Kespukwitk Conservation Collaborative

Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association Lakeshore Restoration Project
2025-08-14 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, 9 Mount Merritt Road, Kempt, Nova Scotia, B0T 1B0, Canada
Listen to Dr. Nick Hill present on SWNBRA’s Lakeshore Restoration project during MTRI’s Summer Seminar Series.

MTRI is hosting our annual Summer Seminar Series! Join us in person at our field station or online on Zoom to learn from industry experts. All seminars are free to attend! You can stay up to date with our seminars by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Register here: Meeting Registration – Zoom

16th Annual Kejimkujik Dark Sky Weekend
2025-08-15 - 2025-08-17 | Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
Head to Nova Scotia’s only Dark-Sky Preserve for a weekend of dark sky delights. Presented in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC).
Search Kejimkujik’s spectacular night skies for planets, galaxies, constellations, meteors, and more. Whether you are new to stargazing or a seasoned observer, there will be stories and discoveries for all ages!
More information

Simple Tips for Happy Lichens
2025-08-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, 9 Mount Merritt Road, Kempt, Nova Scotia, B0T 1B0, Canada
Listen to MTRI’s Brad Toms present some simple tips for happy lichens during MTRI’s Summer Seminar Series.

MTRI is hosting our annual Summer Seminar Series! Join us in person at our field station or online on Zoom to learn from industry experts. All seminars are free to attend! You can stay up to date with our seminars by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Register here: Meeting Registration – Zoom

MCFC 9th Annual Forest Market
2025-08-24 10:00 - 14:00 | Annapolis Royal Market Square, 178 Saint George Street, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Join the Medway Community Forest Co-op for their 9th annual Forest Market in Annapolis Royal this August! Come support local businesses, organizations and artisans! The Forest Market aims to showcase local talent, traditions, artists, producers, foragers, and nature organizations around a diversity of values stemming from the woods. There will also be food trucks serving delicious food throughout the day!
When: Sunday, August 24, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Where: Annapolis Royal Market Square
Who: Open to everyone!
Cost: Free!

Kejimkuijik LoonWatch
2025-08-24 12:00 - 15:00 | Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
Rain date: August 31, 2025
Teams of LoonWatchers will canoe assigned lakes to provide a simultaneous survey of loon presence and reproductive activity. Lakes are surveyed from 12 noon until 3 pm. LoonWatch observation forms will be collected at the Visitor Centre following the survey.
A canoe and associated equipment must be supplied by the volunteers. There are opportunities to rent equipment from Jake’s Landing canoe rental (902-682-2282).
How do I sign up?
Email: benevolekeji-kejivolunteer@pc.gc.ca
We will ensure that you have a canoe partner if you are coming alone.
In case of inclement weather
High winds and/or extremely rainy days represent a safety hazard and can affect loon visibility. In case of inclement weather, LoonWatch will generally take place on the following Sunday.

More information

Kejimkujik Birch Bark Canoe Launch
2025-09-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join Mi’kmaq artisan, Todd Labrador, his family, and the Kejimkujik team, as they launch the birch bark canoe built this summer at the Birch Bark Canoe Shop, Merrymakedge.
More information about traditional Mi’kmaq birch bark canoe building with Todd Labrador and his family

Otter Ponds iNaturalist Bioblitz
2025-09-27 10:00 - 15:00 | Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest, 4032 Mooseland Rd, Mooseland, Nova Scotia, Canada
Love taking photos and walking in the woods? Join the 2nd annual Otter Ponds iNaturalist Bioblitz on Saturday, Sept. 27th.

Learn from experts on birds, lichens, herps, invertebrates, wetland species, and more!

The event will take place at Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest from 10am to 3pm, with a free BBQ lunch.

This family-friendly event will include tours by species experts as well as stations on critter dipping, water quality sampling, surveying herps, monitoring bird Species-at-Risk, and more.

For more info and to register, visit: otterponds.ca/2025bioblitz

Event Partners:

Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute
Ducks Unlimited Canada – Atlantic
Atlantic Water Network
Ecology Action Centre
Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association

Hemlock Hustle Gravel Rally
2025-10-19 09:00 - 15:00 | Maitland Bridge Community Hall, 9793 Nova Scotia Trunk 8, Caledonia, Nova Scotia, Canada
Welcome to the very first edition of The Hemlock Hustle Gravel Rally—a day to ride, connect, and celebrate the incredible forests of rural Annapolis County! This is a rally-style ride designed for gravel enthusiasts of all levels. Come ready for adventure, gorgeous autumn scenery, and the perfect mix of challenge and fun. After the ride, stick around for a late lunch, some music and great conversation with fellow riders.

There will be three routes to choose from, depending on what you are looking for! All the routes will take you through the Medway Community Forest Cooperative’s (MCFC) stunning forests during peak fall colour, featuring rolling hills and winding gravel forestry roads! Roads are in good shape for gravel riders, but expect some rocks and bumps along the way.
Registration is $35 for Cycling NS members and $55 for non-Cycling NS members who wish to purchase one-time event insurance.

Registration Fee Covers:

Post-ride grub

Snacks

Hemlock Hustle Bike decal!

What to Expect
Three Scenic Routes:

Short Route (47km): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52208088

Mid Route (67 km): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52287657

Long Route (97 km): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52409148

Start times will be staggered; long route participants roll out at 9:00, mid and short route participants roll out at 10.

Post-ride Lunch + Community Vibes: Refuel after your ride with lunch and plenty of time to swap stories.

Why Hemlock Hustle?
This event is hosted in support of Medway Community Forest Co-op (MCFC)—a locally driven initiative supporting ecologically-based forestry in Caledonia, Nova Scotia. By joining this ride, you’re helping demonstrate how forests can provide for communities beyond timber, through recreation, education, and shared stewardship.

What to Bring:

Gravel, mountain or cyclocross bike recommended

Helmet (mandatory)

Basic repair kit + spare tire

Water (refill stations available through the ride)

A sense of adventure

Huge thanks to Tilia Builders for backing the Hemlock Hustle Gravel Rally and supporting community forestry in Nova Scotia.
Register here: The Hemlock Hustle Gravel Rally | CCN

NSWWT Annual General Meeting
2025-10-20 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual
Join Nova Scotia Working Woodlands Trust on Monday, October 20, for their Annual General Meeting (AGM)!
The AGM will take place online from 5:30 to 6:30 PM and will include program updates from their staff, highlights of what’s ahead, and the election of our Board of Directors. This is a great opportunity to learn more about their work, connect with other members, and help guide the future of the Trust.
Please register using this link to receive the virtual meeting details.
While everyone is welcome to attend, only NSWWT members are entitled to vote at the AGM. If you’re not yet a member, membership is free and gives you the opportunity to vote at meetings, join committees, and run for the Board of Directors.
You can become a member today at www.nsworkingwoodlandstrust.org/become-a-member.

Starlight Festival Community Stargazing at Forest Glen
2025-10-21 19:30 - 21:30 | Forest Glen Adventures, 5907 Highway 340, Forest Glen, Nova Scotia, Canada
Come see the out-of-this-world views in the UNESCO-designated Acadian Skies & Mi’kmaq Lands Starlight Preserve. Join Biosphere staff, local astronomers, and student researchers at Forest Glen Adventures, 5907 Highway 340, Forest Glen, to see the Orionid meteor shower during a new moon. The event will start at the Forest Glen Community Center.

Blanche Peninsula Cleanup
2025-10-25 10:00 - 2025-10-26 16:00 | Blanche Peninsula
Scotian Shores will be leading a multi-day shoreline cleanup on the beautiful Blanche Peninsula in late October, working closely with the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, and Coastal Action to help remove marine debris from our precious coastline. Please note the terrain in the area can be rocky and uneven.
For more event details, please visit Scotian Shores’ Facebook Event Page: Blanche Clean Up | Facebook

Medway Community Forest Co-op 10th Anniversary Gala
2025-11-14 19:00 - 22:00 | Rosewater Social, 673 King St, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join MCFC for an evening of celebration as the Medway Community Forest Co-op marks its 10-year anniversary!
We’re bringing together friends, partners, and community members to reflect on a decade of growth in community forestry — and to look ahead to what’s next.
Enjoy delicious local bites, live music, and inspiring words from our guest speakers, all in good company. It’s a chance to reconnect, share stories, and celebrate the people and partnerships that make MCFC what it is today.
Evening Highlights:

Locally sourced appetizers and light fare

Guest speakers (to be announced)

Live music and socializing

Cash bar

Whether you’ve been part of MCFC from the start or are just getting involved, we’d love to have you join us to toast to ten years of shared success — and many more to come.
Dress is business casual, but wear what is comfortable.
Register here

Seabird Boat Tour
2025-11-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Lunenburg Waterfront, 146 Bluenose Drive, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
Coastal Action is heading out to explore the LaHave Islands with Birds Canada to learn about the importance of this special area and the incredible diversity of its coastal ecosystems.

Whether you’re a recreational user, a birder, a local resident or a visitor, we Coastal Action invites you to join them for a morning on the water and experience the beauty of these coastal islands firsthand! Please register to secure your spot. Rain date is Nov. 22nd
Meet at the Lunenburg Wharf next to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

Save your spot here (only 20 spots available): https://www.eventbrite.ca/…/seabird-boat-tour-tickets…

Beach Habitat Cleanup at Kejimkujik Seaside
2025-11-16 11:00 - 15:00 | Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
Get involved with a beach habitat cleanup at Kejimkujik Seaside, in partnership with Scotian Shores.
Help keep our shoreline clean! Gather shoreline garbage and leave behind a more natural landscape and healthier habitat.
Email: benevolekeji-kejivolunteer@pc.gc.ca

Winter Foraging Workshop
2025-11-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, 9 Mount Merritt Road, Kempt, Nova Scotia, B0T 1B0, Canada
Join the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute in welcoming clinical herbalist Benna Keoghoe for a hands-on afternoon of learning on November 16, from 1-4pm at the MTRI field station (9 Mount Merritt Road, Kempt).

Discover the edible and medicinal trees and plants that can be found through the winter and learn how to use them. Participants will make their own immune supportive syrup to take home.

Space is limited, register by emailing Ben.Herringer@merseytobeatic.ca.

MTRI Biodiversity Conservation Showcase
2025-11-22 09:00 - 18:00 | Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS), 50 Elliott Road, Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia, Canada
This year MTRI has teamed up with NSCC to host their annual fall science gathering and celebrate good news stories. Join us as we come together to share the science, recovery, and stewardship initiatives taking place in the Kespukwitk/Southwest Nova Scotia Priority Place-and beyond. This one-day conference will showcase the efforts and successes of the community of conservation professionals, student researchers, citizen scientists, and interested members of the public. Stay tuned for further details including a call for presentations/ posters, and registration for this event.

NSCC’S Centre of Geographic Sciences
(COGS)
Lawrencetown, NS

Conservation Poster Presentation Session
2025-11-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS), 50 Elliott Road, Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia, Canada
Are you a lover of nature? Come check out the poster presentation session MTRI are hosting at their Biodiversity Conservation Showcase to learn about the conservation work being done in our community!
Admittance is free, and all are welcome! You can expect booths from local conservation organizations and free snacks.
Join us as we come together to celebrate our good news stories and share the science, recovery, and stewardship initiatives taking place in Kespukwitk/Southwest Nova Scotia.
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time: 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Location: In the gymnasium of NSCC’s Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS), 50 Elliott Road, Lawrencetown, NS
Conference website: https://www.merseytobeatic.ca/2025ConservationShowcase

Riverside Trail Snow Shoe Bioblitz
2026-02-21 11:00 - 13:00 | Riverside Park, 80 Bridge St, Middleton, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Southwest Nova Biosphere and Middleton Recreation are partnering to bring the Snow Shoe Bioblitz to the Riverside Park. This family-friendly event invites community members to learn about biodiversity in Southwestern Nova Scotia using the iNaturalist app.
Participants will meet at the trailhead by the parking lot at 11:00 am on Saturday February 21st to explore the trail and photograph as many winter plants as they can see. A prize will be available for the attendee with the highest number of species uploaded to iNaturlist at the end of the walk. This data will be incorporated into the “Best Buds Bioblitz” on iNaturalist.

Middleton recreation offers free equipment rentals including cross country skis, walking poles, and snow shoes. Attendees are encouraged to reach out to mpal@town.middleton.ns.ca to reserve snow shoes for Saturday morning.

For more information on the bioblitz, check out SNBRA beginners’ guide on their Facebook page.

Reimagining Rural Resilience: Changing Landscapes and Lifescapes Fireside Chat
2026-02-26 18:30 - 20:30 | Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
A friendly, fireside chat with dykeland researchers Dr. Danika van Proosdij and Dr. Jonathan Fowler.

This is the first annual fireside chat, in the series Reimagining Rural Resilience: Changing Landscapes and Lifescapes. Hosted by The Gorsebrook Research Institute for Atlantic Canada Studies (GRI), the TransCoastal Adaptations Centre for Nature-Based Solutions (TCA) at Saint Mary’s University, and the Community Conservation Research Network (CCRN), this series will showcase new research on and about Nova Scotia with the public.
Unilever Lounge (SB) at Saint Mary’s University

Register here

Hemlock Conservation Webinar Series: Chemical Treatment Options and Resources for Woodland Stewards
2026-02-26 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
This online webinar will focus on systemic insecticide treatments that can help woodland stewards protect hemlock trees from Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). Systemic insecticides are currently the only proven short-term method for saving infested hemlocks. Preserving mature hemlocks and trees in riparian areas is especially important, as these forests provide cooling shade, wildlife habitat, soil stability, and stream protection.
As staff with the Medway Community Forest Cooperative (MCFC), presenters Jessica Ihlen and Matt Miller will share an overview of MCFC’s HWA program, including treatment planning resources, decision-making tools, and practical guidance to help woodland stewards determine when chemical treatment is appropriate. Woodland stewards will leave with clear steps for identifying priority trees, understanding treatment considerations, and making informed choices to protect hemlock on their property.
This webinar is part of a three-part series designed to equip woodland stewards with practical, research-informed tools for responding to Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), an invasive, aphid-like insect that has been devastating hemlock forests in Nova Scotia since its discovery in 2017. Follow the links below to register for parts 2 and 3.
Webinar 1: Chemical Treatment Options and Resources for Woodland Stewards
Webinar 2: Understanding Biological Control and Research in Nova Scotia
Webinar 3: Silviculture Strategies to Help Prepare & Adapt your Woodland for HWA

Monarch March
2026-03-01 00:00 - 2026-03-31 23:59 | Nova Scotia
Soon, the Monarch butterflies will begin to emerge from their winter sleep in Mexico, getting ready to start their journey north to lay their eggs. As each new generation moves farther north and finally reaches us here in Nova Scotia, the generation that hatches in our province will take on the incredible 5,000 km flight back to Mexico to spend the winter in their special forest habitat.

The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute is asking everyone to celebrate this massive migration and help raise awareness for this Endangered butterfly by marching during the month of March. Our collective goal is to walk, jog, or run 5,000 km in honour of this remarkable insect.
Submission forms will open on March 1st, 2026, and this year we’re excited to introduce a prize for the participant who logs the most kilometers.

Visit MTRI’s Facebook page for more info

Hemlock Conservation Webinar: Understanding Biological Control & Research in Nova Scotia
2026-03-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
This online webinar will focus on biological control, a long-term strategy that uses natural predators to reduce Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) populations. Current research in Nova Scotia includes evaluating and releasing specialist predators such as Laricobius nigrinus, a beetle that feeds on HWA and has shown promise for establishing in affected stands. This work is advancing with federal and provincial support for predator rearing and release programs within a broader integrated management approach.
Presenters Jeff Fidgen and Dr. Kirk Hillier will share current findings on predator establishment, research progress, and how biological control fits within long-term hemlock conservation. Woodland stewards will leave with a clearer understanding of the role biological control can play in sustaining hemlock ecosystems as part of a resilient, multi-faceted approach to managing HWA.
This webinar is part of a three-part series designed to equip woodland stewards with practical, research-informed tools for responding to Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), an invasive, aphid-like insect that has been devastating hemlock forests in Nova Scotia since its discovery in 2017. Follow the links below to register for parts 2 and 3.
Webinar 1: Chemical Treatment Options and Resources for Woodland Stewards (February 26th)
Webinar 3: Silviculture Strategies to Help Prepare & Adapt your Woodland for HWA

Crow Neck Beach Clean Up
2026-03-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Crows Neck Beach, 1160 Baccaro Rd, Barrington, Canada
On March 8th, Scotian Shores will be leading a shoreline clean up at Crow Neck Beach, which is protected by the province of Nova Scotia in partnership with Nova Scotia Nature Trust. This spectacular beach supports critical habitat for the endangered Piping Plover. Please join them in helping to remove garbage and debris from the area before plovers return from migration!
For more details, please see Scotian Shores’ Facebook Event Page: Crows Neck Beach Clean Up | Facebook

Hemlock Conservation Webinar Series: Silviculture Strategies to Help Prepare & Adapt your Woodland for HWA
2026-03-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
This webinar will focus on silviculture strategies that help woodland stewards prepare for, and adapt to, the arrival of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). Practices such as stand thinning can improve tree vigour in advance of infestation. Silviculture can also play a mitigative role in cases where insecticide treatments are feasible, where the focus is on promoting species and structural diversity.
Presenters Mary Jane Rodger and Michael Stastny will share practical guidance informed by ongoing research and on-the-ground management experience. Woodland stewards will gain clear considerations and proactive steps to help conserve and strengthen hemlock stands before and after HWA establishment, supporting long-term forest resilience and ecological health.
This webinar is part of a three-part series designed to equip woodland stewards with practical, research-informed tools for responding to Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), an invasive, aphid-like insect that has been devastating hemlock forests in Nova Scotia since its discovery in 2017. Follow the links below to register for parts 1 and 2.
Webinar 1: Chemical Treatment Options and Resources for Woodland Stewards (February 26th)
Webinar 2: Understanding Biological Control and Research in Nova Scotia (March 5th)

2026 Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Resilience Conference
2026-06-21 00:00 - 2026-06-25 23:59 | Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The TransCoastal Adaptations Centre for Nature-Based Solutions at Saint Mary’s University is organizing the 2026 Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Resilience Conference. This five-day workshop (including 2 field trip days) provides a space for reflection, collaboration, and growth. It focuses on the principles and techniques for nature-based adaptation. The goal is to increase local knowledge exchange on nature-based adaptation and to empower more groups to undertake such activities. Through open dialogue, they aim to advance the implementation of nature-based and restoration projects across Canada and North America. The multi-day conference will welcome 120 researchers, policymakers, scientists, engineers, designers, students, community groups, and other experts from across the region.
The Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Resilience conference will be held from June 22-24, 2026 at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bookending the event are 2 optional field trips (June 21, June 25), to view nature-based coastal adaptation strategies in action in Nova Scotia.
Visit Coastal Resilience Conference 2026 — TransCoastal Adaptations to learn more.
