Summer is here!

Ontario Nature has a lot planned this summer and we want you to be part of it all! From planting events to raising your voice against sprawl development to celebrating our youth, it’s a busy summer with Ontario Nature that you won’t want to miss! Keep reading to see what we’re working on and how you can get involved.

Help Us Expand Lost Bay Nature Reserve!

We have an incredible opportunity right now to purchase a 50-acre parcel of land in the globally important Frontenac Arch area of eastern Ontario. And we need your help!

The Frontenac Arch is one of the most biodiverse regions in Canada. This area has become a refuge for species that are highly endangered elsewhere in Ontario, like cerulean warbler and gray ratsnake. Together, we must act quickly to acquire this unique and biodiverse property and expand our Lost Bay Nature Reserve.

Join Us in Pushing Back Against Sprawl Development on Wetlands and Farmland

The Government of Ontario has tabled a concerning proposal, and we urgently need your help to stop it. The government wants to replace the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Growth Plan) with a new Provincial Planning Statement that would jeopardize decades of progress on land use policy. The PPS and the Growth Plan are critical provincial policies that provide comprehensive, integrated and balanced direction on land use planning.

Please join nearly 5,000 concerned Ontarians in opposing these changes. The deadline for public comment through the Environmental Registry of Ontario is August 4, 2023 (ERO #019-6813).

Announcing Details About Our Annual Youth Summit!

The summit brings together young people ages 14–20 for a weekend of nature exploration, environmental learning and outdoor fun. For the 2023 Youth Summit, Ontario Nature, the Indigenous Environmental Institute at Trent University, Plenty Canada, and Walpole Island Land Trust will be partnering with leaders on the Youth Council and Youth Circle for Mother Earth’s Coordinating Circle to offer a unique, cross-cultural event for youth from across Ontario.

The 2023 Youth Summit for Mother Earth will be held in-person at Camp Wahanowin in Longford Mills, Ontario from September 22–24, 2023. Interested in sponsoring a youth to attend the Summit? You can find more in our sponsorship package. Please visit our website or contact Maya Davidson, Education Coordinator, for more information and sponsorship inquiries.

Join Us for a Planting Event at Sydenham River Nature Reserve

We are planting 750 native trees and shrubs and we want you to be a part of it! Please join us for a planting event at our Sydenham River Nature Reserve in southwestern Ontario on September 23rd and 24th. Bring your friends and family and join us for the morning, afternoon, or all day. Volunteers will help us plant tulip trees, Kentucky coffee trees, spicebush and more while learning about this habitat restoration project with our staff and local experts.

You Help Us Make a Difference for Nature!

Our work advocating for more protected places, safeguarding wild species, connecting people to nature and so much more is possible because of your support – thank you! You can read about these accomplishments in our 2022–2023 Report to Donors.