 - Leamington
Most classes are limited to an average size of 18 people, so advanced registration is required. To register or find out more, call us at 519-259-2407.
Wednesday, February 24 "What's Native, What's Not - Understanding the connection between plants, our environment and ourselves."
Details: The Essex & District Horticultural Society will present their guest speaker, Dan Bissonnette of the Naturalized Habitat Network. This will take place at the Kinsmen Field House on Fairview Avenue in Essex, at 7:30 pm.
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The Great Naturalist Quiz
Submitted by Alicia Salyi, Macnamara Field Naturalist Club
The Macnamara Field Naturalist Club had another intriguing affair at the annual Great Naturalist Quiz! Club members tested their wits on questions about treasures from the resources of club President Michael Runtz. Hints in Runtz-rhyme helped with the identification. Everyone divided into teams and showed off their stuff. As always, it was an instructive evening with many interesting and hilarious moments.
Why not test your naturalist know-how using one of the night's favourite rhymes:
Many call me foe, few call me friend
But little do I do to deserve such vent
Perhaps it’s my looks; I am quite fair
Yet seldom do I attract a contented stare
I make no sound, never have I roared
Nor have I bitten, kicked, or gored
Not sour as vinegar, not sweet as candy
A little respect would be quite dandy!
Perhaps it’s my success for I’m quite widespread
I turn up here and there, even in new beds
I like to travel, far and wide I do sail
If air miles were gathered, I would do quite well
Click here for the answer
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News from the Nature Network
The Carden Challenge
Submitted by Ron Reid, Couchiching Conservancy
The Carden Challenge is delighted to have a celebrity birder Graeme Gibson, a noted author, birder, and member of the Order of Canada. As an added incentive, he has agreed to spend part of his day with the team who raises the highest pledged amount.
If you have participated in the Carden Challenge before, you already know how much fun it is, and we look forward to welcoming you back. If you are new to the Challenge, make 2010 the year to give it a try - the atmosphere is friendly, the habitats are rich and varied, and the birds are great! Even raising pledges for your team is low-stress - simply sending an e-mail to friends and family brings good results.
I look forward to hearing back from you listing your team members - please include their e-mail contact info. If you would like to be part of the Challenge but don't have a team, let me know and we'll try to find you partners.
For more information, contact Ron at ronreid@couchconservancy.ca
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Tree Planting Workshop in Northumberland
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Trees Ontario, along with its partners, the Ontario Forestry Association (OFA), the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and the Northumberland Stewardship Council, will host a free workshop to educate local area landowners on the resources and incentives available to plant trees on their properties.
The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Millennium Building, 2216 County Rd. 28, in Port Hope. Space is limited and pre-registration is appreciated.
For more information or to register, contact Trees Ontario at 1-877-646-1193 or www.treesontario.ca/landownerworkshops.
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Advocate for Nature
As an Advocate for Nature, you will receive important conservation action alerts by e-mail when your help is urgently needed. Each alert includes an issue summary and a recommended action. Ontario Nature has recently issued alerts on the Endangered Species Act, reforming the Mining Act and the Far North Act.
Thank you to the individuals who have had added their names to our Advocate for Nature list. Please help spread the word about the Advocate for Nature e-mail list by posting this in your newsletter, sharing it with your members at the next meeting, announcing it at your next Board of Directors meeting or making a presentation at your Annual General Meeting. Every little bit helps!
In January 2010 we welcomed 12 new subscribers to our Advocate for Nature e-mail list. We now have 1,870 Advocates for Nature.
To add your name online, copy and paste this link in your web browser or click here www.ontarionature.org/act/advocateform.php.
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News from Ontario Nature
2010 Youth Summit for Biodiversity
Submitted by Lenore Nadeau, Ontario Nature
Ontario Nature will be hosting a two-day Summit for 100 high school-aged students from June 4th to June 6th. The 2010 Youth Summit for Biodiversity will bring youth together from across the province to learn about biodiversity and taking action to ensure a healthy planet for generations to come. The Summit will also provide a variety of learning opportunities, networking opportunities, hands-on activities, and fun.
We invite our member clubs to share information about the Summit with any young people who are involved in club activities or who may be interested in learning more about the importance of biodiversity. For more details about the Summit, click here. Information about the registration process will follow in the coming months.
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ALUS Information Session
Submitted by Amber Cowie, Ontario Nature
If you would like to learn more about the farm-base incentive program, Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) and its potential to provide carbon off-sets within Ontario’s new climate change policy, an information session will be held on Friday, March 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at 1 Stone Road in Guelph.
The session is hosted by the Ontario ALUS Alliance, which is made up of the Norfolk ALUS project, the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Local Food Plus and Ontario Nature. It will be the first in a series designed to refine the goals and objectives for the ALUS Alliance and determine how we can work together to achieve them. The meeting has three objectives:
- Provide participants with an understanding of Ontario’s new climate change policy
- Present and discuss the opportunities for ALUS within the new policy context
- Update on Norfolk ALUS Pilot Project and ALUS Alliance
For more information or to register, please contact Amber Cowie, 416 333-8419, ext. 273 or amberc@ontarionature.org.
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The Sustainable Communities in the North Conference
Submitted by Peter Rosenbluth, Ontario Nature
Ontario Nature, through its Northern Connections project, is helping to organize a conference that will explore challenges and opportunities for sustainability in Northern Ontario.
The Sustainable Communities in the North conference will be held in Thunder Bay from February 25th – 27th and will bring together leaders from community groups, business and youth. The conference will involve workshops that will explore various aspects of sustainable business, policy and living and will feature talks by keynote speakers Peter Robinson (CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation) and Hunter Lovins (Time Magazine’s Millennium Hero of the Planet).
To find out more or to register, visit http://scn.lusu.ca.
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Nature Almanac Calendar
Submitted by Lenore Nadeau, Ontario Nature
Do you want to spread the word about any upcoming events your club is hosting? Please don’t forget to e-mail us the details to be added to our Nature Almanac Calendar. To see a listing of events already posted, or to post your event please visit: www.ontarionature.org/discover/member_groups/
NN_calendar.php
If you have any questions about the calendar, please contact Lenore at lenoren@ontarionature.org
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News from Other Organizations
Create a Culture of Nature Connection!
Excerpt from The P.I.N.E. Project’s website
If you’re like us, you know that kids need to spend more time in nature (there is plenty of research showing that the same is true for adults too). You’re likely already hearing about the Children and Nature Network and about Nature Deficit Disorder. And yet the problem grows.
At some point we need to create space for time outdoors, playing, being creative in our own ways. We need to make time for wandering and imagining. We need to be able to have adventures so that we have stories to tell.
If we’re to be successful at reconnecting children (and people in general) to nature and the environment around them, we must create a culture around this goal that is powerful. This isn’t easy, but there is a way. Join us to find out more about how you can create a culture of nature connection in your life, your home and your community.
Visit www.pineproject.org or click here for workshop dates.
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Judges Needed!
Submitted by Paul Elliott, School of Education and Professional Learning, Trent University Otonabee College
As you may already know, the Canada-wide Science Fair is being hosted by Trent University this year: 17-19 May. Part of my role as one of the senior judges is to recruit as many judges as possible. We need about 400! This is far more than we will be able to recruit from the Peterborough area alone.
Any one who is interested in helping should contact the chief judge, Brian Patrick – click here for details.
**For people that need to travel a long way, locally based judges will provide accommodation.
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Fundraising Hikes for Haiti Earthquake Relief
Is your club looking for a way to help Haiti? Consider a nature hike to raise much needed funds. Below are examples of hikes that occurred recently:
Hike for Haiti a success!
From E-Notes of the Toronto Bruce Trail Club
News from Hike Leader Marlon
Thank you for joining the Jan. 31st Walk for Haiti Earthquake Relief. The guided tour for the Cathedral Church of St. James was very informative and interesting. The Allan Gardens was beautiful. So many kinds of flowers were in full bloom.
Again, thank you very much for your generous donation to help Haiti Earthquake Relief. A total of $482 was donated by 31 hikers. Please go to the following website to see your photos and video.
http://walk4haitirelief.angelfire.com
Come join us at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre on Saturday February 6 at 1:30pm for a special hike through the Rouge Valley with naturalist and photographer Andy McKinnon and Rouge Valley Conservation Centre hike leader Robert Marshall. After the hike, stay for a warm drink and conversation. Donate what you can, no donation is too small. All proceeds collected will go to The Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Appeal. Visit www.rvcc.ca for a map to the Centre. Please spread the word to your friends, family and colleagues. We want to raise as much as we can. Thanks for your support!
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Upcoming Nature Network News Deadlines
The next issue of the Nature Network News will be sent on March 15, 2010. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2010.
Submissions can be sent to naturenetwork@ontarionature.org.
Please note that events can be listed up to two months in advance - allowing others to put it on their calendar well in advance.
Ontario Nature publishes the Ontario Nature Network News every month with contributions from its member groups and staff.
The Great Naturalist Quiz Answer: dandelion
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