MTRI Mapping Mondays
2025-01-27 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-10 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-10 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Halifax) | Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, 9 Mount Merritt Road, Kempt, Nova Scotia, B0T 1B0, Canada
If you’re a local landowner that could benefit from having a map of your property or woodlot, drop by the MTRI office any time between 1:00-4:00 PM and we’ll create a free customized map for you, which you can take home in printed or electronic format.

Using publicly available provincial data, the map can include the forest stands, soils, wetlands and water bodies, buildings, roads, and topography present on your property.

If you’d like to schedule a specific time to come in, fill out this form to let us know:
https://forms.office.com/r/G9jiEwVR5R

Please email benherringer@merseytobeatic.ca if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you!

2025 Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council Forum
2025-02-27 09:00 - 17:00 | Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada
The 2025 Nova Scotia Invasive Species Forum will be held on Thursday, February 27, from 9 AM to 5 PM at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography with an option to attend virtually. Details and registration to come

MCFC: Winter Adventure at Four Mile Stillwater Trail
2025-03-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Four Mile Stillwater Trail, 2032 Nova Scotia Trunk 8, Bear River, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join SOOF, Medway Community Forests and Annapolis County Recreation for a guided walk/snowshoe at the Four Mile Stillwater Trail. Angelika and Ashlea will be leading a walk through the beautiful mixed forest to learn about work being done to protect hemlock trees in Kespukwitk. This trail is managed through a partnership with the Medway Community Forest Coop and the Friends of the Medway Lakes Wilderness Area. Snowshoes will be available to try out… if there’s snow!
Informed Consent & Release Of Liability: Our workshops are a wonderful way to connect to nature, learn more about our forests and interact with the community, but it is not without certain risks, dangers, hazards, and liabilities to participants. We require all participants (or their legal guardians) to complete, sign and date the waiver before they can participate in the workshop. Click here to download the waiver and please ensure that you bring it with you to the workshop. Extra copies will be available at check-in if you forget!
Register here: Winter Adventure at Four Mile Stillwater Trail

MTRI March Break Day
2025-03-12 11:00 - 14:00 | Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, 9 Mount Merritt Road, Kempt, Nova Scotia, B0T 1B0, Canada
Join the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute Wednesday, March 12th from 11-2 at our field station for drop-in family fun! Lunch will be provided.

NSWWT: Boundary Line Maintenance Workshop
2025-03-15 13:00 - 16:00 | North Nova Office, 11986 Hwy 4, Wentworth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Are you a woodland owner looking for guidance on how to properly maintain your boundary lines?
Clear, well-marked property lines are essential for responsible land management, helping to prevent disputes, supporting sustainable use, and protecting your investment. This interactive workshop is designed to provide private woodland owners with practical guidance on boundary line maintenance, offering expert advice and best practices.
The first portion of the workshop (1:00–2:30 PM) will feature introductions, a presentation on best practices, and an interactive Q&A session. Following this, you will have the option to join a field tour from 3:00–4:00 PM, where you can discuss key learnings in a nearby woodlot.
Tea, coffee and snacks will be available. Space is limited, and registration is required to secure your spot. A waitlist will be available once capacity is reached. Sign up through the form below.
Please note: This workshop provides general information and is not a substitute for consulting a certified Nova Scotia Land Surveyor for legal boundary assessments.
Register here: Boundary Line Maintenance Workshop

MTRI Late Winter Birding Spring BioBlitz Walk
2025-03-16 13:00 - 14:30 | Hirtle’s Beach, 318 Hirtle Beach Road, Kingsburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
Get free tickets for our first Spring BioBlitz walk here!

https://www.eventbrite.com/…/late-winter-birding-hike…

The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute is hosting a 20 day iNaturalist BioBlitz in Kespukwitk, Southwest Nova Scotia. Get out and look for signs of spring and get to know your local organisms as they emerge! Join us for guided walks to boost your ID skills. Join the iNaturalist project here:

https://www.inaturalist.org/…/sixth-annual-spring…

This first walk will feature the last winter birds, who have stuck around until the first weeks of spring. Learn how to identify birds by sight sound and their fascinating behaviours! We recommend participants show up with comfortable and weather appropriate hiking shoes and clothing. Binoculars are encouraged as well as a camera or phone to take pictures with! Stay tuned for more walks in the near future.

MTRI has been hosting BioBlitz events since in 2020 and is excited to continue this tradition that encourages our understanding of the flora, fauna, and fungi that call Kespukwitk home. This year we are encouraging participants to look for early signs of spring, such as tree buds, emerging amphibians, or even lingering flocks of sea ducks. Observations that do not fit into this category are welcome as well! Be sure to submit observations of reptiles and amphibians to the Nova Scotia Herp Atlas Project: https://inaturalist.ca/projects/nova-scotia-herp-atlas

To participate, log on to iNaturalist and submit your photos to this project and help others with their identifications. Participate in guided walks and learn from experts. Those who submit three or more observations will be eligible to win prizes and stickers!

Visit us at https://www.merseytobeatic.ca/ to learn more about our mission.

TransCoastal Adaptations Level 1 Green Shores Training
2025-03-29 09:30 - 16:30 | Chocolate Lake rec Centre, 1014 Purcells Cove Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia
TCA has scheduled TWO Level 1 training opportunities for HRM residents. These training opportunities are provided FREE, thanks to support from the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Ecology Action Centre, as part of the Living Lakeshores Project.

Visit transcoastaladaptations.com/events to register.

Visit transcoastaladaptations.com/green-shores to learn more about how the Green Shores program can help you support healthy and sustainable ocean and lake shores!

Questions? Email transcoastaladaptations@smu.ca

Green Shores® is a program originally created by the Stewardship Centre for BC, and has recently expanded and updated to be applicable in the Maritimes! Green Shores provides anyone working on a lake or ocean shoreline with a system of credits and ratings to optimize the benefits that the project provides to both the project manager/homeowner, and to the environment. Level 1 training is a great introduction to the program and covers shoreline ecology, governance, and climate change adaptation measures, with the ability to apply what is learned to a real shoreline in the afternoon.

MTRI "Early Spring Plants & Amphibians" Bioblitz Walk
2025-03-30 13:00 - 14:30 | Acacia Valley Trail, 155 Mill Rd, Hillgrove, Nova Sctoia
The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute is hosting a 20 day iNaturalist BioBlitz in Kespukwitk, Southwest Nova Scotia. Register for MTRI’s second Spring BioBlitz walk here!
https://www.eventbrite.com/…/spring-plants-amphibians…
This walk will feature some early spring plants and amphibians, some of our first signs of spring! Learn how to identify plants and how to be good stewards to the amphibians who we share our forests and wetlands with! We recommend participants show up with comfortable and weather appropriate hiking shoes and clothing. Binoculars are encouraged as well as a camera or phone to take pictures with!
MTRI has been hosting BioBlitz events since in 2020 and is excited to continue this tradition that encourages our understanding of the flora, fauna, and fungi that call Kespukwitk home. This year we are encouraging participants to look for early signs of spring, such as tree buds, emerging amphibians, or even lingering flocks of sea ducks. Observations that do not fit into this category are welcome as well!
Get out and look for signs of spring and get to know your local organisms as they emerge! Join us for guided walks to boost your ID skills. Join the iNaturalist project here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/…/sixth-annual-spring…
To participate, log on to iNaturalist and submit your photos to this project and help others with their identifications. Participate in guided walks and learn from experts. Those who submit three or more observations will be eligible to win prizes and stickers!
Visit us at https://www.merseytobeatic.ca/ to learn more about our mission.

Beach Habitat Cleanup at Kejimkujik Seaside
2025-04-13 | Kejimkujik National Park Seaside, 1188 St. Catherines River Rd, Port Joli, Nova Scotia, B0T 1S0
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

NSWWT Community Conversation: Preserving Working Woodlands
2025-04-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Parkdale-Maplewood Community Hall, 3003 Barss Corner Rd, Maplewood, Nova Scotia
Join the Nova Scotia Working Woodlands Trust on Tuesday, April 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Parkdale-Maplewood Community Centre in the Parkdale-Maplewood area for an engaging evening dedicated to the future of Nova Scotia’s forests! This interactive community conversation will explore how we can preserve the balance between conservation and sustainable forestry to protect our working forests for generations to come.
What to expect:

Thought-provoking discussions

More information about NSWWT, Nova Scotia’s first working woodlands trust

Connections with like-minded community members

Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Register through the link below.
You can also register by email at info@nsworkingwoodlandstrust.org or by phone at 902-600-6249 ext. 7.

Nova Scotia Nature Trust 30th Anniversary Gala
2025-04-16 | Halifax Convention Centre, 1650 Argyle St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join the Nature Trust on the evening of April 16th, 2025 to celebrate thirty years of protecting nature. View more details here: Nova Scotia Nature Trust – Gala 2025
“Since our first fundraising dinner back in 1998, attendees and special guests have come together to affirm the simple message: conservation matters, and the work of the Nature Trust is vitally important.
In honour of all of the incredible nature you’ve helped to protect over the pasty thirty years, we have reimagined one of Nova Scotia’s highest profile and most prestigious environmental events. Our 2025 Gala will be an unforgettable evening of immersive experience, wild wonder, art, music, food, and natural inspiration.”

Learn to Fly Fish Workshop
2025-04-26 11:00 - 14:00 | McGowan Lake, Maitland Bridge, NS B0T 1N0, Nova Scotia
Learn to Fly Fish at McGowan Lake!
Join the Medway Community Forest Co-op or a hands-on Learn to Fly Fish Workshop at McGowan Lake on April 26th, 2025 (rain date: April 27th). Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, this event offers expert instruction, hands-on practice, and a chance to enjoy a day on the water. Participants will learn the fundamentals of fly fishing, including rod setup, tying leaders and flies, casting techniques, and fish handling.
Space is limited, so make sure you register here to secure your spot!
*Fishing License Required (available online before the event)
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, April 26th (rain date: April 27th)
Time: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM (lunch will be provided)
Location: McGowan Lake
Gear: Rods provided (bring your own if you have one!) Rubber boots are recommended; wading gear is helpful but not required.
This event is hosted in partnership with LaHave River Salmon Association, Fish Nova Scotia, and Nova Scotia Salmon Association.

TransCoastal Adaptations Level 1 Green Shores Training
2025-05-02 09:00 - 16:00 | Sackville Sports Stadium, 409 Glendale Dr, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia

Focus on Birds:Guided Bird Walk
2025-05-25 07:00 - 09:00 | Medway Community Forest License Area, Annapolis County
Join the Medway Community Forest Co-op Sunday, May 25 from 7:00-9:00 AM for a guided birding walk through the Medway Community Forest license area. Led by Dr. Cindy Stacier, a Species at Risk bird researcher, and Jason Dain, a professional wildlife photographer, you’ll learn to identify species at risk birds and capture stunning wildlife photos. This event is perfect for both seasoned birders and newcomers looking to connect with nature!

TransCoastal Adaptations Level 2 Green Shores Training
2025-05-29 09:00 - 2025-07-30 16:30 | Sackville Sports Stadium, 409 Glendale Dr, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
TCA has Level 2 training opportunities for HRM residents. These training opportunities are provided FREE, thanks to support from the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Ecology Action Centre, as part of the Living Lakeshores Project.

Visit transcoastaladaptations.com/events to register.

Visit transcoastaladaptations.com/green-shores to learn more about how the Green Shores program can help you support healthy and sustainable ocean and lake shores!

Questions? Email transcoastaladaptations@smu.ca

Green Shores® is a program originally created by the Stewardship Centre for BC, and has recently expanded and updated to be applicable in the Maritimes! Green Shores provides anyone working on a lake or ocean shoreline with a system of credits and ratings to optimize the benefits that the project provides to both the project manager/homeowner, and to the environment. Level 1 training is a great introduction to the program and covers shoreline ecology, governance, and climate change adaptation measures, with the ability to apply what is learned to a real shoreline in the afternoon.

MTRI Forest Bird Walk Near Caledonia
2025-05-31 08:00 - 10:00 | Caledonia Fire Hall, 9793 Highway 8, Caledonia
Curious about the birds in your backyard or on your hikes? Join MTRI for a gentle morning walk where we’ll cover the basics of birdwatching, how to identify species at risk and their habitats, and simple ways to monitor bird biodiversity right from home.

This is a great introduction for anyone wanting to build confidence with birds and contribute to conservation in a low-key, rewarding way.

Register by emailing Abby.Lewis@MerseyTobeatic.ca

Wetland Interpretative Panels Launch Event
2025-05-31 14:00 - 17:00 | Bay to Bay Marsh, 221 Fauxburg Rd, Mahone Bay
Coastal Action and the Bay to Bay Trail Association are proud to partner on a project that brings nature, culture, and community together — the unveiling of new Wetland Interpretive Panels along the Bay to Bay Trail!

Join them May 31st at 2 PM at the Marsh for an afternoon of celebration, learning, and connection with the land. You may hike, bike, ride, or catch an ATV “taxi” from Shore Cycle & Marine.

You’ll hear from partners including Knowledge Keeper Shawn Feener, designer Kate MacIntosh, and members of the Bay to Bay Wetland Committee — all working together to honour and protect this vital habitat.

Let’s celebrate wetlands, trails, and Two-Eyed Seeing perspectives.

Kejimkuijik LoonWatch
2025-06-01 12:00 - 15:00 | Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
Rain date: June 8, 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

Reel Fun on the River
2025-06-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Lawrencetown Exhibition Grounds, 570 Main St, Lawrencetown
This free event includes live music from CC Grace, Carson Fullerton, and Common Ground.
Hungry? Let’s Taco Bout Snacks will be on site too.
Come out and enjoy the great outdoors and learn about fish and fishing in the Annapolis River!

Guided Walk: Big Meadow Bog Trail
2025-06-14 14:15 | Big Meadow Bog Trail, 197 Water Street, Westport (Brier Island), Nova Scotia, Canada
Introducing a new Trail Badge to Digby Area Recreation’s Trail Challenge!
Join the Digby Area Recreation Commission on Saturday June 14th at 2:15 pm for the launch of the 6th addition to the Digby Area Recreation Commission (DARC) trails challenge! They will be unveiling the new badge and taking a guided walk with volunteers of the Big Meadow Bog Trail Committee.
The Digby Area Recreation Trails Challenge is excited to add a new badge to their challenge booklet. The trails are a mixture of distances, effort levels and showcase communities throughout Digby County. There is something for everyone! The six trails include Acacia Valley, Gulliver’s Cove, Weymouth Storybook, Balancing Rock, Van Tassel Lake and now BIG MEADOW BOG Trails.
If you are unsure how to find any of the trails, check out the Digby Outdoors Map on digbytrails.ca , or reach out to the trails coordinator at clevings@digbymun.ca.

CARP Guided Wetland Walk
2025-06-17 18:00 - 19:00 | CARP Middleton Wetland Trail, 36 Brooklyn Rd, Middleton, Nova Scotia
Join Clean Annapolis River Project and the Town of Middleton for their second June is Recreation Month event on June 17th at 6PMIt will be a guided Walk with Clean Annapolis River Project at the Middleton Wetland Trail.If you have not seen this trail in Middleton, this is your chance to see it in all it’s beauty!We will have a small selection of binoculars on hand.

Forest Bird Walk
2025-06-29 18:30 - 21:00 | Western Woodlot Services Cooperative Office, 5255 Nova Scotia Trunk 10, New Germany, Nova Scotia
Calling all curious folks, land stewards, and birders of all skill levels! You are invited to join in some fabulous events with a community of people interested in forest bird biodiversity!

MTRI is pleased to support several opportunities to learn about forest birds with woodland management partners in NS this season! This is part of MTRI’s effort to share knowledge about forest biodiversity and to encourage folks to get to know species at risk on the lands they steward through monitoring efforts. At each gathering we’ll be joined by a local expert who will interpret the forest bird biodiversity to help us appreciate the richness of bird diversity in forest habitats during the nesting season.

Sunday, June 29, in Lunenburg County, we’ll join staff of Western Woodlot Services Cooperative and Birds Canada for an evening walk on a woodlot near New Germany where Common Nighthawk have been located.. Event starts at 6:30pm. Register by emailing MicheleWWSC@gmail.com

MCFC 10th Annual General Meeting + Campground Launch
2025-07-05 13:00 - 18:00 | North Queens Business Hub, 9793 Nova Scotia Trunk 8, Caledonia, Nova Scotia
MCFC are excited to invite you to the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Medway Community Forest Co-op — a special milestone marking 10 years of community forestry in action! The AGM will take place on Saturday, July 5, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Maitland Bridge Community Hall, and will include program updates from our staff, a look at what’s ahead, and the election of our Board of Directors.
Following the meeting, we hope you’ll stick around to celebrate the official launch of our new Stave Lake Campground with a BBQ and social gathering — a chance to enjoy good food, connect with other members, and toast to 10 years of MCFC!
While everyone is welcome to attend, only MCFC members are entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). If you’re not yet a member, membership is a one-time $25 fee and gives you the opportunity to vote at meetings, join committees, and run for the Board of Directors. If you believe in the future of community-led forestry in Nova Scotia, please consider becoming a member today at www.medwaycommunityforest.com/join-us.
Please register using the link below.
MCFC’s AGM + Stave Lake Campground Launch

Clean Annapolis Rover Project: Annapolis River Festival
2025-07-12 09:00 - 17:00 | Jubilee Park, 232 Evangeline Trail, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia
The Festival is a fun-filled day open to everyone, celebrating the environmental, historical, cultural, and recreational values of the Annapolis River. Dragon Boat Races are the signature event of the Annapolis River Festival.

Planning for the 2025 Festival is underway. If you would like to learn about opportunities to be a sponsor, vendor, dragon boat team, or anything else, please reach out to festival.coordinator@annapolisriver.ca

Community Conversation: Preserving Working Forests
2025-07-27 10:00 - 14:00 | West Brooklyn Community Hall, 410 W Brooklyn Mountain Rd, Nova Scotia
Join NSWWT on Sunday, July 27, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the West Brooklyn Community Hall (410 W Brooklyn Mountain Rd), for an engaging and hands-on day dedicated to the future of Nova Scotia’s forests! We’ll begin the morning indoors with an engaging conversation exploring how we can preserve the balance between conservation and sustainable forestry to protect our working forests for generations to come.
Following a delicious catered lunch, we’ll head outdoors for a guided walk through a nearby forest that’s conserved in partnership with the Nova Scotia Working Woodlands Trust (NSWWT).
What to expect:

Thought-provoking discussions

More information about NSWWT, Nova Scotia’s first working woodlands trust

Coffee, tea and a catered lunch

A guided tour of a nearby woodland that is being conserved with NSWWT

Connections with like-minded community members

You can register by email at info@nsworkingwoodlandstrust.org or by phone at 902-600-6249

iNaturalist & Nature Journaling- Recording Species Observations In Your Community
2025-07-31 16:00 - 17:00 | Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, 9 Mount Merritt Road, Kempt, Nova Scotia, B0T 1B0, Canada
MTRIs summer series is here! Join us in person at our field station or online on Zoom on July 31stat 4pm to learn about iNaturalist and Nature Journaling. In this seminar you will learn:

– How your observations contribute to research projects
– How to take better iNaturalist photos
– When NOT to post to iNaturalist
– How to ethically collect specimens for a nature journal
– Tips and tricks to realistically and creatively make a nature journal

Bring your sketchbooks and see you there!

Sign up link:

Meeting Registration – Zoom

10 Years of the Medway Community Forest Cooperative
2025-08-07 16:00 - 17:00 | Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, 9 Mount Merritt Road, Kempt, Nova Scotia, B0T 1B0, Canada
Learn about 10 Years of the Medway Community Forest Cooperative during MTRIs 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

Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association Lakeshore Restoration Project
2025-08-14 16:00 - 17:00 | 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
