Saturday 7 November;
10:00 AM – approximately 12:00 PM (noon)
Meeting Location: At the Gillies Grove trailhead, dead end of Ottawa Street in Arnprior. Map with directions will be sent to registered participants.
(please note that there are no bathroom facilities)
Leaders: Roger Bird and David Major
Roger Bird is a retired journalist, and a hiker and birder. In a varied career he was once editor of the World Federation of Science Journalists website and a professor in the School of Journalism at Carleton University.
David Major was born in 1939 Halifax and grew up on the boundary of Halifax where across the street was a cow field and behind, was a virtually endless forest of trees, copses, meadows and brooks where the days were endless. David graduated from Dalhousie in Commerce and has also had a varied career in a wide variety of for profit, government, non-profit and consulting roles. When not drawn to some trail, he also likes choral singing, currently with Kanata and Arnprior Community Choirs.
This is a two-hour walk geared to beginners or those who may have difficulty on rigorous trails. Roger and David will identify common trees. Leaves (mostly on the ground), bark, structure and what the tree is “doing” will be identifiers. For more advanced naturalists, please note there will be another outing for you with Erik Pohanka to learn how to ID leafless trees later in November or early December.
Anticipate mud and wear suitable footwear. Please bring water to drink, and dress for the weather (warmly as it is getting cold these days) with long pants tucked into your socks (poison ivy and ticks). Binoculars are useful but not essential, a hand lens (small personal magnifying glass) and a camera are always a good idea if you have them. Please also note that 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.
A note about Covid: Participant numbers will be restricted to those allowed by local Health bylaws so register early and only if you truly know you can come. You may register yourself and anyone in your own household only. Participation will be on a first come first registered basis. Confirmation emails will be sent.
We will be maintaining physical distancing requirements. Please bring a non-medical mask as this will be mandatory for all participants. Please do not come if you are ill or have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid 19. Notification of cancellation as soon as possible would be appreciated. Also please ensure that you notify us (via mfncfieldtrips@gmail.com ) if you later find that you have come into contact with Covid 19. The Covid app can also be downloaded via: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-alert.html
Register for this outing at events@mfnc.ca (please include your full name) no later than Wednesday November 4th.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.