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Thursday, May 15, 2008 ORTA Discovery Night
ORTA Discovery Nights are a new event which provide an opportunity to learn more about the
Oak Ridges Trail, the Oak Ridges Moraine, hiking, nature and many other topics that interest hikers. At every Discovery Night, you will meet ORTA volunteers, learn what's new with ORTA, hear stories and see pictures from the trail, and have fun. Members and guests are welcome. Please spread the word!
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Ballantrae Community Centre, Aurora Road east of Highway 48 (Markham Road)
Refreshments provided. There will be prizes! Admittance fee $5.00. Proceeds will be donated to the ORTA Strategic Plan Fund.
May 15 - Project CHIRP (Creating Habitat in Residential areas and Parkland). Christina Sharma and Richard Joos will describe how your property can contribute to songbird conservation by providing the four elements of habitat: food, water, shelter and space.
June 19 - Hiking in the Selkirks. ORTA members Rick and Amy Wright will entice us to consider hiking in one of Canada's famous mountain ranges.
June 14 & 15, 2008 Moraine for Life Adventure Relay
Registration is open and the publicity plan launched to garner both participation and exposure in the media as well as letting our friends in the Outdoor world know what we’re up to!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help promote and monitor the Adventure Relay.
JUNE 14-15: Motivated event volunteers are needed on the course and at the checkpoints to monitor the racers' arrival and departure, offer support, answer questions and troubleshoot as needed. Contact vpres@oakridgestrail.org .
Depending on the checkpoint, volunteers may be asked to staff a station late into the night, although
we aim to place volunteers at a checkpoint within as reasonable a range of their own communities as possible.
ONGOING: Diana Smyth is also looking for members to connect with retailers, local ‘hot spots’, etc, and deliver Adventure Relay posters and brochures in your community. You would help spread the word for team registration and public awareness. Contact Diana at publicity@oakridgestrail.org.
TEAMS NEEDED!
Put yourself on the trail on June 14th and be ready for some great fun!
The 24-hour relay sees teams of up to 15 racers bike, hike, run and paddle across 160km’s of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail, from Rice Lake to King City, in fourteen stages. Categories are Elite, Corporate, Recreational Open and Recreational Masters, encouraging participation from seasoned adventure racers as well as families and friends looking for a unique event to make their mark.
Entry fees range from $1,500 for Corporate teams to $750 for Elite to $500 for Recreational, Open or Masters. The Recreational Categories should be of particular interest to ORTA members and hikers. Tthe Recreational Masters Category extends the relay challenge to racers aged 55 and over. Racers can collect pledges from friends and family, to add to the excitement and to let everyone know what you are about to accomplish. Prizes are awarded for pledges of $100 or more.
Teams can register by calling ORTA at 1-877-319-0285. For more information,
visit www.moraineadventure.com, or
e-mail info@oakridgestrail.org
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Land Trust Fundraiser
The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust is holding a fantastic fund raising event on May 31. Buffet dinner, live music performed by Elvis Presley tribute artist and prizes. Purchase tickets until May 25
by calling 905-833-3171 or at the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust office located in the Gate House at Seneca College . For more information call 905-833-3171 or view event poster. www.oakridgesmoraine.org
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Hike Leader Course
Want to see more hikes offered by ORTA? Like to have people follow you?
Always wondered what it would be like to lead a hike? ORTA needs more hike leaders! Attend a one-day Hike Leader Course and you’ll learn what you
need to know to become a hike leader. Saturday, June 21st, 9 am to 4 pm at the ORTA office in the Gate House at Seneca College’s King Campus, Dufferin Street.
Your instructors will be Harold Sellers and Diana Smyth. To indicate your interest or with questions, contact Harold at 905-833-6600
or hikerharold@rogers.com
January - June 2009 Docent Course in Natural History
The Koffler Scientific Reserve and the UofT School of Continuing Studies is offering a unique multi-disciplinary class in Ecology and Natural History of Southern Ontario with hands-on field experience. There will be a strong outdoors teaching approach, small class size and no prerequisites other than passion for nature. More information
Other Events
Saturday May 3, 2008 11 am to 3 pm Rouge Park Open House
Every year, thousands of people visit Rouge Park to enjoy hiking, camping, a sandy beach and spectacular views. In order to learn how best to offer visitors a positive experience within this unique natural sanctuary,
Rouge Park will be holding a Public Open House on Saturday, May 3, 2008. This is also an opportunity to find out about upcoming planning initiatives. View poster
Monday May 5, 2008 6:30 pm to 9 pm Alien Invaders: A practical workshop on management of invasive plants
Dog strangling vine, garlic mustard and common buckthorn have invaded natural areas all over the greater Toronto area. These aggressive plants crowd out native plants and wildlife in fields, forests and parklands. Learn to recognize and manage these alien invaders before they get established on your land.
This free workshop will feature presentations and a guided hike to teach participants to identify and manage invasive plants on their lands.
Please note the change in location - the new location is the Durham Forest Ed Centre on Concession 7, south of the town of Uxbridge.
Refreshments and door prizes.
Space is limited. Register by May 2, 2008 to avoid disappointment.
For more information or to register contact:
Julie Hordowick
Toronto and Region Conservation
416-661-6600 ext. 5644 or jhordowick@trca.on.ca Workshop hosted by the Caring for the Moraine Project Partners and the Durham Conservation Association.
Saturday May 10, 2008 North American Native Plant Society Annual Sale
A huge selection of native wildflowers, grasses, ferns, shrubs, trees, vines and related books are brought together in one easily accessible location for this annual sale held from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
at the Markham Civic Centre, 101 Town Centre Boulevard (Hwy 7 at Warden Avenue). Informative seminars and free parking.
Contact plantsale@nanps.org if your group would like to set up an information table. A $20 fee to cover the cost of the table rental is requested.
For more information and to view the preliminary plant list, visit www.nanps.org.
May 14 to May 17, 2008 Ganaraska Work Party
The Ganaraska Trail Club is conducting a trail maintenance work party from Wed. May 14 to Sat. May 17
starting near Orillia then working for two full days on the 10 km of trail to the east of base camp
to redo blazes and trim open the corridor. More information
Sunday, June 1, 2008 Canoe the Credit
Paddlers will navigate the Credit River on routes of 25 kms, 18 kms or 5 kms. This is a fundraising event in support of Credit Valley Conservation's Conservation Youth Corps. For more information, please view the attached flyer or visit www.creditvalleycons.com/foundation/canoethecredit.htm.
Other News
January 21, 2008
Hike Ontario's Best Practices Manual now available
Hike Ontario is happy to announce that their Best Practices Manual is now ready for
distribution and available for download from www.hikeontario.com. The target audience is organizations with an interest in creating pedestrian footpaths and organizing hiking and walking activities to pique people's desire for healthy, inexpensive, and accessible activities on them.
TRAIL NEWS
June 16 -17, 2007 Adventure Relay and Online Scavenger Hunt
Results and photos
September 6 , 2006 Official Opening of Rahmani Tract
The official opening of the newest section of the OR Trail, through the Rahmani Tract of Central Lake Ontario Conservation, took place on September 6. Photo... News Release,,,
June 23, 2006 Official Opening of the Purple Woods
Trail
The official opening our our trail route through the Purple Woods Conservation
Area took place on Friday, June 23rd. View Photo of the event.
October 13, 2005
Western Trailhead of ORT Established
Approximately three kilometers of pathway has been added to the Oak Ridges
Trail with the recent establishment of the western trailhead at highway #50
in the village of Palgrave. Starting from the Caledon Trailway kiosk, the
ORT now proceeds along the Trailway to the previous trailhead at Mount
Pleasant Road. From here, the Oak Ridges Trail swings south and then east.
Photo of the the map board at the Caledon Trailway kiosk on
the east side of hwy 50 in Palgrave.
PRESS RELEASES
April 10, 2008
In the Globe and Mail "Ontario's greenbelt a model for the world: Toronto-are protected zone earns high marks for its vastness and for the strong government support it has" Full article...
October 9, 2007
The Moraine For Life Adventure
Relay, an annual team race event held on the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail, has received a generous sponsorship
from Joey and Toby Tanenbaum.
June 27, 2006
Successful “pilot testing” of the Secord Pond section of the Oak Ridges Trail took place June 22 and June 25. [View photo -
Two enthusiastic trail users with disabilities test the new Secord Pond Side Trail.
]
May 29, 2006
April 3, 2006
A major project has been launched on the Oak Ridges Moraine to encourage landowner participation in conservation efforts.
The ‘Caring for the Moraine’ Project, created by 23 conservation and environmental organizations working together,
has been
launched in selected areas of the Oak Ridges Moraine to provide co-coordinated conservation services. More information...
June 21, 2005
Harold Sellers, Executive Director of the Oak Ridges Trail Association and
Beth Kümmling, Executive Director of the Bruce Trail Association held a press conference to announce the
connection of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail with the Bruce Trail in Ontario’s Greenbelt area.
You can now hike from Rice Lake (south of Peterborough) to either Queenston or Tobermory
Bruce Trail. Media Package available.
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