Just get out the door
Bluebird sky hike at -30 C. (Photo courtesy of Gayle Roodman/NCC staff)
Back in the day, I was a long-distance runner. When two knee surgeries forced me to finally hang up my Asics for good in 2005, I switched to cycling. And to fill in the gaps in my fitness regime, I threw in hiking, cross-country skiing or whatever...
The clock is counting down: It’s time to have a tick talk
Adult deer tick (Photo by Scott Bauer/Wikimedia Commons)
Whenever I hike with my non-naturalist friends, I give them the usual safety spiel: wear long sleeves and long pants, stay hydrated, watch for poison ivy and nettles, and bring along some bug spray. But, as of late, I find myself adding a fifth...
A journey through Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes
Justine standing on the rocky side of Meade Glacier (Photo courtesy of Justine Coutu)
Right after the end of my communications internship at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), I had the pleasure of embarking on a 12-day journey through Alaska. We travelled by land and sea, everyday discovering more and more of the...
Nature Destinations for a nation
Bunchberry Meadows Conservation Area, AB (Photo by Kyle Marquardt)
As a former Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) intern, avid nature lover and geography student, I’ve always found any kind of natural space a place worth visiting. When I first discovered NCC’s Nature Destinations program, I thought...
A summer of reconnecting with nature
Toronto's Don Valley (Photo by Adam Hunter/NCC staff)
This past summer, Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) staff across the country were fortunate enough to receive two days to spend connecting with nature. Called Nature Days, these were meant to be used anytime between summer solstice (June 21) and...
On top of the Lion’s Head
Lion's Head Provincial Park Reserve trail sign (Photo by Hai Lin Wang/NCC staff)
As a communications intern at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), I write a lot of stories about our conservation technicians and interns, who spend most of their time out in the field, soaking up the scenery of some of Canada’s rarest...
Point counts at Wideview: 10,000 steps by 7 a.m.
Wideview, SK (Photo by NCC)
3 a.m.: Why am I awake this early? The only other creatures awake right now are the birds. Oh, right. The birds are exactly why I’m awake this early. It’s time for point counts at the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s)...
A day in the field at the Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve
Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve, QC (Photo by NCC)
When I started my communications internship here at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) back in May, I didn’t think I would get the opportunity to visit an NCC property this summer. Luckily, I was wrong. After a bit of planning, I joined...
Ain’t no mountain high enough
Hikers in Happy Valley Forest, ON (Photo by NCC)
So, you’re the master of hiking up hills in the Greater Toronto Area, are you? You take the stairs over the escalator at the shopping mall. You’ve conquered the stair climber at your local gym. Perhaps you’ve even climbed the CN...
Heard it from a Scout: The ultimate summer camping guide
Scouts learn essential outdoor skills and how to prioritize safety in all activities. (Photo by Scouts Canada)
The perfect temperature for summer camping, according to Scouts — Canada’s youngest outdoor experts — is 27 C. So, go check your thermometer. It’s time to answer the call of the wilderness! Scouts learn essential outdoor...
