Stories from stewards of the land: The Cuzen property (Part One)
Periwinkle (Photo by Wikimedia Commons)
I have had many positive interactions with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) over the years. It is surely one of my favourite nature groups to volunteer with. You see, I have no formal educational background in botany or environmental studies...
Are you up for the #21daysofnature challenge?
Muddy hands at Nature Days (photo by NCC)
It takes 21 days to form a habit, or so they say. This year (or even for many years), if you’ve once contemplated staying active and closer to nature, but just aren’t motivated enough or unsure of where to start, we have a challenge...
Four ways I’m making 2016 a year for nature
American tree sparrow (Photo by NCC)
Ah, January! Time for a new year, a fresh start and a list of resolutions to be forgotten by February. Not so in 2016! This year, I’ve decided on a resolution that will not only be beneficial for my physical and mental well-being, but also...
Deck the halls...With invasive species?
Conservation Volunteers at the Deck the Halls event, 2015 (Photo by Nick Tardiff)
As typical Canadian Decembers go, this wasn’t one of them. The landscape at the Nature Conservancy of Canada's Rice Lake Plains property was shrouded in fog, without a snowflake in sight. The volunteers’ task for the day was to remove...
Advocates for health!
Conservation Volunteers removing barbed wire to allow better passage for wildlife (Photo by Natalie Trofimencoff)
On November 6, an eager group of Conservation Volunteers (CVs) was greeted by mild weather and sunshine at the Gray Property near Cooking Lake, Alberta, recently acquired by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). The goal was to remove the top...
Lessons learned from volunteers
Volunteers flex their muscles at Fleming Ranch, AB (Photo by NCC)
What does 446 working days mean to you? What can you accomplish in this time? To me, it means 3,570 hours were donated towards caring for the native Alberta lands I love. It means 20 properties in Alberta were able to receive a conservation...
My way of giving back to the community: Picking up!
Bunchberry Meadows Conservation Area, AB (Photo by Kyle Marquardt)
I have always enjoyed walking for exercise. I enjoy walking around the city pathways, walking to and from work, hitting nature trails out in our national parks and walking to do small tasks such as banking or picking up a few items at the grocery...
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign!
Group photo at Fishing Lake, ON (Photo by Nick Tardif)
It was the Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign Conservation Volunteers event at The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Fishing Lake property in the Frontenac Arch Natural Area. We were there, on time, and rearing to go. There were six...
It’s nice to be on a little island: Reflections from the NCC 2015 Sandy Point cleanup
The shores of Sandy Point. (Photo by Kim Olson)
It’s nice to be on a little island. That was one sentiment shared by a Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) Conservation Volunteer at the annual Sandy Point cleanup; one that seemed to be shared by the dozen volunteers who joined that day. We...
Riverbank rescue!
Riverbank Rescue CV event in Crowsnest Pass, AB (Photo by Angela Luck)
The Crowsnest Pass holds a special place in my heart. Whether I’m overnight backpacking with my children to enjoy the serenity of Window Mountain Lake, bird watching in the Alison Creek area, peacefully kayaking around Crowsnest Lake or fly...
