Inside this issue:

• Earth Day Voluntary Road Toll comes to Lamb's Inn.
• Many thanks to our many volunteers!
• Check out these vendors at our Spring Plant Sale & EcoMarket!
• Why Summer ECO Camp for your kids.
• Steve Burrows releases new Birder Murder novel in time for Conversations for Conservation.
• Blair Flats cleanup this Sunday.
• Deadline approaches on Ages Foundation Fellowship & Bursaries application.
• Register for these upcoming FREE events.
• Our biweekly poll

Photographer unknown.

Earth Day Voluntary Road Toll Comes to Lamb's Inn

On Earth Day, Monday, April 22, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. drivers travelling eastbound along Blair Road are invited to pull into the parking lot of Lamb's Inn for coffee and snacks and to make a donation in support of Turn the Map Green.

Just $2 protects one square metre of environmentally sensitive land, now and for the future. With more than 12,000 cars a day travelling Blair Road passing through rare, think of how much those drivers can preserve and protect, for the price of a toonie.

Don't carry cash? You can make an electronic toll payment here! Or by debit or credit card at Lamb's Inn on Monday.

Thanks to all who give to preserve our natural spaces now and for future generations, and for protecting the beautiful vistas along your commute. We look forward to seeing you at our voluntary toll "booth" this Monday!

Heartfelt Gratitude to our Many Volunteers!

This is National Volunteer Week: a time to celebrate and recognize the impact of volunteers. As a charitable organization, rare relies on the generous contributions of time and expertise made by these talented and dedicated individuals. 

This week, we are celebrating the impact of over 100 volunteers who come together, in many different ways, to protect these natural spaces for the health and well-being of the environment, wildlife and our community, now and forever.

Did you know:

• Since 2016, volunteers have helped grow over 35,000 pounds of organic produce at Springbank Farm, donated to local food banks?
• Last year, 107 individual volunteers spent 1,167 hours at Springbank Farm, supporting local food security!
• Our solid crew of land stewards spent 65 hours last year monitoring rare's trails, ensuring they were safe to use and ecologically healthy?

These are just some of the things that our volunteers have done at rare to make the world a better place. Follow this link or click the button below to learn more. Once again, thanks to all our volunteers for giving so generously of their time!

If you haven't already, consider volunteering. There are many things you can do, depending on your interests, and we're happy to see everyone who comes out!

Photo by I. Dent

Our Spring Plant Sale & Ecomarket is just three weeks away, and we're excited to see you there, shopping amongst thousands of herb, vegetable and native flower plants, and checking out the unique wares of the local vendors under the all-weather tent of our EcoMarket.

Here's a few examples of who you will see:

Check out the beautiful creations of Trip Phoenix, the self-taught artisan behind SunHeat Rises Designs. Trip specializes in traditional and contemporary Indigenous jewelry and accessories made from leather, bone, horn, glass, shell and other natural materials.

West Coast Seeds & Renee's Garden emphasize the principles of organic growing and sustainable agriculture while supporting biodiverity and regenerative practices. Be sure to shop their organic vegetable, flower and herb seeds for your growing needs.

Then there's Bee Sweet Nature Company. They specialize in organic native plants grown from seeds collected by hand. This local, family-run business are also beekeepers selling fresh honey and handcrafted soaps, lip balms and personal care products!

These are just a small sample of who will be under the tent at our Spring Plant Sale & EcoMarket. Rain or shine, it promises to be a great day, so come out to rare's Slit Barn at 768 Blair Road from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 11, and celebrate the start of growing season!

Why Summer ECO Camp for your kids?

Why should you sign up your kids to our Summer ECO Camps?

1. Your children will have a unique outdoor adventure, exploring rare's diverse habitats
2. They'll interact with fascinating native plants and animals and learn the basics of scientific monitoring and environmental research.
3. They'll visit Springbank Farm, learn about organic farming and help harvest food for the local food bank.
4. They'll take part in nature-themed games and create environmental-based art.
5. They'll learn from special guests about Birds of Prey, Indigenous history and the importance of protecting these natural lands.
6. They'll keep a journal of their time and memories at rare.
7. You'll help spark a sense of wonder in nature in your child, which will last a lifetime.

Camps run weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through July and August, with a special Teen Camp running on the week of August 6-9. General registration costs just $250 per week ($200 for short weeks and the Teen Camp) with extended care available an hour before and/or after camp for $25/week for either the morning or afternoon sessions or $50/week for both.

Check out what Summer ECO Camp is like on our Instagram page highlights here.

Congratulations to Steve Burrows on his New Birder Murder Novel!

We would like to congratulate Steve Burrows on the release of his latest Birder Murder novel, A Nye of Pheasants!

Steve will be talking about his work, as well as selling and autographing copies during our May Converations for Conservation Event.

Spaces are still available, so register now and come out to the Slit Barn (768 Blair Road) on Wednesday, May 24, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The event is free but registration is required, so click here to sign up. You can also read more about Steve Burrows' work here.

Blair Flats Cleanup Happening this Sunday

On Sunday, April 21, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., everyone is invited to gather at Lamb's Inn (1679 Blair Road) to head down to clean up Blair Flats. Help mark Earth Week by picking up garbage and other debris along the Grand River shoreline, creating a cleaner environment for all!

Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes and bring your work gloves. We will supply the garbage bags. We look forward to everyone keeping our community clean and garbage out of the river.

This event is FREE! But please register and help us make the world a better and cleaner place!

The deadline to apply for the 2024 Ages Foundation Fellowship & Bursaries is midnight on Tuesday, April 30. This program is a partnership between rare and the Ages Foundation to support students as they conduct research in a relatively undisturbed yet highly accessible site in Waterloo Region.

A total of $15,000 will be distributed to graduate students enrolled in a Canadian or international institution who wish to conduct research on rare lands or in conjunction with rare between May 2024 and April 2025. The research project must have an environmental focus or component, but isn't limited to environmental science. Art projects are also considered.

To learn more, please visit this page.

Register Now for Coming rare Events!

• Sunday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. - Blair Flats Shoreline Cleanup.
• Wednesday, May 8 at 9:30 a.m. - Yoga in the Garden
• Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m. - Conversations for Conservation: From Birder to Birder Murder: the Mystery Deepens with Steve Burrows
• Wednesday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. - Conversations for Conservation: Loggerhead Shrike - On the Brink of Disappearance in Ontario, featuring Helmi Hess.

These events are FREE, but require registration. We look forward to seeing you here at rare!

Our Bi-Weekly Poll: Eclipse Planning and Pollinator Gardens

Last issue, we asked about pollinator gardens and received a tremendous response. Over half of you stated that you already had a pollinator garden and 26% of you said you intended to plant one this year.

For those who aren't planning to plant a pollinator garden, we understand that these can be a challenge. If you're reading this, however, you are already helping native pollinators through your support of rare and the natural lands we steward. Your continued support and advocacy for healthy natural refuges for native plants and animals throughout the region is helping to create the biggest pollinator garden of all.

However, if you are interested in creating a pollinator garden and are just worried you are not up to the challenge, tune in to this video featuring Dr. Victoria MacPhail of Pollinator Guelph discussing How to Grow a Pollinator Garden. Even a small planter on your balcony can do wonders for our native pollinators.

And for those of you who do have or are making a pollinator garden, consider registering it with the 1000 Gardens Project here.

For our next question: what are you most excited to see at our coming Spring Plant Sale & EcoMarket?