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Is it just me or does it feel like summer passed by with the blink of an eye?

As much as I enjoy the long, warm & sunny days, I look forward to the crisp air and bright colours of fall. It's definitely my favourite time of year!

This July we implemented Grant's Greeters and had small, but great success. With a late start to the season mixed with busy schedules, we're looking forward to starting early next year and expanding our team to engage & inform more visitors at Grant's Woods.

Our focus will remain on this role for a couple years so we can truly test the waters and understand the effect it's having. I highly recommend reading our Ambassador Handbook if this sounds like something you may like to commit to! Intake will open in April and training will take place late May.

As we transition into our colder months, things start to quiet down for Ambassadors, but we do have a few opportunities that we need your help with this season. Keep reading to learn more below.

Finally, I'd like to make sure I'm engaging those of you who are passionate about The Couchiching Conservancy's mission and have time to spread awareness for us, so I've included a poll to ensure you'd like to remain on this list. Those of you who don't respond or answer 'No' to the poll will be removed, but can be added back by request at any time!

Be sure to make some time and enjoy those fall colours while you can. I highly recommend visiting Alexander Hope Smith and Adams Nature Reserve this time of year. Your eyes will be very pleased.

Church Woods Nature Reserve has been protected since 2007 and has a strong community of supporters in Shanty Bay.

Unfortunately, many ash trees have been damaged or killed by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer and are now hazards to trail users and neighbours. Over 70 have been marked for removal to ensure the safety of the surrounding homes & properties.

Funds will need to be raised to cover the large cost of removal and 2 volunteers are needed to inform the community and encourage donations.

The Orillia Vocal Ensemble is organizing a benefit concert in support of The Couchiching Conservancy on Wednesday, November 9 @ 7:30 pm at St. Paul's Centre downtown Orillia.

We're looking for 4-6 volunteers to help usher guests as they arrive, answer general questions about The Conservancy, and hand out information.

We're getting ready to plan our 2023/24 Passport to Nature program and need to fill a couple seats on our committee!

If you love event planning and can commit to a year-long volunteer position, this may be for you.

Planning takes place October - December, with additional responsibilities throughout the year.

Nicholson Nature Reserve (NR) and the Leida & Roman Marley NR are both located in the high priority Black River Wildlands corridor. Both properties are remote and not accessible to the public. Wildlife only.

Nicholson NR boasts 100 acres of hardwood and mixed swamp, with some open granite outcrops. The landscape is a prime area for Blanding’s Turtles (threatened), Eastern Wood Pewee (special concern), Yellow-billed Cuckoo and many others. Connecting these protected landscapes is beneficial to large-range species as well, such as Moose, Black Bear and White-tailed Deer.

The Leida & Roman Marley NR showcases 77 acres of Canadian Shield granite rock with wet wooded ravines, and several small marshy areas that are defined by their buttonbush and meadowsweet shrubs. Open rock outcrops are lushly covered in lichens and mosses with small cherry trees establishing themselves in the cracks and crevasses. Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Moose, Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, Otter, Beaver and Muskrats all call this nature reserve home, and Painted Trillium and many fern species can be found along the riverbank of the Black River.

Sharing information about our protected nature reserves, and specifically our Corridors Campaign, is crucial to your role as an Ambassador. With increasing development pressure in our area, we have a goal to raise $1.4M to help move forward acquisition and protection efforts. We still need to raise $500K and every donation is important and moves us closer to our land conservation objectives.

Check out the virtual unveilings for our newest nature reserves: