Members’ Only Outing – Discover the Carp River with Janet Mason (For those who missed it last Fall)
Only 2 spots remaining.
Date: Sunday May 1st, 1:30pm (Rain or shine)
Parking: Insmill Park – Directions from corner of Terry Fox and Campeau: Turn Right on Campeau, Left on Kanata Ave., Left on Goldridge, Left on Cheltonia, Left on Insmill Crescent, Right between houses (#107 and #101) to parking lot .
Walk from Insmill Park: south through path to Terry Fox Drive and then west to Kanata Avenue, a total of 300 meters. Cross at the lights. (about 5 minutes)
Meet near the conservation area sign at Kanata Avenue no later than 1:30pm.
see maps. Google Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/M6ncwcAvkiM4JVqB9
(Please note that there are no washroom facilities)
Guide: Janet Mason, Friends of the Carp River
Janet is Chair of the Friends of the Carp River Inc. a non-profit action-based group dedicated to improving the quality of life in and along the Carp River and its watershed for the mutual benefit of its human and wildlife communities. They do this by encouraging new shoreline management practices, thereby helping to restore the “ribbon of life” along the river’s length. Janet is a former board member of Macnamara Field Naturalists’ Club and remains a valued member of the club.
Outing participants will learn about the riparian restoration of Ottawa’s own Carp River, the only river whose watershed lies entirely within the city’s boundaries. We will visit the Carp River Conservation Area in Kanata, a 2-kilometer section with restored meanders, wetlands, and ponds. The restoration is an excellent example of how natural areas can co-exist in commercial/suburban settings, providing habitat, recreation, and ecosystem services for adjacent and downstream communities. Participants will hear about plans for the Carp River Living Classroom, which will animate the river and its wetlands for education and discovery.
For more information about the Carp River Conservation Area, please see: https://friendsofthecarpriver.com/?page_id=1464. Friends of the Carp River
(Level of difficulty 1 out of 5)
Lots of walking on paved pathways with vistas over ponds and the river where we will look for migrating birds. Solid, comfortable closed toe footwear and ability to walk for the duration of the hike is advised. The site can be windy and the weather may decide to do anything at this point. A hat secured on your head and sunscreen might be appropriate. Binoculars and a camera are always a good idea if you have them. General reminder: Many locations we visit are in areas where picking flora of any kind is either not advisable or outright banned. Please do not pick anything while on group outings as it could reflect poorly on the club as a whole. Our trip leaders can make an educated and judicious choice about sampling.
A note about Covid: Participant numbers will be limited to ensure that all benefit from Janet’s information. You may register yourself and anyone in your own household only.
We will be maintaining physical distancing requirements. Please bring a non-medical mask to be worn when physical distancing is not possible. Please do not come if you are ill, have tested positive for COVID or have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid 19. Notification of cancellation as soon as possible would be appreciated.
Register at events@mfnc.ca as soon as possible as space is very limited, but no later than Thursday April 28. Participation will be on a first come first registered basis. Confirmation emails will be sent.
Please include in your registration:
- The full names of all in your household who will be attending;
- A statement that you have read and answered “No” to all questions on the COVID questionnaire below for all those you are registering.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Macnamara Field Naturalists’ Club Pre-trip COVID-19 Questionnaire
Dear potential field trip participant,
We know that field trips have been an appreciated feature of your Macnamara Field Naturalists’ Club membership and while we have had to scale down our numbers to keep participants and leaders safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are glad to have been able to keep them running for some of that time. While the risk of spreading COVID-19 continues: Field trip participants will be required to read and attest that they have answered “NO” to all questions on this pre- trip questionnaire.
PRE-TRIP QUESTIONNAIRE:
- Do you have any of the following symptoms: fever/feverish, new or existing cough, difficulty breathing, new loss or decrease in sense of taste or smell, runny nose, sneezing (non-allergy related), hoarse voice, nasal congestion, chills, headache, unexplained fatigue or malaise, difficulty swallowing, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pink eye? YES / NO
- Have you traveled internationally or had close contact with anyone who has travelled outside Canada within the last 14 days? YES / NO
- Have you been tested positive for COVID or have you had close contact with anyone with respiratory illness or a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case in the last 14 days without wearing the required or recommended PPE (e.g. goggles, gloves, mask and gown)? YES / NO
The Field Trip Coordinator will advise you by email if you have forgotten to include the statement but cannot hold your place in the registration queue until your statement has been received.
Prior to or on the day of the field trip: Please review this questionnaire. If you answer “YES” to any questions in the questionnaire above, do not attend this field trip and please contact the Field Trip Coordinator at mfncfieldtrips@gmail.com as soon as possible to deregister you so that someone on the waiting list may take your place. You do not have to report any of the answers to the questionnaire; Just request to be removed from the list.
During the two weeks after attending a field trip: If you experience any of the symptoms in question #1 or you test positive for COVID-19, please notify the Field Trip Coordinator at mfncfieldtrips@gmail.com so that other participants may be informed of their potential exposure. Your confidentiality will be respected.
THANK YOU – YOUR COOPERATION WILL HELP KEEP US ALL SAFE