Beautiful blue skies and warm weather greeted the 74 people who took part in the 19th annual Carden Challenge. It was fun being together in celebration of this landscape and the species who call it home. All together, participants raised an impressive $30,000 for alvar stewardship efforts. Thank you to …
Notes From the Field- Spring 2023
June 16, 2023- A Rare Reptile Find Since we started the Reptile Monitoring Community Science program in 2018 we have had a few species at the top of our ‘must find’ list. Some of these include Spotted and Wood Turtles, Eastern foxsnake, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, and Massasauga Rattlesnake. These are …
Eight ways to celebrate our Earth this spring
Spring is here and there is so much to take in. Here are EIGHT ways to celebrate our beautiful planet in April and May: Plan an outing with a loved one to take in spring! Anytime! There are over 10 nature reserves with marked trails that are open to the …
Notes From the Field – 2022 Recap
Check out what the Couchiching Conservancy Community Science teams and stewardship staff have been up to in 2022. We also have focused Notes from the field for Winter, Spring and Summer. On March 25, Aiesha and Toby set up acoustic monitoring devices on a tree overlooking a wetland. These devices …
Spring 2022 Notes from the Field
Check in throughout the season to see what volunteers and staff have been up to! You never know who, or what, we’ll cross paths with… On Saturday June 4th we hosted ten teams of expert birders who travelled from as far away as Hamilton and Kingston for the 6 a.m. …
My First Carden Challenge
I remember my first Carden Challenge; how could I forget? It was the first time I woke up pre-dawn for something that wasn’t an international flight. Although, that something did have wings. I’d opted to participate in the Conservancy’s largest fundraiser of the year, a 24-hour birding and biodiversity marathon …
Earth Day a perfect day for spring cleanup of Scout Valley
In celebration of Earth Day, approximately 20 local people took part in a cleanup of Scout Valley Saturday morning. The Couchiching Conservancy, which has an easement on Scout Valley, hosted Saturday’s event as part of their Passport to Nature program. Participants roamed around the parking lot and onto the trail armed with garbage bags …
Passport to Nature is here!
The Couchiching Conservancy is inviting you to get out, connect and protect nature through the popular Passport to Nature program. This year the conservancy is offering a hybrid program of in-person events, virtual seminars and downloadable activities. New for this year are the Family Fun Collection of downloadable activities, two …
Meet our Engagement Organizer
Written by Kathy Hunt for OrilliaMatters For Samantha Vessios, capturing the beauty of the outdoors with her camera has been her “passport” to nature. Now, as the new Engagement Organizer with the Couchiching Conservancy, her passport to nature has become more meaningful. Among other duties, Vessios is responsible for helping …
Notes from the Field: Spring 2021
Annual chemical control of Dog Strangling Vine in Carden is necessary to protect this globally-unique alvar. The spraying program has been successful and each year less and less chemical application is necessary. Great care is taken to spot spray and only the minimal amount of chemical is needed to kill …