Join us as we celebrate the Don River watershed at the 14th annual Mill Pond Splash, a  FREE eco-festival held at Mill Pond Park, near downtown Richmond Hill

The 14th annual Mill Pond Splash, a popular eco-festival hosted by the Don Watershed Regeneration Council, Toronto and Region Conservation, the Town of Richmond Hill, and the Richmond Hill Naturalists will be taking place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at Mill Pond Park from 12 to 4:30 p.m.

Mill Pond Splash is a lively, family oriented event showcasing environmental conservation and our natural heritage. With a children’s activity zone, live music, native wildlife shows, tree and shrub planting, a local food market, and environmental displays – there’s lots to see and do!

• Run, roll, laugh, and play as you learn about the watershed through children’s games and activities
• Take part in the ‘Amazing Eco-Race’
• Come face to face with native mammals, reptiles, and birds of prey from southern Ontario
• Dig in! Plant a tree and help protect Mill Pond Park’s natural heritage
• Visit environmental groups and discover how to get involved in stewardship projects in your community

Join us

When: Sunday June 3, 2012, 12 – 4:30 pm

Where: Mill Pond Park, Richmond Hill

Parking is available in the lot opposite York Central Hospital, on Trench Street.

For more information, please contact Larissa Mohan at 416-661-6600 ext. 5933, lmohan@trca.on.ca

The Richmond Hill Naturalists invite you to join them in cleaning up the natural areas near German Mills Creek on Sunday, April 22nd, starting at 9:00 a.m and going until early afternoon.
This is a great opportunity for high school students to build up their volunteer hours!

The group will be meeting at the footbridge where it crosses the creek to Springbrook Park (see the map below for exact location). This is west of the bend on Silver Linden.

Gloves and garbage bags will be supplied. Please dress according to the weather. Wear long pants and bring rubber boots if you have them. Drinking water, a hat, sunscreen, bug repellant and a light snack are also recommended.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event or need further information please contact Joe Agg. He can be reached by email: joe.agg AT hotmail.com or by phone: (905) 884-5012

To find out about other volunteer opportunities this spring please visit: RichmondHill.ca/Environmentalevents

Several Richmond Hill Naturalists are among the more than 7,000 people from across Canada (and from several countries around the world) participating in and/or sponsoring a participant in the Baillie Birdathon. During a 24-hour period in May, participants attempt to find as many bird species as they can, sponsored at a flat rate, or on a per-species basis. The money raised benefits Bird Studies Canada, the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund, and participating Migration Monitoring Stations and Conservation Organizations. 25% of your tax-deductible pledge to the Hill Hikers (Rod and Denise Potter) or The Sloths (Theo Hofmann) will go to the Richmond Hill Naturalists.

Pledge online for Rod and Denise

Pledge online for Theo

With Guest Speaker: Paul LaPorte From The North American Native Plant Society.  Paul will speak about  the importance of native plants to various pollinators and touches on examples of flora/ fauna relationships. He will also introduce a few native species, demonstrate how to establish a native plant garden and acquaint the unfamiliar with the North American Native Plant Society. Paul lives in the Greenbelt of the GTA and maintains a strong knowledge of Ontario native plant species and their communities and fosters them in his own gardens.

New This Year: “Brown Bag Prizes”
Prizes include Bird Feeder, Various Nature Books, Handcrafted Items and More.
Special Thanks to all those who contributed Prizes
BYOB (Bring Your Own Bucks)Draw Tickets: 3 for $5; 7 for $10; 12 for $15; 20 for $20

April 19, 2012 at 6:00 (6:30 Dinner)
10066 Yonge Street, RH Presbyterian Church, Wallace Hall
Please bring dishes, cup and cutlery.

Kevin Shackleton is organizing a trip to Amherst Island for 18 March (Sunday). It takes a little less than 3 hours to get to the ferry to the island. It runs on the half hour from Bath to the island and back to the mainland from Stella on the hour. Kevin will rendezvous at the Vaughan Cultural Centre at 7 to carpool or meet people at the ferry dock at 10 a.m. Those hoping for wintering owls (Saw-whet, Boreal, Short-eared, Long-eared, Snowy, etc.) should have a good shot at at least some on a good day. If interested in meeting at the Ferry, please let Kevin know at Kevin Shackleton .