The 2025 Contest is now open for submissions! Please visit the contest page for all the details: https://www.muskokaconservancy.org/contests

Join our February Webinar! Title : Science Misinformation: The Climate Context Guest Speaker : Fiona Rawle Date : Tuesday, February 18th, 2025 Time : 10:00am-11:00am Description: This webinar will explore the current state of the science on climate change, putting it into a Canadian context. We’ll also discuss science mis/dis-information, looking specifically at the origins of science misinformation about climate change as well as tools we can use to identify trust-worthy information. Fiona’s Bio: Fiona is a professor at the University of Toronto and where she teaches intro biology, specifically focusing on science misinformation. She recently received the 3M National Teaching Fellowship. Here is a brief profile: https://magazine.utoronto.ca/people/faculty-staff/where-kindness-rules-fiona-rawle-compassionate-teaching/ To register for the webinar click here.

Join our January Webinar! Date: Thursday January 16, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Location: Zoom platform (link sent after registration) Description: This presentation will highlight the natural characteristics of Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park (QEII). With over 100 habitat types, including its renowned rock barrens and beaver fens, this park is home to a wide variety of interesting wildlife that’s worth talking about! Micaela’s Bio: Micaela has earned a Bachelor of Science for Environmental Biology, a certificate in Forest Management and a College diploma for Environmental Technician, Protection, and Compliance at Canadore College. Since graduation in 2021, Micaela has worked numerous environmental contracts, gaining invaluable experience. She recently worked as a Wildlife Technician Lead with the MNRF and in April 2024, began an acting position as the Park Biologist for the Balsam Lake Cluster. To register, email Franceska at info@muskokaconservancy.org or call 705-645-7393 x200. To view the recording please click here .

Muskoka Conservancy adds another 490-acres for nature conservation! Muskoka Conservancy is proud to announce that it has purchased two new properties—a 390-acre forest and wetland property bordering the Severn River Conservation Reserve west of Gravenhurst, and a 100-acre wetland property fronting on Cassidy Lake, west of Glen Orchard. These latest acquisitions lift the local land trust’s total protected area over the 5,000-acre threshold in its mission to advance nature conservation in Muskoka. “5,105-acres is an incredible milestone for Muskoka Conservancy,” said Scott Young, Executive Director. “I couldn’t be prouder of our people! From the day-to-day volunteers to our staff and our Board of Directors, from Joe Member to major funders, we could not achieve these things without excellent people.” Both properties are part of a broad wildlife corridor that extends from south Gravenhurst in a northwest direction toward Georgian Bay and beyond. The Cassidy Lake property borders Crown land on two sides and is located about midway between two Provincially Significant Wetlands. The larger property borders on the provincial Severn River Conservation Reserve, expanding this protected area. Both properties protect mature forests and extensive wetlands that are habitat for species at risk. “A big shout out to the Kenneth M Molson Foundation, MapleCross Fund, and family foundations like the Chisholm-Thomson Foundation,” said Young. “Without consistent funding partners who step up with larger gifts, none of this happens.” Muskoka Conservancy’s immediate priority is to get to know the land, its ecosystems, habitat types and species, and will develop a conservation plan that prioritizes nature conservation. “There will be opportunities in the future to visit these properties as part of our Nature Quest program of expert-guided hikes,” said Amanda Porter, Conservation Coordinator. “Whether these places are appropriate for footpaths open for public use, that will be determined through our process of conservation planning that will occur over the next year.” MC’s protected lands now total 5,105 acres, with almost 70,000 feet of natural shoreline, and 880 acres of wetlands. MC has 58 properties across Muskoka’s watersheds. “We are over the moon with joy that we were able to find the partners and resources to make this project a reality,” said Peter Love, Conservancy Board Chair.

Join our December Webinar! Date: Tuesday December 17, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Location: Zoom platform (link sent after registration) To register, email Franceska at info@muskokaconservancy.org Link to recording Additional Resources

Join our November Webinar! Date: Wednesday November 27, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Location: Zoom platform (link sent after registration) To register, email Franceska at info@muskokaconservancy.org Link to recording.

Join our April webinar with guest speaker, Laura Thomas! Date: Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Location: Zoom platform (link sent after registration) To register, email Camryn at info@muskokaconservancy.org Discover the benefits of having native plants in your Muskoka garden. Learn which native plants are best at supporting wildlife in Muskoka as well as the plants best suited to your Muskoka landscape. From shallow rocky soils to shorelines and tree-shaded gardens, you will learn which plants will thrive in your garden. Learn design and maintenance tips that will ensure your native plants look great and will thrive regardless of your style of garden. Laura operates, Hidden Habitat, a native plant nursery that grows wildflowers, grasses and shrubs native to Ontario. They sell Ontario native wildflower seeds, sustainably harvested from their cultivated fields in Muskoka and offer ecological landscaping and garden design services. Link to Video

Join our March webinar with guest speaker, Dr. Neil Hutchinson! Date: Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Location: Zoom platform (link sent after registration) To register, email Camryn at info@muskokaconservancy.org Dr. Neil Hutchinson has been working as a water quality scientist since 1976 and has observed changes in the nature, the geographic scope and sources of the pollutants and problems that have emerged and been tackled in that time. We have moved from an awareness of highly toxic synthetic pollutants being discharged from relatively few sources to non-toxic pollutants (some of which, like phosphorus and carbon dioxide, are essential to life) being discharged on a planetary basis. As our pollutants of concern become less toxic, the management complexity required to address them becomes more complex and involves more people and more levels of organization. There has also been a recurring theme of scientific enquiry, blissful ignorance or denial and predictions of economic mayhem until scientific persistence galvanizes public attention, politicians are forced to act and the environment responds. These will be illustrated with several examples which lead to the failure to address the problem of climate change and can inform the approach to road salt management. Link to Video

Join our Winter Tree ID Webinar Hey buds, want to learn how to identify the trees of Muskoka in their winter conditions? Join Conservation Coordinator, Amanda, to learn the tips and tricks for identifying trees by only their twigs, buds, and bark! Plus, you’ll get a copy of Muskoka Conservancy’s Key and Guide to Winter Tree ID! Date: Tuesday, February 27th, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Location: Zoom Platform (link will be sent after registration) Email Camryn at info@muskokaconservancy.org to register. Link to Video