| May 31, 2023


This weekend marks the 9th annual Wintergreen Land Art BioBlitz at Wintergreen Studios, off Canoe Lake Road in South Frontenac.

The Wintergreen event has three components, making for a frenzied week at the environmental retreat centre that was founded 16 years ago by Queen’s professor (and former Dean of Education) Rena Upitis, on a 200-acre property that she purchased in the 1990s.

The first component are school retreats that take place from Tuesday to Friday. Last year, 8 different schools participated and more are coming this year. Schools that attend include public and separate schools, and specialty schools as well.

They will participate in a series of workshops: starting with drumming by Yessica Rivera-Campbell, followed by a guided hike with Jamie Campbell, Foraging frolic with the Wild foragers Society, Sustainable Building and Renewable Energy with Rena Upitis, Forest Fungi connections: Looking for Mushrooms with Hilbert Buist, and a Walking Labyrinth.

In addition, there are Land Art activities and self-guided hikes available throughout the day.

The Land Art component, which is based on interactions with nature, is a big part of the virtual BioBlitz. It is available this week, and year-round. It can be found at wintergreen.com/land-art-bioblitz under Land Art Activities, by clicking on one of 14 images.

The final focus of the BioBlitz is the free, family friendly event this Saturday, June 3, from 10am-4pm.

Starting at 10am, with opening ceremonies featuring Yessica Rivera Belsham, the day features all of the workshop presenters that will be on site for the students, with programming designed for different age groups and interests throughout the day.

A full schedule is available at wintergreenstudios/events/lab-2023

Registration is encouraged at the above site, but it is not required. So, if you are looking for a one of a kind event on Saturday, make the drive to the Wintergreen site and join in.

Kingston Field Naturalists in Battersea

A second BioBlitz is scheduled locally, on June 9 and 10. Presented by the Kingston Field Naturalists at the Milburn Creek Nature Reserve, which is located in Battersea.

The Kingston Field Naturalists will hold their 25th annual BioBlitz to count plant, animal and other species as a measure of the biodiversity of a local area in June. The event is open to the public and is to be held, with Nature Conservancy Canada at the Milburn Creek Nature Reserve in Battersea.

Natural history specialists, amateurs and members of the public are invited to come out and identify and record as many plant and animal species as possible over a 24-hour period from 3pm on Friday, June 9, to 3pm on Saturday, June 10. This is the 25th BioBlitz organised by the Field Naturalists, each of them in a different location.

“The idea is to set a baseline of the biodiversity for the area. A BioBlitz is a community based initiative linking science, education and public participation. It is a fun and free event. There will be guided walks to learn about a variety of organisms throughout the period. This event fulfills the mandate of the Kingston Field Naturalists to stimulate public interest in nature and to acquire and provide knowledge of natural history,” said a press release supporting the event.

The group has a goal to record 1,000 species in the 24 hour period.

“Our BioBlitz is an inventory of as many living things as can be identified within a 24 hour period within a defined area,” said the release, “specialists and experts from diverse disciplines will explore the area under investigation. Guided walks and social time are part of our plan.”

The Mill Creek Reserve was chosen as the site this year, partly because it is a “224 acres (91 h) property, has wetlands, a creek and a vernal pond, mixed forest, rocky outcrops and old field habitats. It is on the edge of the limestone granite bedrock junction. A number of diverse habitats to explore.”

The BioBlitz program, including the times of the various guided walks as well as additional information, including direction to the site, camping options, and registration may be found on the Kingston Field Naturalists website at: www.kingstonfieldnaturalists.org

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