Join the Friends of Minesing Wetland on Saturday June 1 for our spring roadside clean-up.
We will meet at the canoe launch on George Johnston Rd. (Willow Creek) at 9:30 am.
Snacks and drinks will be provided…please bring your own gloves!
To register please contact fomwevents@gmail.com
2019 Spring Paddle Announcement
The Friends of Minesing Wetlands are excited to announce that we will be leading trips into the Minesing Wetlands via canoe or kayak on April 28th and May 12!
To register for the events please contact our events team by email (fomwevents@gmail.com). In your email please include the following information for each participant: full name, email, phone number and type of watercraft (kayak vs canoe) you will be joining us in. Please note that we only take 12 guest boats per trip, so register early to reserve your spot!
The exact route will be chosen at the discretion of the leaders based on water levels, as well as wind direction and speed. Final trip details such as route, locations to put in and take out boats will be emailed to participants on the Wednesday before the trip.
Regardless of the trip route we will meet at 8:30 a.m. and the trip will take approximately 5 hours, as this is approximately an 18 km paddle.
There is a maximum of 12 boats per trip which is reflected in the amount of tickets available. Due to the 12-boat limit, we have to estimate the amount of tickets for each watercraft type. As a result, we have made less kayak tickets available.
At least a basic paddling know how is required for this trip. Participants are expected to bring their own vessel, equipped with all of the required safety equipment (life jackets, bailer, whistle, light and throw rope). We do not rent equipment however if you need a vessel (kayak or canoe) there are at least three local providers you can contact. Contact fomwevents@gmail.com if you require the contact information for local outfitters.
There is a minimum age requirement of 14 years of age to join the trip.
Fee is $25 per person. This includes safe passage with certified leaders and ecological interpretation of the Minesing Wetlands.
Join us on March 10 as we lead a snowshoe trip into the Minesing Wetlands.
The snowshoe will take us to one of Ontario’s oldest Great Blue Heron nesting sites (Heronry) if the conditions are right with enough snow and ice. Regardless of where we end up, along the way expect to be dazzled by the landscape and possibly encounter some hardy wildlife that endure Canada’s winter. On past snowshoe adventures we have encountered Snowy Owls and Bald Eagles! FOMW will provide ecological interpretation of the Minesing Wetlands.
Cost is $10 per person. Please bring cash on the day. Departure time is at 1:00 pm.
The adventure will require approximately 3 hours of snowshoeing, which includes periodic breaks. Bring your own snacks, water and warm drinks, and dress appropriately for winter weather! Extra socks and extra clothing, just in case.
Don’t have a pair of snowshoes? Our group recently purchased 2 pairs (one pair will fit a medium to small stature female and one pair will fit a medium to small stature male) to rent out during the hike for a fee of $10 per pair (in addition to the hike fee of $10). This is a perfect opportunity for first timers! They will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
Please register by email (fomwevents@gmail.com) for more details and to reserve your spot.”
We had 35 dedicated volunteers who helped us collect 445 species observations in 6 different hike locations. Stay tuned for our report coming out soon!
Species ID from the pictures above:
Top Right: Delta-spotted Spiketail
Top Left: Group looking at Swamp Darner
Middle 1: Leopard Frog
Middle 2: Juvenal’s Duskywing
Middle 3: Crayfish
Bottom Left: Blacknose Dace
Bottom Right: Me holding a Common Green Darner
A special thanks to our photographers who got some AMAZING shots of the day.
Please enjoy the latest newsletter from the Friends of Minesing Wetlands – Spring 2018 – Volume 47
We are pleased to provide you with a report on the results of our 2017 Bioblitz:
Minseing Wetlands BioBlitz 2017 Results
Thanks to Brittany Hope at the Nature Conservancy Canada for producing this report.
Another year of outreach and education from the Friends of Minesing Wetlands. As usual we were very busy.
This collage of pictures shows:
Thanks to all our members and partners for another successful year!
Our Fall 2017 edition of the Minesing Reeds includes great stories on our first Bio Blitz, a wetland restoration project and science piece on invasive species.
Download it here: Minesing Reeds, Fall 2017
The Friends of Minesing Wetlands are excited to announce the first Bioblitz of the Minesing Wetlands on June 3, 2017.
What is a bioblitz?
A Bioblitz is a volunteer-based biological inventory of a specific area. Participants include local scientists, professional naturalists, amateur enthusiasts and members of the general public. The goal of the Bioblitz is to identify as many species as possible in a set amount of time. This event provides community members with hand-on learning opportunities that can enhance their knowledge of species identification, biodiversity, citizen science and stewardship.
Why the Minesing Wetlands?
The Minesing Wetlands is one of Southern Ontario’s largest wetland and is home to many unique habitats, vegetation communities, and a vast array of wildlife. The Minesing Wetlands, previously known as the Minesing Swamp, are a Ramsar-designated (internationally significant) wetland located in south-central Ontario. The Minesing Wetlands are one of the largest wetland complexes in southern Ontario and host the largest and best example of a string fen in this part of the province. The Minesing Wetlands have also been designated as a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) and a provincially significant Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).
How does it work?
You will be conducting surveys on a series of hiking trails located in the peripherals of the Minesing Wetlands. You will meet your expert leader and/or participants at your designated hiking trail (which you will choose after you register). All participants will be required to stay with their expert leaders, within close proximity to the designated trail at all times. After the morning and before the afternoon sessions happen, everyone will reconvene at Basecamp (Edenvale CA) to enjoy lunch and brief words of thanks from the organizers.
Schedule:
8-11 am – First round of hikes
11:30-1 pm – Lunch at Basecamp (Edenvale CA)
1:30-4:30 pm – Second round of hikes
Please note:
Want to get involved?
We are currently searching for expert leaders to lead or co-lead one of 7 hikes. Please see “Expert Leader” ticket type for more information.
We are also seeking behind the scenes help to set up, tear down, prepare food, etc. Please see “Behind the Scenes” ticket type for more information.
We will now be accepting participants! Please see the “Participants” ticket type for more information.
To register as a leader, behind the scenes person, or participant for this event please click on the Event Brite button below (this is a free event):
For more information on the Bioblitz please contact us at friendsofminesingwetlands@gmail.com
FOMW will be leading three winter activities in the Minesing Wetlands this winter.
Snowshoe in the Minesing Wetlands Jan 28, 2017 RSVP with Dave: dfeatherstone@nvca.on.ca
or for Feb 25, 2017 RSVP with Naomi: nsaunders@nvca.on.ca
Cross-Country Ski in the Minesing Wetlands Feb 11 or 12 (unconfirmed) RSVP with Byron bwesson@nvca.on.ca
$10 for members, $15 for non-members.
Friends of Minesing Wetlands 