Summer is always our busiest time...the birds are back on the Carden Alvar, volunteers and staff are out on the properties & our two events in Carden take place. We're looking ahead to these warm months as we continue to care for thousands of acres of land.

In this e-news, you'll find a recent Notes from the Field regarding water quality in Carden, information on the Great Canadian Giving Challenge, an introduction to our Summer Conservation Assistant (who has a really neat job monitoring Bobolinks!) and an upcoming event in partnership with the Leacock Museum.

Thanks for the role that you play in making our work possible.

Notes from the Field

Half the Carden Water Quality Team spent the day along the Talbot River with Deb Silver from Ontario Streams. They were learning how to test for seven water quality "Parameters" such as phosphates, nitrates, temperature and Ph. They also learned how to conduct benthic "kick tests" and identify 27 separate groups of Macroinvertebrates.

A photo album of the journey so far

The second group of volunteers will undertake the same training on June 27th.

With thanks to the Intact Foundation, RBC Bluewater, Ontario Streams and Lakehead University for their support of this project. Read more Notes from the Field.

You can help us win $10,000!

If you have been thinking about supporting The Couchiching Conservancy, now is a great time!

Every $1 donated to our charity in June earns us a chance to win a $10,000 donation. The Giving Challenge is made possible by Canada Helps and their partners.

The minimum donation is $3, which is also three entries into the Giving Challenge.

The deadline is June 30 - so act now! It not only supports our conservation efforts, it could help us to win (wouldn't that be great!)

WELCOME CAMERON

Cameron Curran is working as a field assistant with us, monitoring species at risk such as Bobolink. He is a Geography and Environmental Management co-op student at the University of Waterloo and has previously worked for municipal, provincial and federal agencies as part of his cooperative education.

His keen interest in conservation stems from personal experiences including fishing at Lake Dalrymple and nature photography.

You can read his recent article about Carden Wildflowers on our website.

WRAPPING UP OUR CARDEN EVENTS

Each year hundreds of people head to the Carden alvar in droves. They are drawn by the landscape and species, but also by two special events hosted by The Couchiching Conservancy featuring the alvar, and taking place in late May and early June - Carden Challenge and Carden Alvar Nature Festival.

See pictures from the Carden Challenge and the Carden Alvar Nature Festival.

Read a re-cap of the Carden Challenge and Carden Alvar Nature Festival