Events and Trips

Ontario Nature offers a variety of opportunities to explore and experience nature

Conservation volunteering trips give you a chance to give back to nature and explore new and spectacular places across Ontario.

These working vacations combine hands-on conservation work with pleasure – you will contribute to a project such as building a boardwalk in a nature reserve, and still have plenty of time to explore the area or unwind at a local pub with new companions at the end of a busy day. Learn more about VfN.

Canada's premier nature travel company, Quest Nature Tours, operates up to 75 all-inclusive tours every year to all seven continents. Quest promotes a responsible travel ethic, and contributes to sustainable environmental and community benefits through its activities.

Quest helps protect wildlife and natural areas in Ontario through substantial and direct financial support to Ontario Nature.

or call Quest Nature Tours at (416) 633-5666
Toll free 1 800 387-1483

Quest Nature Tours Mission Statement: We Protect the Environment Through Travel

Quest Nature Tours has been at the forefront of nature travel for over 30 years, first as Canadian Nature Tours and, for the past 14 years, under the Quest Nature Tours banner. During that time, as we have grown into the largest tour operator of its kind in Canada, Quest has always promoted a responsible travel ethic.

Yes, we want you to enjoy yourself when you travel with us, but we also want you to learn about the local environment so that you will be as committed as we are to preserving it.

While travelling around the world to nature reserves and parks, the money we pay for local guides, accommodations, food and services help develop low-impact facilities that double as nature reserves and research areas. Our park entry fees help to finance habitat protection and anti-poaching programs. Our commitment, therefore, is to contribute to sustainable environmental and community benefits through our activities.

Quest supports organizations that help protect wildlife and nature areas in Canada. We provide substantial and direct financial support to the Ontario Nature, Bird Studies Canada (BSC) and the Friends of Point Pelee National Park.

Wednesday October 29, 7:00pm $30-members,$35 public

The Toronto Botanical Gardens 777 Lawrence Ave. East

Tour the first Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF)-certified, backyard, songbird habitat. It has become an important “re-fueling” station for local and migratory songbirds. Learn how to plan for a songbird garden, planting styles that attract and protect songbirds, what native species to incorporate and appealing songbird water features. Learn how to shop for songbirds and discover how to certify your garden as a songbird habitat with the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Contribute to international songbird conservation efforts from your own backyard!

You will receive: A CWF garden planner and 2 songbird ID posters.

Visit www.projectchirp.com

New non-profit initiative intends to help families & children discover nature with wildflower hikes in and around GTA

Brampton, ON - (April 21, 2008) Wildflowers4Families, a non-profit organization helping urban families explore nature by discovering wildflowers, officially launched its website today, just in time for the peak wildflower season in and around the GTA.

“The very first spring flowers are in bloom now,” says Nandy Heule, founder of the non-profit organization. “After a harsh winter, it’s a bit late this year, but spring has sprung in the woodlands in the GTA.”

Families can visit www.wildflowers4families.org for information about hikes that are sure to deliver great wildflower hunting if walked during the recommended times of year. Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba) and Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) are now blooming in places such as Halton Falls Conservation Area in Milton. A family is defined to be any group of individuals who self-identify as a couple or family unit.

"Wildflowers offer one of the easiest ways to start nature exploration," says Ms. Heule. "They don’t take off like birds and they don’t bite like bugs!”

The website encourages children to submit artwork, photos and stories about wildflowers. “We will respond to all entries and will post a selection of those received on the site, says Ms. Heule. Entry guidelines are posted on the site.

Each wildflower hike posted on the website offers information about how to get to the trail head, what to expect, and photos of flowers likely to be blooming during specific times of year within the GTA. The site also lists some tips on how to combine the flower hunt with other attractions near the trails. Hikes will be added as the seasons unfold.

Wildflowers4Families is sponsored by Heule Communications. Based in Brampton, Ont., the public relations agency works with accounting and law firms and non-profits in health care and international development, please visit them at www.heulecommunications.com.

National Canoe Day — Celebrating the Wonder of the Canoe

For Immediate Release: May 1, 2008

In May, 2007, in a national poll conducted by CBC Radio and TV, the canoe was voted one of the seven wonders of Canada (along with The Igloo, Niagara Falls, Old Quebec City, Pier 21, Prairie Skies and the Rocky Mountains ).

Last year, The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario, hosted a party at the historic Peterborough Lift Lock to celebrate. Paddlers of all kinds came to share a canoe ride through the Lift Lock and cheer as Peterborough Mayor, Paul Ayotte, declared The Canoe a Wonder of Canada. There was music from the Curve Lake Drummers, cake, ice cream and participants were given a “My Canoe is a Wonder” sticker to mark the occasion.

Other people across Canada who caught wind of this celebration, from as far away as Inuvik, emailed the Canoe Museum to say that they’d be joining in with spontaneous events of their own to celebrate the canoe as a wonder of Canada. This outpouring of genuine affection for the canoe was heart warming and brought the Canadians who participated just a little bit closer together.

Since then, the staff and volunteers at The Canadian Canoe Museum have been thinking that this was far to much fun not to make this an annual event and invite Canadians across the country to join in on the celebration. And so was born the idea to create National Canoe Day.

Last year’s party in Peterborough was held on the evening of the Thursday before Canada Day. It turned out to be great timing. Summer was just around the corner. It was during Celebrate Canada!, the eleven-day national party leading up to Canada Day, which includes National Aboriginal Day on June 21st, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24th, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27th and, of course, Canada Day on July 1st. We’re thinking that National Canoe Day on June 26th would fit right into those celebrations.

So, if you’re anywhere near Peterborough on Thursday, June 26th, 2008 please join the National Canoe Day celebration at the Lift Lock. We’ll be trying to jam the Lift Lock with as many canoes as we can. There will be a declaration or two by local dignitaries and, of course, music, fellowship, cake and lots of other paddling Canadians with whom to celebrate the canoe as a wonder of Canada.

But, this year we’re hoping the idea will expand even more. If you’re anywhere else in Canada, take your canoe to lunch, paddle with a friend, paddle with lots of friends, sing canoe songs, read canoe stories, fill your canoe with ice and cold drinks and have a party, make a canoe video, have a paddle picnic or a canoe-be-que, portage up main street, save gas and paddle to work, have a canoeathon to raise money for a worthy cause (like The Canadian Canoe Museum), paddle to parliament or your provincial or territorial legislature, whatever ... just do it in a canoe on National Canoe day, Thursday, June 26th (or at least some where during the 11 days of Celebrate Canada!).

Then email us with details, plans, stories, pictures and we’ll collect it all and share it our our website. Send us your details and we’ll send you back this year’s My Canoe is a Wonder sticker. Write to wonder@nationalcanoeday.net with your plans. Spread the word. For more information call 1-888-34-CANOE or check out our website www.canoemuseum.net.

Help create National Canoe Day, an annual citizen-driven celebration of the wondrous canoe.

National Canoe Day is a project of the Canadian Canoe Museum, 910 Monaghan Road, Peterborough, ON, K7L 5K4.
Contact: James Raffan, Executive Director or Anthony Berardi, Marketing Coordinator (705) 748-9153 or 1-888-34-CANOE