Deadline for comments on creation of a Canada Water Agency

On May 13, 2020, Environment and Climate Change Canada announced its intention of creating a new Canada Water Agency to work together with the provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, local authorities, scientists and others to find the best ways to keep our water safe, clean, and well managed. The public is invited to provide comments and thoughts via the Placespeak platform.

Maritime Bioheat Conference

Online

Please join the Wood Pellet Association of Canada and its media partner Canadian Biomass Magazine for the first-ever Maritime Bioheat Conference, Net Zero by 2030: Growing the Region’s Largest Source of Renewable Energy.

Launch of the New Brunswick Environmental Bill of Rights

Online

Decolonizing Book Club

Online

Wednesday, June 2, at 7:30pm, a biweekly Decolonizing Book Club is being launched, guided by Mi’kmaw educator Chris George. As Chris explains, “Fundamentally, decolonizing means building relationships and raising awareness. We need settler support, because the laws and structures that harm Indigenous peoples are put in place by a settler government. This is an opportunity to build those relationships and raise awareness.”

Frog Walk

Spots are limited! Register in advance by emailing me at [email protected] or calling the office at (506) 536-4487. Stay tuned for details on the exact meeting location.

Festival of Nature: Photo Scavenger Hunt

The photo Scavenger Hunt will get people out and actively searching for waypoints on a trail or a number of trails. Find points of natural interest and use a hashtag to submit and show off what you’ve found!
Kids welcome!

Festival of Nature: Self-Guided Tours of Nature Preserves

The Nature Trust of New Brunswick conserves land throughout the province in the form of nature preserves, many of which are accessible and open to the public. For this Festival of Nature event, we would like to encourage participants to step outdoors and discover these natural spaces by creating and distributing self-guided tours for ten nature preserves. Each self-guided tour will include information on the history of the nature preserve, a map of the hiking trails, rare and interesting species and landmarks, and more! Our hope is that participants will find this event an opportunity to safely reconnect with the outdoors and learn more about the natural spaces in their own community.
Kids welcome!

Festival of Nature: Friday Night Rock Show - FULL

1370 Rue Rothesay Road

Guaranteed sightings! Starting on the outskirts of Saint John, travelling along the scenic Kennebecasis Valley and, via ferry, to the Kingston Peninsula, the complex geological history of southern New Brunswick comes to life.  The main rock types we learned about in elementary school (can you remember them? Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic…) are all represented. Visiting about five sites, we will see and even stand on an ancient carbon capture project, a fast-flowing river system at the base of an ancient mountain range and a solidified pile of volcanic ash. As well, we will see evidence of the “recent” Ice Age. Learn how the age of rocks is determined and maybe get to hold a tiny piece of the oldest rock yet found on our planet.
Kids welcome!

Festival of Nature: Nighthawks and Other Evening Creatures

Join us at the Atholville Marsh to watch Nighthawks hunt their insect prey over the marsh and Lagoon. Discover the variety of flora and fauna in this prime locale. Bring your binoculars if you have them.
Kids welcome!

Festival of Nature: Birding at French Fort Cove, Miramichi

French Fort Cove

A two to three kilometer trail walk around the cove which features mixed woods and wetlands. The trail is hilly but good underfoot. This is an excellent birding area for many species of woodland birds but also some ducks and other bird species. This walk is open to all and will include experienced birders to act as guides. Binoculars are recommended but not required. May be cancelled due to heavy rain.
Kids welcome!

Festival of Nature: Birding the Kennebecasis Park Lagoons and the Bishop’s Lands Trails

The Kennebecasis Park Lagoons typically hold a good variety of ducks along with flycatchers, swallows, warblers and sparrows. The Bishop’s Lands Trails host numerous warbler species, finches, sparrows, flycatchers, thrushes and more. Time and energy permitting, we may move on to the Bicentennial (Carpenter Pond) Trail – a short but very productive birding trail. The event may be cancelled if there is steady rain.  Light showers will not be a problem.  A decision will be taken as the group assembles on the morning of the outing.
Kids welcome!

Festival of Nature: Exploration of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Property Baie Verte NB

As a group, we will add to the natural history knowledge of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s reserve.
Kids welcome!

Festival of Nature: Hyla Park Nature Walk - FULL

Hyla Park is Canada’s first amphibian park and a Nature Trust of NB site. Although the emphasis on the walk will be birds, we are likely to see frogs, flowering plants and butterflies. Please bring your binoculars and field guides. Parking can be found behind the Greenwood Drive Baptist Church at 150 Greenwood Drive. Participants should meet in the parking lot across the Gibson Trail. Waterproof footwear and insect repellant are suggested.
Kids welcome!

Festival of Nature: Spring Flowers and Other Nature Observations - FULL

Champlain St/Ohio Rd

This portion of the Shediac municipal trail crosses different environments and offers a beautiful botanical diversity. On this date, it is possible to see in bloom several shrubs such as: caliculated cassandra, Canada honeysuckle, malodorous gadellier, long-billed hazelnut, alder-leaved viburnum and herbaceous plants of the undergrowth such as: red cohosh, boreal clintone, northern lady’s-slipper, boreal trientale, etc. Other plants that can be identified include the Christmas fern, the witch hazel shrub. The role of the rain gardens along the trail can also be discussed. 2km walk. After the walk, interested individuals can drive 2 km to see a nesting raft of Common Terns in Shediac Bay and observe nesting behaviour from the walking trail.
Kids welcome!

Festival of Nature: Antinouri Lake

Exploring the birds, flora and fauna at Antinouri Lake and at a few sites along the way to the lake. Also a short walk to the former granite quarry on the northeastern shore of the lake – source of the beautiful pink granite that was used to build such buildings as the parish hall and St Polycarpe Church in Petit Rocher.

Festival of Nature: A Visit to the Dolan Woodlands Nature Preserve

Dolan Woodlands Nature Preserve

This will be an exploration of the flora and fauna of the recently established Nature Trust NB preserve in Nelson, Miramichi. The trails that will be followed are approximately 2 km in length and flat but can be wet and muddy in places. The area is largely mixed forest but does feature a black spruce bog and a fresh water brook/marsh. Late spring should offer interesting sightings of birds and butterflies as well as wildflowers. Rubber boots recommended!
Kids welcome!

FishNB Day (Hampton)

Lighthouse River Centre

Stop by the Lighthouse River Centre for a fun day of fishing! June 5th is Provincial license free fishing day so make sure to have some fun outside!

Festival of Nature: Nature Hike – Black Beach - FULL

Black Beach Trail

ACAP Saint John would like to take a group of hikers around the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Black Beach trail (2.3km). This hike will include talks about seals, birds and other ACAP related projects and will end with a beach cleanup on Black Beach at low tide. Harbour seals are often seen hauled out at low tide on the rocks, where we will bring scopes for participants to get a better view and talk about ACAP’s harbour seal monitoring project.
Best suited for kids 12 and up.

Festival of Nature: Voyageur Canoe on the Wolastoq & Nashwaak - FULL

Paddle down the Wolastoq and Nashwaak River via Voyageur Canoe with Second Nature Outdoors. Their experienced guides will point out the amazing gems the river has to offer. There will also be an opportunity to observe birds and plants on the short walk back along the trail to the launch point. This event will be cancelled in case of a thunderstorm.
Kids 8+ welcome!

Festival of Nature: Geology Tour of Quinn’s Point

Walk the beach at Quinn’s Point with an expert geologist who will explain how the rocks and fossils tell a story of the past. Access to the beach is moderately difficult so wear good footwear. Low tide dictated the evening event.