Are you or your family members looking for unique adventures to get outside and enjoy the remaining weeks of precious summer weather? Then take a look at the events and activities offered by the Couchiching Conservancy through their Passport to Nature program.
There are two in-person Passport to Nature events coming up in August. The popular Paddle Party is already full with a waitlist, but don’t worry, you can download a map of Ron Reid Nature Reserve to do your own paddle of the historic Black River. Check out the newly upgraded canoe and kayak launch access at Rosebush Landing and set off to experience the beauty of this riparian landscape and local species.
There are still spots available for the Fascinating Forests event at Adams Nature Reserve on Sunday, August 20th. But hurry to register to reserve your place now! On this hike, you will learn about different forest regions, types of forests, and how to identify local trees using several traits. The event guide, Chase Moser is a member of the Biology & Sustainability Sciences staff at Lakehead University. He will lead a discussion on the biology of trees, the interconnected nature of forest ecosystems, natural cycles, the importance of biodiversity, and the threats of human impacts on forests.
If scheduled events are full or the dates don’t fit your schedule, not to worry because the Conservancy offers several “download anytime” activities or self-guided hikes with easy access to maps and trip recommendations.
Trails 101 is a great place to start! Take a look and select from 14 different nature reserves in the region with public trails to plan your own visit. Or download a self-guided hike. The Conservancy will tour you through five of the nature reserves that have established and marked trails that are open to the public at no cost. All of the trail maps are located in one place to make it easy for you to plan your next outdoor adventure.
If you want to take a walk on the wilder side, sign up to download your road trip package for the Black River Wildlands, just outside of Orillia, where you will find driving instructions, trail maps, tips from the locals, a list of species to watch for and other details. You never know what you will discover in the Black River Wildlands. Maybe you’ll see a Great Blue Heron or a Belted Kingfisher! Home to hundreds of species, the Wildlands are a mixture of wetlands, forests and magnificent Canadian Shield.
For those rainy days or when you just want to chill out at home, these downloadable activities provided by the Couchiching Conservancy will keep you entertained and help you learn more about the nature around us. The FREE Family Fun Collection is full of nature activities to download and do with your little ones!