Why Canada needs more forest conservation
Forest in Saint-Georges-de-Clarenceville (Photo by NCC)
Canada is a nation defined by many things: multiculturalism, hockey, universal health care, politeness, eh? We’re also a nation defined by our landscapes. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King once referred to Canada as a country with...
Leaving no trace during outdoor adventures
Leaving no trace during outdoor adventures (Graphic by Fix.com)
Anyone lucky enough to spend a significant amount of time in the wilderness can appreciate pristine nature… and they have likely seen people’s negative impacts on the outdoors. No one heads down a trail or to a campsite planning to...
#HowToNature series: How to canoe
Jennifer McCarter canoeing on the Grand River (Photo by Gabhan Chalmers).
Canoeing is a quintessentially Canadian way to travel and experience the landscape (indeed, it was the primary mode of transportation and trade for the First Nations and early European settlers in North America). There’s nothing like being...
#HowtoNature series: How to camp (Part Two)
Western uplands landscape at Algonquin Provincial Park (Photo by Cara Copeland/NCC Staff)
Now that you’ve planned where to go and what to bring (see Part One) it’s time to cover what actually happens on a camping trip. Camp setup and maintenance When you arrive at your campsite, decide where to set up your tent. Look for...
#HowToNature series: How to camp (Part One)
Set up your tent in a flat, open space away from the campfire pit and cooking area. (Photo taken at Silent Lake Provincial Park by Cara Copeland)
Camping is one of my favourite ways to experience nature. I love the fresh air, waking up to the sound of birds chirping, and taking the time to slow down and just enjoy being outside. Camping is a broad topic – generally speaking, it...
#HowToNature series: Hiking
Hikers in Happy Valley Forest, ON (Photo by NCC)
For thousands of years, humans have worked to find better ways to shelter ourselves from the elements. Huddled around an open-air fire, we probably saw owls or squirrels nestled in the hollow of a tree, and thought, “Doesn't that look cosy?...
A first timer at the Festival of Birds
Going birding at the southernmost tip of mainland Canada! (Photo by Wendy Ho/NCC staff)
I love to travel. But travelling stresses me out when my focus is on optimizing every second for sightseeing with a tightly packed itinerary. A few weeks ago, I had a chance to reconcile those feelings on a trip to Point Pelee and Pelee Island...
Close encounters with one of Canada’s more mysterious turtle species: The leatherback sea turtle
Jen McCarter and leatherback sea turtle statue (Photo by Gabhan Chalmers)
We rushed down the dark beach, illuminated only by the moonlight, and struggled to keep up in the deep sand. Aside from the gentle lapping of the ocean waves to our right, everything was quiet. Our group moved forward, silent with anticipation....
Barnacle Bill: The loggerhead turtle of Belize
Left to right: Will Cascadden, the divemaster and Katie Cascadden (Photo courtesy of Katie Cascadden)
Last May my dad and I took a trip down to the beautiful country of Belize for a diving trip. Once at the docks off of Belize City, we had a two-hour boat ride we arrived at the Blackbird Caye of the Turneffe Atoll. Two days later on our second...
My Singapore turtle encounter
Red-eared slider (Photo by Maggie Cascadden/NCC staff)
Conservation is different in every country. In Canada, for example, we have land protected at the national, provincial and municipal level, as well as privately through organizations like the Nature Conservancy of Canada. But what do you do if...
