Kespukwitk Conservation Collaborative

Medicinals & Edibles Workshop for Woodlot Owners
2023-08-19 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Halifax) | MTRI, 9 Mt Merritt Rd, Kempt, NS, B0T 1B0, Canada
Are you a woodlot owner interested in learning about wild medicinal and edible plants? Join us for a walk through the forest with clinical herbalist, Benna Keoghoe, where she will be teaching how to identify natural medicines that grow all around us. Supplies will be provided for tincture making!’
Be sure to pre-register, as space is limited: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAMAAFNp3LdUMVQ4TkdPVEs1VVM5NklGWE5HVjgyRFY1Sy4u&fbclid=IwAR2VTE0tvRhoGi340w_6RouAJNS2yeuFVeM233AbNC08u9nY4_0BvOUC9hU

Sights and Sounds of Brier Island
2023-08-19 09:15 - 14:00 | Westport, NS, 225 Water St, Westport, NS, Canada
Looking for an opportunity to help protect coastal habitat? Join us for a morning of shoreline cleanup and trail maintenance on the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Brier Island Nature Reserve.
Brier Island is renowned for its bird life and rare plant species, as well as its beautiful coastal views and island culture. Come join your fellow nature enthusiasts and get your hands dirty, while making a difference!
Join us for our Sights and Sounds of Brier Island event. This will be our eighth event, and we are seeking volunteers to complete shoreline cleanup and trail maintenance on our 3.5-kilometre Brier Island Coastal Trail.
Pre-registration for this event is required.
Register here: Sights and Sounds of Brier Island Registration, Sat, Aug 19, 2023 at 9:15 AM | Eventbrite
Lunch and snacks on the Westport oceanside deck will be provided!
Please note

This event will be weather dependent.
All tools will be provided by NCC.
Additional event details, including directions and parking instructions, will be provided closer to the event day.
Trail difficulty: moderate. The trail is maintained and flat.
This event will require physical labour, and participants must have a moderate to high fitness level.
There will be toilets at the meeting site but not at the work sites.

Equipment checklist

closed-toe footwear
long pants
light layers
rain jacket
water bottle
hat
bug spray
sunscreen
any necessary medications

Questions
Please call or email Doug van Hemessen, Nova Scotia stewardship manager, Nature Conservancy of Canada, at 902-293-0744 or doug.vanhemessen@natureconservancy.ca.

*Note that the location is for the parking lot at 225 Water St, Westport, NS.

Fungi of Threatened Eastern Hemlock Stands — Does Insect Disturbance Impact Diversity? (Rebecca Mader, MSc Student at Acadia University)
2023-08-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
Continuing into August, MTRI will be hosting weekly seminars on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8 p.m. These seminars will be online so you can sign up on Zoom, catch our Facebook live stream or watch afterwards on our YouTube channel. This month our seminars will feature mosquito diversity in Nova Scotia, wildfires in Canada, fungi of Hemlock forests, parasites in White-Tailed Deer and the impact of warming waters on fish! You can register on Zoom using the links below.
A forest foundation tree species, Eastern Hemlock, is threatened in southwestern Nova Scotia by the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, an invasive insect. This disturbance may have consequences for the vitally important — yet not well-studied — fungal communities associated with Eastern Hemlock. This study uses a unique long-term dataset from Acadia University’s E.C. Smith Herbarium to investigate the composition and diversity of fungal ecosystems of Eastern Hemlock forests in southwestern Nova Scotia, their resistance to insect-induced disturbance of host trees, and the effects of temperature and precipitation on these invaluable communities.
Sign up at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtdequrDMsHNGvUsLU1T-xB4Jir-g5Topw?fbclid=IwAR2rgZAirDABEh0PMlm1JJv5uZG9AMO95G074UAG4PW089Ww3L640eGWKm4#/registration

Lunch and Learn: Mapping Nova Scotia's Wetlands
2023-08-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Nova Scotia
Wetlands are incredibly diverse, coming in many different shapes, sizes and types, think of open grass-filled marshes compared to wet forests. This diversity makes them tricky to map and an unmapped ecosystem is difficult to conserve. Luckily some new projects are tackling this issue and helping to create a reliable and accurate map of Nova Scotia’s wet areas. Join us during Nova Scotia’s new Wetland Awareness Week on Monday, Aug. 14, 12-1 p.m. for our Lunch and Learn with John Gallop, Wetland and Water Resource Specialist at Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change. John will discuss his department’s work on a LiDAR-based Wet Area Mapping (WAM) for Nova Scotia and this summer’s fieldwork to verify the maps and improve the model.

Our Lunch and Learn will be online so you can sign up on Zoom, catch our Facebook live stream or watch afterwards on our YouTube channel.

Summer Seminar: Historical Fire Regimes and Recent Wildfire Trends in Canada and Nova Scotia
2023-08-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
Continuing into August, MTRI will be hosting weekly seminars on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8 p.m. These seminars will be online so you can sign up on Zoom, catch our Facebook live stream or watch afterwards on our YouTube channel. This month our seminars will feature mosquito diversity in Nova Scotia, wildfires in Canada, fungi of Hemlock forests, parasites in White-Tailed Deer and the impact of warming waters on fish! You can register on Zoom using the links below.
The 2023 fire season in Canada has drawn widespread attention due to the exceptional area burned and the number of people affected. This seminar will help participants contextualize this year with an understanding of historical levels of fire activity and the natural role wildfires play in our forests, both nationally and provincially. We will conclude by discussing how modern climate change and fire suppression have contributed to recent and ongoing changes to Canadian fire activity and the associated ecological impacts of shifting fire regimes.
Sign up at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqdOGprDgtHNVY7LfxI2OND1VhpsYw1A3B?fbclid=IwAR2ML5xCWiHVbBYjM0EO_S91WvIEdfjYe8Q1DYmdO5E_ovsdeed94-Q6eII#/registration

I am Lichen It: A Field Guide to Nova Scotia's Lichens
2023-07-30 13:00 - 14:30 | Acacia Valley Trail, 155 Mill Rd, Hillgrove, Nova Sctoia
Join MTRI on a guided walk along the Acacia Valley Trails and discuss one of the most amazing kingdoms of life, the lichens.
Lichens are often ignored when people think about wildlife but these amazing organisms were one of the first to grow on land and now they make up hundreds of species in Nova Scotia! Come along with MTRI on a guided walk along the Acacia Valley trail (Barton) through one of the most ancient and amazing kingdoms of life: the lichens! We will be joined by lichen expert Cole Vale, Junior Environmental Scientist at McCallum Environmental Ltd. and MTRI’s own Ecologist, Chad Simmons.
During the walk (~4 km) we explore the beautiful Acacia Valley trail, discuss the wildlife we see, the challenges they face, share identification tips and talk about how you can better protect the wildlife around you.
Please bring appropriate footwear, water and any snacks you may need. We will be meeting at the trail parking lot (155 Mill Rd) at 1 p.m.
Our walk is part of MTRI’s Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition. Over the next year, we will host 4 seasonal, 2-week-long competitions on the iNaturalist app, a free wildlife identification and community science app. These are fierce but friendly competitions between the municipalities of Annapolis, Digby, Clare, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Shelburne, Lunenburg and Queens to see who can collect the most wildlife observations. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the 2 weeklong competitions.
If you have any questions please email chad.simmons@merseytobeatic.ca
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-am-lichen-it-a-field-guide-to-nova-scotias-lichens-tickets-676854117887?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Walking with Giants: A Field Guide to Nova Scotia's Old Growth Forests
2023-07-30 10:00 - 11:30 | Four Mile Stillwater Trail, 2032 Nova Scotia Trunk 8, Bear River, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join MTRI on a guided tour of ancient forests along the Four Mile Stillwater trail as we discuss their wildlife, threats and future.
Giant ancient trees tower over you, you sink into thick, soft moss, and birds sing in the distance. There is nothing like standing in an old-growth forest, you can feel the wonder. On top of being especially valuable for conservation these forests often leave their visitors feeling changed, almost like there was magic in the air. Grab your chance to experience the magic and join MTRI on a guided tour of an ancient hemlock forest at the Four Mile Stillwater trail (near Kempt).
During the walk we will explore the beautiful trail along the Medway River (~3 km), discuss the wildlife we see around us, the challenges that old forest faces, give identification tips and share how you can better protect the wildlife around you.
Please bring appropriate footwear, water and any snacks you may need. We will be meeting at the Four Mile Stillwater trail parking lot at 10 a.m.
Our walk is part of MTRI’s Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition. Over the next year, we will host 4 seasonal, 2-week-long competitions on the iNaturalist app, a free wildlife identification and community science app. These are fierce but friendly competitions between the municipalities of Annapolis, Digby, Clare, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Shelburne, Lunenburg and Queens to see who can collect the most wildlife observations. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the 2 weeklong competitions.
If you have any questions please email chad.simmons@merseytobeatic.ca
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walking-with-giants-a-field-guide-to-nova-scotias-old-growth-forests-tickets-676863556117?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Monarch Watch: A Field Guide to Nova Scotia's Monarch Butterfly
2023-07-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Adventure Trail, Adventure Trail, Bridgewater, NS, Canada
Join MTRI as we explore the Adventure Trail (Bridgewater) on the lookout for Nova Scotia’s Endangered Monarch Butterflies.
Join us for a gentle stroll along the Adventure Trail (Bridgewater), as we explore the lifecycle of the marvellous Endangered Monarch butterfly. During the walk, we will discover their host plant, the Milkweed species that grow in abundance around these wetlands and discuss the Monarchs many forms of life, and with luck, see some of these amazing creatures along the way. This guided walk will cover the fundamentals of the Monarch butterfly as well as the milkweed monitoring project, a project all are encouraged to join to aid in the recovery of the Monarch. We will be joined by Carter Feltham (Reptile Researcher at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute) and Chad Simmons (Ecologist at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute).
Please bring appropriate footwear, water and any snacks you may need. We will be meeting at the parking lot along Naugler Rd (https://goo.gl/maps/eHu1U89TBmR2dy1k6) at 7 p.m.
Our walk is part of MTRI’s Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition. Over the next year, we will host 4 seasonal, 2-week-long competitions on the iNaturalist app, a free wildlife identification and community science app. These are fierce but friendly competitions between the municipalities of Annapolis, Digby, Clare, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Shelburne, Lunenburg and Queens to see who can collect the most wildlife observations. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the 2 weeklong competitions.
If you have any questions please email chad.simmons@merseytobeatic.ca
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monarch-watch-a-field-guide-to-nova-scotias-monarch-butterfly-tickets-677314815847?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Making a Splash: A Field Guide to Nova Scotia's Wetlands
2023-07-28 10:30 - 12:00 | French Basin Trail, Nova Scotia Trunk 1, Annapolis Royal, NS, B0S 1A0, Canada
Join MTRI on a guided walk along the French Basin trail as we discuss wetlands, their wildlife and how you can help protect them.
Wetlands are some of the most wildlife-filled, diverse, water-saving, climate change-fighting ecosystems you will ever find, but many people still think of them as wasted space. Come along with MTRI on a guided walk through the French Basin trail (~2 km) in Annapolis Royal with MTRI Ecologist Chad Simmons and Research Associate at Nova Scotia Community College, Rachel Kendall. Together we will learn about the wonders of wetlands, the many species we encounter, importance of wetlands and how you can help appreciate and conserve these valuable ecosystems.
Please bring appropriate footwear, water and any snacks you may need. We will be meeting at the Marsh trail parking lot at 10:30 a.m.
Our walk is part of MTRI’s Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition. Over the next year, we will host 4 seasonal, 2-week-long competitions on the iNaturalist app, a free wildlife identification and community science app. These are fierce but friendly competitions between the municipalities of Annapolis, Digby, Clare, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Shelburne, Lunenburg and Queens to see who can collect the most wildlife observations. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the 2 weeklong competitions.
If you have any questions please email chad.simmons@merseytobeatic.ca
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-a-splash-a-field-guide-to-nova-scotias-wetlands-tickets-676860005497?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Parent + Kids, Explore & Learn, Annapolis Sand Barrens
2023-07-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Michael Avenue, Michael Avenue, Meadowvale, NS, B0P 1W0, Canada
Join some of the Clean Annapolis River Project team to learn about a very uncommon ecosystem found in the Annapolis Valley! We will explore the special plants that grow here and the wildlife that have adapted to this ecosystem.
We will try to collect photos of as many species as possible to submit to the Summer iNaturalist Challenge for team Annapolis County! Feel free to bring a camera or cell phone to help take photos.
RSVP here: https://www.annapolisriver.ca/event-details/parent-kids-explore-learn-annapolis-sand-barrens/form

Let's Botanize: A Field Guide to Nova Scotia's Plants
2023-07-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join MTRI on a guided walk along Grafton Woods trail as we explore the fantastical world of plants and meet a particularly creepy relative.
Plants were one of the first organisms to take root on land and over their 500 million-year journey they have evolved into a mind-blowing amount of biodiversity, including some creepy looking ones!
Come along with MTRI on a guided walk through one of the most amazing kingdoms of life: Plants. Together we will explore these amazing creatures, learn their secrets, characteristics and ID tips and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation as we explore Grafton Woods (~3 km) in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site on Sunday, July 23 (10:30-12 p.m.). We will be joined by MTRI’s own Ecologist, Chad Simmons.
Please be aware that admittance to Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site requires daily fees. Please bring appropriate footwear, water and any snacks you may need. We will be meeting at the Grafton Woods parking lot at 10:30 a.m.
Our walk is part of MTRI’s Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition. Over the next year, we will host 4 seasonal, 2-week-long competitions on the iNaturalist app, a free wildlife identification and community science app. These are fierce but friendly competitions between the municipalities of Annapolis, Digby, Clare, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Shelburne, Lunenburg and Queens to see who can collect the most wildlife observations. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the 2 weeklong competitions.
If you have any questions please email chad.simmons@merseytobeatic.ca
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-botanize-a-field-guide-to-nova-scotias-plants-tickets-676668332197?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Wildlife After Dark: A Field Guide to Nova Scotia's Nocturnal Wildlife
2023-07-22 21:00 - 22:30 | Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join MTRI on a guided walk along Keji lake as we discuss bats, owls, nocturnal mammals, catch moths and look at biofluorescence!
Should you be afraid of a bump in the night? Chances are that it isn’t the boogeyman, just a wondering wild animal on their nightly routine. Come out with MTRI on a guided walk along the Slapfoot trail (Jeremy’s Bay) in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site on Saturday, July 22 (9-10:30 p.m.) to get to know our nocturnal wildlife a little better (~3 kms, meeting at Meadow Beach). We will be joined by Bat Biologist Lori Phiney and Chad Simmons, Ecologist, at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute.
During the walk we will explore the beautiful trail along Keji Lake, discuss bats in Nova Scotia, their decline, possible recovery, research and how you can help as well as owls, nocturnal mammals, use UV lights to spot biofluorescence (glow in the dark wildlife) and catch moths with the help of a non-lethal light traps!
Please be aware that admittance to Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site requires daily fees. Please bring appropriate footwear, flashlights, water and any snacks you may need. We will be meeting at the Meadow Beach parking lot at 9 p.m.
Our walk is part of MTRI’s Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition. Over the next year, we will host 4 seasonal, 2-week-long competitions on the iNaturalist app, a free wildlife identification and community science app. These are fierce but friendly competitions between the municipalities of Annapolis, Digby, Clare, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Shelburne, Lunenburg and Queens to see who can collect the most wildlife observations. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the 2 weeklong competitions.
If you have any questions please email chad.simmons@merseytobeatic.ca
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wildlife-after-dark-a-field-guide-to-nova-scotias-nocturnal-wildlife-tickets-676642474857?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Herp Time: A Field Guide to Nova Scotia's Amphibians and Reptiles
2023-07-22 13:00 - 14:30 | Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join MTRI on a guided walk along Snake Lake as we discuss Nova Scotia’s reptiles and amphibians, how to ID them and their challenges.
Nova Scotia is home to dozens of amazing amphibian and reptiles species but some are more beloved than others. Everyone loves frogs and turtles but what about snakes? Help break the cycle and join MTRI on a guided walk along the Snake Lake trail (~3 km) in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site on Saturday, July 22 (1-2:30 p.m.). We will be joined by Carter Feltham (Reptile Researcher at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute), Noah Hardy (Sr. Field Technician at Coastal Action) and Chad Simmons (Ecologist at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute).
During the walk we explore the beautiful trail along the Snake Lake trail, discuss the wildlife we see, the challenges they face, share identification tips and talk about how you can better protect the wildlife around you.
Please be aware that admittance to Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site requires daily fees. Please bring appropriate footwear, water and any snacks you may need. We will be meeting at the Snake Lake and Peter Point parking lot at 1 p.m.
Our walk is part of MTRI’s Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition. Over the next year, we will host 4 seasonal, 2-week-long competitions on the iNaturalist app, a free wildlife identification and community science app. These are fierce but friendly competitions between the municipalities of Annapolis, Digby, Clare, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Shelburne, Lunenburg and Queens to see who can collect the most wildlife observations. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the 2 weeklong competitions.
If you have any questions please email chad.simmons@merseytobeatic.ca
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/herp-time-a-field-guide-to-nova-scotias-amphibians-and-reptiles-tickets-676647720547?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Forest Songs: A Field Guide to Nova Scotia’s Birds
2023-07-22 08:00 - 10:00 | Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join MTRI on a guided walk at two trails in Kejimkujik National Park to discuss the birds we see and the challenges they face.
Nova Scotia is home to hundreds of bird species but learning how to identify these usually well-camouflaged, agile, and illusive flying creatures can be a real challenge! Come out with MTRI on a guided walk at two trails in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site on Saturday, July 22 (8-10 a.m.). Our first stop will be at the Flowing Waters trail and the second will be along the Channel Lake trail (~4 km in total, transportation between trails not provided). We will be joined by Dalhousie University professor and biologist Dr. Cindy Staicer as well as Chad Simmons, Ecologist at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute.
During the walk we will explore the beautiful trail along the Mersey River, including an old-growth hemlock forest, discuss the birds we see, the challenges they face, identification tips and how you can better protect the wildlife around you.
Please be aware that admittance to Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site requires daily fees. Please bring appropriate footwear, water and any snacks you may need. We will be meeting at the Still Water trail parking lot at 8 a.m.
Our walk is part of MTRI’s Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition. Over the next year, we will host 4 seasonal, 2-week-long competitions on the iNaturalist app, a free wildlife identification and community science app. These are fierce but friendly competitions between the municipalities of Annapolis, Digby, Clare, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Shelburne, Lunenburg and Queens to see who can collect the most wildlife observations. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the 2 weeklong competitions.
If you have any questions please email chad.simmons@merseytobeatic.ca
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forest-songs-a-field-guide-to-nova-scotias-birds-tickets-676633869117?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Ocean Songs: A Field Guide to Nova Scotia's Birds
2023-07-21 18:30 - 20:00 | Thomas Raddall Park, 529 Raddall Park Rd, Port Joli, NS, B0T 1S0, Canada
Part of the MTRI’s Field Guide Walks collection
Join MTRI on a free guided walk at Thomas Raddall Provincial Park as we discuss Nova Scotia’s shorebirds!
Nova Scotia is home to hundreds of bird species but learning how to identify these well-camouflaged, agile, and illusive flying creatures can be a real challenge! Come out with MTRI on a guided walk at Thomas Raddall Provincial Park. Together we will explore the Sandy Bay Road and Berring Rock Trails (~4 km) and look for different forest and shoreline birds. We will be joined by Allison Fortune, Senior Field Technician at the Clean Annapolis River Project and Chad Simmons, Ecologist at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute.
During the walk we will explore the beautiful trail along the Atlantic Ocean, the white spruce forests, discuss the birds we see, the challenges they face, give identification tips and how you can better protect the wildlife around you.
Please bring appropriate footwear, water and any snacks you may need. We will be meeting at the trail parking lot (near MacDonald House) at 6:30 p.m.
Our walk is part of MTRI’s Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition. Over the next year, we will host 4 seasonal, 2-week-long competitions on the iNaturalist app, a free wildlife identification and community science app. These are fierce but friendly competitions between the municipalities of Annapolis, Digby, Clare, Yarmouth, Argyle, Barrington, Shelburne, Lunenburg and Queens to see who can collect the most wildlife observations. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the 2 weeklong competitions.
If you have any questions please email chad.simmons@merseytobeatic.ca
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ocean-songs-a-field-guilde-to-nova-scotias-birds-tickets-676857598297?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Terranaut Club: Science and Nature Exploration for Girls+
2023-07-20 19:00 - 20:00 | MTRI, 9 Mt Merritt Rd, Kempt, NS, B0T 1B0, Canada
Terranaut Club is a non-profit organization based out of Nova Scotia that specializes in STEM and environmental education, bringing girls and underrepresented genders (girls+) ages 9-18 to the forefront of exciting, hands-on, immersive experiences in science and nature. For her talk, Sarah Brown, Program Coordinator, will be discussing the different types of programs offered, including 12 summer programs, spring and fall data science and coding workshops, and year-round field trips. She will be touching upon the topics we cover and some testimonials from past participants. Sarah is hoping to raise awareness for their organization and share some of the amazing work they are doing around the Maritimes.
Starting in July and running until the end of August, MTRI will be hosting weekly seminars on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8 p.m. These seminars will be hybrid so you can join online or stop into our field station at 9 Mt Merritt Rd, Kempt to join us and grab some snacks and light refreshments. Our seminars will feature speakers on a range of conservation, indigenous knowledge and wildlife topics including bats, the Terranaut Club, forest fires in Nova Scotia, mushrooms, Mi’kmaw Moons and climate change; just to name a few. To watch our seminars online you can register via Zoom or watch our Facebook livestream.
Register here

Gaff Point Trailblazers
2023-07-15 09:00 - 15:00 | Hirtle Beach, 318 Hirtle Beach Road, Kingsburg, NS, Canada
Looking for an opportunity to help restore a nature trail? Join us for a day of trail maintenance at the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Gaff Point Nature Reserve.
Located on Nova Scotia’s popular South Shore, Gaff Point is a headland of impressive cliffs, conifer forest, heaths, and grasslands. Gaff Point is stewarded in partnership with the Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy (KCC), a local land trust. NCC and KCC monitor and manage a popular public trail here.
At this day-long event, we will be working to maintain and improve the six-kilometre-long trail that runs through Gaff Point. This will help protect the natural features of the coastal trail and promote user enjoyment and safety. We will be restoring areas of the trails that are a little worse for wear. Come with your energy and elbow grease!
Pre-registration for this event is required.
Register here: Gaff Point Trailblazers Registration, Sat, Jul 15, 2023 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite
Please note

This event will be weather dependent.
All tools will be provided by NCC.
Water and snacks will be provided.
Additional event details, including directions and parking instructions, will be provided closer to the event day.
Trail difficulty: moderate. Trail maintenance will require some strenuous physical labour, but there will be tasks for people with a wide variety of physical abilities.
People of all fitness levels are encouraged to participate in this event.
No toilets will be available on-site, so please be sure to stop on your way to the event.

Equipment checklist

closed toe footwear
long pants
light layers
rain jacket
water bottle
hat
bug spray
sunscreen
any necessary medications

Questions
Please call or email Doug van Hemessen, Nova Scotia stewardship manager, Nature Conservancy of Canada, at 902-293-0744 or doug.vanhemessen@natureconservancy.ca.

Prototype Quillwort; a living fossil in modern times
2023-07-13 19:00 - 20:00 | MTRI, 9 Mt Merritt Rd, Kempt, NS, B0T 1B0, Canada
A look at the rare aquatic plant, Prototype Quillwort with Katie King, Research Assistant at Acadia University. This unique lycophyte plant is only found in Eastern North America, and Nova Scotia has the majority of the known populations. Katie will be talking about what is known about this quillwort, what its current status is, and a look into some of the research being done on this species.
Starting in July and running until the end of August, MTRI will be hosting weekly seminars on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8 p.m. These seminars will be hybrid so you can join online or stop into our field station at 9 Mt Merritt Rd, Kempt to join us and grab some snacks and light refreshments. Our seminars will feature speakers on a range of conservation, indigenous knowledge and wildlife topics including bats, the Terranaut Club, forest fires in Nova Scotia, mushrooms, Mi’kmaw Moons and climate change; just to name a few. To watch our seminars online you can register via Zoom or watch our Facebook livestream.
Register here

Once there were thousands: Bats, their parasites, and white-nose syndrome
2023-07-06 19:00 - 20:00 | MTRI, 9 Mt Merritt Rd, Kempt, NS, B0T 1B0, Canada
Learn about our local bat populations at a talk by Acadia undergraduate student Taryn Muldoon, who has been working with MTRI on a project using bat poop to detect the disease-causing white-nose syndrome and intestinal parasites in Nova Scotia bat colonies.
Starting in July and running until the end of August, MTRI will be hosting weekly seminars on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8 p.m. These seminars will be hybrid so you can join online or stop into our field station at 9 Mt Merritt Rd, Kempt to join us and grab some snacks and light refreshments. Our seminars will feature speakers on a range of conservation, indigenous knowledge and wildlife topics including bats, the Terranaut Club, forest fires in Nova Scotia, mushrooms, Mi’kmaw Moons and climate change; just to name a few. To watch our seminars online you can register via Zoom or watch our Facebook livestream.
Register on zoom

Mi’kmaw Moons: A Two-Eyed Seeing Project
2023-07-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
Cathy (Acadia First Nation) and Dave (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada) have spent nearly 10 years learning about the full Moons of the Mi’kmaq using two eyes: indigenous culture and Western astronomy. The full Moon names relate to the natural phenomena of the time of year while the cycles derive from the orbital motion of the Earth and Moon. Their knowledge-seeking journey culminated in the best-selling book Mi’kmaw Moons: Through the Seasons (Formac 2022). In this presentation, you will hear some Holly and Auntie stories, learn some Mi’kmaw words, and see how astronomy usually gives us 12 full Moons a year, but sometimes 13.

Starting in July and running until the end of August, MTRI will be hosting weekly seminars on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8 p.m. These seminars will be hybrid so you can join online or stop into our field station at 9 Mt Merritt Rd, Kempt to join us and grab some snacks and light refreshments. Our seminars will feature speakers on a range of conservation, indigenous knowledge and wildlife topics including bats, the Terranaut Club, forest fires in Nova Scotia, mushrooms, Mi’kmaw Moons and climate change; just to name a few. To watch our seminars online you can register via Zoom or watch our Facebook livestream.

Register here

Sit Back Seminar: Salinity and the Atlantic Whitefish
2023-06-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
The Atlantic Whitefish has an impressive evolutionary history, and as an endemic species that only lives in Nova Scotia represents an important part of Canadian biodiversity. However, this importance is not matched by a wealth of information about the species, and much remains unknown about this little fish except that it is in danger of being lost forever. Join us and Emily Yeung (She/Her), MSc Candidate at Dalhousie University, for her Sit Back Seminar, Thursday, June 29, 7-8 p.m., on her research exploring the physiological ability of the last remaining population of Atlantic Whitefish, which has been landlocked for the better part of a century, to exploit marine habitats as we believe their ancestors did, to restore anadromous populations of Atlantic Whitefish.
To join our seminar, you can register via https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZwvcOmrqDoiHdaEVlrols23D1FUz… or join our Facebook live stream.

Piping Plover Awareness Event!
2023-06-25 13:00 - 16:00 | Thomas Raddall Park, 529 Raddall Park Rd, Port Joli, NS, B0T 1S0, Canada
Join us for an interactive workshop on piping plovers! Learn about their habitat on a beach walk and help paint signs to inform the public!

Are you and your family looking for a fun way to kick off the summer? Are you looking to help make a difference in your community and protect local wildlife? Join the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Birds Canada for their Piping Plover Awareness Event! This free 3-hour event is designed to be family friendly, for all ages and will include the following activities/workshops:

A 10-minute presentation on local ecosystems, how they are currently being protected and what we as a community can do to help. This is the perfect way to learn how to be good local stewards.
A 10-minute presentation on the piping plover, an endangered species in Nova Scotia that needs our help! Learn all about the birds and ways we can act to protect them.
A sign painting workshop, where artists of all ages and skill levels can help paint informative signs to teach other beachgoers how to interact responsibly around plover nesting grounds. NCC and Birds Canada would love to display your signs on beaches around the province to help protect piping plovers!
A guided walk-and-talk with shorebird biologist Avery, where we can learn more about plover habitat, as well as other species in the area. Walk together along the beach, practicing your newly learned shorebird etiquette and see if you can spot the piping plovers and their newly hatched chicks!

This event is a great way to connect with other environmentally-minded folks in our community! We will collectively learn more about an endangered shorebird species, take creative action to help protect their habitat and spend time enjoying the outdoors. Should you have any questions, or would like to discuss details, please feel free to reach out to Jill (she/her) by email at jill.ramsay@natureconservancy.ca
This is a free event and all crafting materials will be supplied, however to best support sign making we ask that you do register yourself and your family so that we can properly prepare.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature, working to deliver large-scale, permanent land conservation. The Nova Scotia Stewardship Team will be there to share what conservation efforts are underway in the local area and how our community can help.
Birds Canada is Canada’s national bird conservation organization. Their mission is to drive action to increase the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of birds in Canada.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Click here to register for the event!

What to bring!:

Sunscreen
Bug spray
Hat
Sunglasses
Water
Snacks
Shoes that can get sandy/damp
Clothing you can paint in
This event will run rain or shine, so be sure to check the weather and dress accordingly!
Sunscreen
Bug spray

What is Provided?:

Painting/sign making supplies
Fun and educational activities for the whole family

Field Safety Notes:
This event will happen along the beach, where there will be a potential shallow water crossing by foot, depending on the tides. (Water crossing should not exceed the depth of approximately 12 inches). Participants using mobility aids are welcome to join for the presentations and sign painting, but may find the beach walk and potential shallow water crossing to be challenging. Children must be able to independently cross or cross with a parent, without the use of a stroller.
Coastal weather can change quickly, so be sure to be outfitted with the appropriate clothing/sun protection!
Location:
Part of this event will be in the Thomas Raddall Park, meeting in the Ron Lawson Building and heading along the shore from there. The park is located at 529 Raddall Park Road, NS. please follow according signs to the Ron Lawson Building.
Questions:
If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding this event, please feel free to reach out to Jill (she/her) at jill.ramsay@natureconservancy.ca

Thank you to our partners!

MTRI Sit Back Seminar: Introducing the NS Working Woodlands Trust
2023-05-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
Many landowners work hard their whole lives to take care of their property but are faced with an uncertain future when they retire or want to sell. That is the topic of this month’s Sit Back Seminar on Thursday, May 25, 7 – 8 p.m. The Medway Community Forest Co-op has been incubating a new land trust to offer woodland stewards in NS an opportunity to secure their stewardship legacy, forest health, and long-term economic opportunities. Join us and Jennika Hunsinger, Land Trust and Outreach Manager at MCFC, to learn about the soon-to-launch land trust, working forest community easements and accessing carbon offsets!
To join our seminar, you can register via the link below or join our Facebook live stream.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqdOitrjstH9GcGPqt9WCjCsfsfyKCfmBT

Birding by Ear
2023-05-20 09:00 - 11:00 | Arlington Teaching Forest, 157 Arlington Road, Hampton, NS, Canada
Date: Saturday, May 20, 2023
Time: 9am – 11am
Location: Arlington Teaching Forest (parking at 157 Arlington Road)

What to bring/wear:

Water, snack

layered clothing,

waterproof boots/shoes,

bug dope & bug shirt

binoculars

smartphone with Merlin app installed

The Enchanted Forest: lichens, biodiversity and species at risk
2023-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Upstairs at ArtsPlace Gallery, 396 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal, NS, Canada
Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Upstairs at ArtsPlace Gallery, 396 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal

A former librarian, Frances Anderson has been enchanted by lichens for 20 years. She and colleague Troy McMullin (Museum of Nature, Ottawa) co-authored Common Lichens of Northeastern North America (NYBG Press 2014), one of the few lichen field guides on the continent. She spends most of her time in her lichen lab or hunting lichens in the many wonderful lichen habitats Nova Scotia has to offer.

Orientation in the Woods
2023-05-06 11:00 - 16:00 | Arlington Teaching Forest, 157 Arlington Road, Hampton, NS, Canada
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Time: 1pm – 4pm
Location: Arlington Teaching Forest (parking at 157 Arlington Road)
What to bring/wear:

Water, snack

layered clothing,

waterproof boots/shoes,

compass (if you have one)

Colin Gray has been involved with Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute since 2008, as a volunteer, member of the Board, Chair, and since 2013 as a full time staff member. Over the past 15 years Colin has been working with a dedicated and passionate team on a multitude of interesting projects, such as Hemlock Woolly Adelgid outreach work, old forest outreach, a new to the maritimes project called Green Shores which involves credits for proper property shoreline management, and Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora. Colin has a special interest in both loon research and old growth forest research.

For the Love of Lichens & Old Forests - Opening Reception
2023-05-06 11:00 - 13:00 | Chapel Gallery at ArtsPlace, 396 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal, NS, Canada
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
Location: Chapel Gallery at ArtsPlace, 396 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal

Registration is not required.

Join us to celebrate the opening of the show For the Love of Lichens & Old Forests which brings together works by an array of artists and citizen scientists.

This show is about celebrating the forests we want to save and the role lichens have played and are playing in saving some of them. It is about looking, really looking, as a place where art and science meet. It is about delight and curiosity. It is an invitation to look deeply at nature and at ourselves and our place within nature.

Webinar: Nova Scotia Herp Atlas and Migrating Amphibians
2023-05-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
Join Coastal Action and the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI) to chat about the NS Herp Atlas and how you can get involved!
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Have you ever come across a snake, frog, turtle, or salamander and wondered what species it is? If it’s common or rare? If you should let someone know about it? Great news, it’s never been easier to identify a species or submit your sightings to the people working to save these species! The only tool you need is in your pocket right now.

Join us online on May 4th at 7 pm as we showcase the Nova Scotia Herp Atlas. This citizen science project, led by MTRI and hosted on the iNaturalist App, is tracking the distributions of Nova Scotia’s 12 reptile and 13 amphibian species. Attendees will also learn about volunteer opportunities to collect data on herptiles in Nova Scotia.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscOiqqzkoHtLQFy17GbJhJLq8DPRm9pYg#/registration

MTRI Sit Back Seminar: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Microscopic Universe Under the Sea
2023-04-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Nova Scotia
When you think of ocean ecosystems, you likely think of fish, seaweed, whales, dolphins, lobsters, or other large species! But Rebecca Stevens-Green, PhD Candidate at Dalhousie University, is thinking about what she sees under the microscope, phytoplankton! Phytoplankton are the building blocks of marine ecosystems. They form the basis of the food chain and play a role in our climate by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transporting it to the deep ocean. Join us and Rebecca for our Sit Back Seminar on April 27 from 7-8 p.m. for a talk on the importance of these tiny “bugs”, how they take up carbon dioxide and how we study the things we can’t see!

To join our seminar, you can register here https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtf-usqzwpGdEKwVRVjUqy7wrNcdmsYmWw or join our Facebook live stream.

Toqlika’ti’kw (Walking Together): March Break Day
2023-03-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Asitu’lsk (formerly Windhorse Farm), 129 Sarty Rd, Wentzells Lake, NS, B4V 4J6, Canada
Come out with MTRI and the Ulnooweg Education Centre for an afternoon of free family fun, nature activities and an immersive two-eyed seeing (Etuaptmumk) learning opportunity. We will have speakers from MTRI, Ulnooweg, and local communities to talk and host activities about biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge, community science and the guiding principle developed by Mi’kmaq Elder Albert Marshall, Etuaptmumk. Etuaptmumk is a perspective of seeing the world that recognizes better outcomes are more likely if we bring two or more perspectives into collaboration, creating balance. With one eye, we view the world through Indigenous ways of knowing and with the other eye, we view the world through Western, or Eurocentric, ways of knowing.

Our events will include:

A guided hike through an old-growth forest
An immersive introduction to two-eyed seeing (Etuaptmumk)
Nature crafts and kids’ activities
Hands-on wildlife education
Basket making demonstration
A guided reflection exercise

For most of our events and activities, you can drop in and participate but some will require advanced registration. Details and sign-up forms will be released closer to the event. You can stay up to date with all the developments for our March Break Day by following our event on Facebook (@mtri) or signing up here: https://forms.office.com/r/tdXiWZqihG

Learn more about Asitu’lsk: https://www.asitulsk.com/
