Brantford – A Treasure Trove of Outdoor Activities

When we think of outdoor activities like hiking, camping, fishing, paddling, and cycling our minds usually tend to wander to remote vistas and wilderness solitude. You know the old saying, "Perception is reality!" Well, the reality is that you often don't have to go very far to find the perception of wilderness solitude. In fact the City of Brantford is one such hidden Southern Ontario gem.

I always thought of Brantford as the home of Alexander Graham Bell, Joseph Brant, and of course Wayne Gretzky, but I was thrilled to discover another side to Brantford. Nestled along the banks of the Grand River Brantford is a treasure trove of activity for outdoor enthusiasts. Some of the highlights include: the Grand Valley Trail, Brant Conservation Area, and the Grand River Exceptional Waters Region. Fishing in this area is second to none with an abundance of species from small mouth bass, pike, and channel cats, to walleye and rainbow trout. There are many access points and the river can be fished from shore in many locations, or wade and cast the shallows. If you're looking for something a bit more leisurely you can drift the lazy current in a canoe or kayak.

Whether you hike, fish, or paddle, the perception of wilderness solitude is very real, especially on and around the Exceptional Waters region that runs from Brantford to Paris. Even though you are surrounded by everything from towns and cities to farmland and major highways, you'll likely never know it. All you will experience is that tranquil feeling that only comes from a wilderness experience, but with all the advantages of being close to a major urban area.

Depending on your interests and pocket book, accommodations range from 4 star hotels to B&Bs to tranquil campsites along the Grand River, and local attractions are abundant and varied. If you're feeling lucky why not head to the OLG Casino, or take a side trip to the Canadian Military Heritage Museum, Chiefswood National Historic Site, Bell Homestead National Historic Site, the Woodland Cultural Centre, or take in a show at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts.

Be sure to put the City of Brantford on your list of must visit places in Southern Ontario.

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Gift Ideas for Bird Lovers

Spread the joy of birds with gifts that support conservation Published with With thanks to Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca, NY--Birding is such a simple pleasure—the bird watchers on your list probably already have umpteen field guides and a good set of binoculars. But there are some meaningful gifts that not only enhance the enjoyment of birds—they give back to the birds that give us so much pleasure. Here are some holiday suggestions from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Proceeds help support the Cornell Lab's mission of research, education, and conservation of birds.  1. Cornell Lab Membership  A "green" gift that gives back to the birds by supporting the Lab's mission of research, education, conservation, and citizen science. As part of your gift, your loved one will receive the Cornell Lab's Living Bird magazine and BirdScope newsletter. $35 2. The Birds of North America Online Features all of North America's breeding birds, plus photos and sounds. A gift of knowledge for anyone who loves to learn more about birds. $5 "stocking stuffer" (30-day subscription) or $42 for a whole year. 3. Songbirds Weekly Planner This 2011 planner indulges bird watchers all year long with bird illustrations and fascinating information. 4. Singing Bird Books Bird information plus sounds at the touch of a button. Backyard Bird Songs, BirdScapes, Bird Songs Bible, and more. 5. Audio Guides Birding by ear is a revelation. Choose a guide to favorite regions or species.  6. BirdsEye App See more birds with the world's only app that helps you find the places where your target species are. $1.99 for BirdsEye Lite, $19.99 for it all. 7. Bird-Friendly Coffee Enjoy delicious coffee knowing it was grown in a way that helps migratory songbirds on their wintering grounds. 8. Really Wild Cards Delight someone with these beautiful cards that play authentic bird sounds when you open them up. $7.99 9. Plush Birds that Sing These irresistible birds sing when you squeeze them. Choose a favorite species for a fun stocking stuffer. $7.99 10. The Bird Watching Answer Book Funny, fascinating, and helpful—this entertaining book answers many of the questions that the Cornell Lab receives from bird watchers each year. $14.95 11. Celebrate Urban Birds Calendar Features photos and artwork from our seasonal challenges. More than 100 funny, sweet, unusual, and gorgeous images. $15 12. Online Bird Behavior Course This very special gift enables your loved one to gain new insights and enjoyment through the Cornell Lab's five-week online interactive course, "Courtship and Rivalry in Birds."  Next session begins January 19, 2011. $295 ($255 for Lab members. For member discount, enroll by phone at 866-326-7635).  13. Sound Recording Workshop Students spend a week learning professional recording techniques. Takes place June 11-18, 2011, at San Francisco State University's Sierra Nevada Field Campus in the spectacular Tahoe National Forest. $975 Contact: Pat Leonard, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, (607) 254-2137, pel27@cornell.edu ______________________________________________________________________

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth's biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab's web site at http://www.birds.cornell.edu.

Become a Steward of our Fresh Water Resource

Aside from the air we breathe fresh water is the single most important element in the lives of the human race. Yet there seems to be an unfair distribution of fresh water throughout the planet. Those that have it abuse it; those that don't have it, crave it.

In Southern Ontario we are blessed with an abundance of fresh water that is the envy of many regions of the world. Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, and Lake Ontario join with Lake Superior and Lake Michigan to feed the mighty St. Lawrence. And yet, as Environmental Defense Canada reports, "More than 580 billion litres of drinking water, the equivalent of 236,000 Olympic swimming pools, are being wasted every year by homeowners in the Great Lakes region of Ontario and Quebec.

Large portions of the planet only think of water in terms of consumption; as a necessity of life that is not to be taken for granted and yet here we are, wasting over ½ billion litres of fresh water merely because we do take it for granted. I'm not going to dwell on the plight of those that live in the more arid regions of the world, but it is essential that we – each and every one of us – becomes a steward of our fresh water resources.

Governments must prohibit development on natural ground water recharge systems and issue serious penalties for wetland destruction due to intention or negligence. People seldom change habits simply because it is "the right thing to do". They respond to penalties or incentives; so governments must act swiftly and decisively to ensure that one of those two options is forefront in all planning that involves the utilization of our fresh water resources. We need meaningful legislation, not "feel good" rhetoric.

Individuals that are willing to act on their own can contribute significantly towards improving the problem. According to the same study mentioned above nearly 213 billion litres of water could be saved annually if all residents living within the Great Lakes watershed installed new high efficiency toilets. And there are already grants available in many jurisdictions that make this change almost free.

Charity begins at home and only by attaining a true appreciation for the vast fresh water resources that have been placed in our charge can we fully empathize with those that thirst for the very thing we now take for granted. I urge you to do your part; protect our fresh water resources and become a true steward through your actions.

 

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Long Gun Registry Survives – for Now

If you want to raise the hackles of Canadian farmers, hunters, and trappers just mention the long gun registry. I have watched with biased interest over the past several weeks as we edged closer to the vote and what I saw was just plain ugly. In the end the vote was no longer about the long gun registry; it was about fear. Nobody was concerned with the facts and from the numerous articles and posts that I've read far too many Canadians are completely unaware of just how tightly firearms are controlled in Canada, even without the registry.

There are two extremist camps in the fight and neither one wants to see the registry live. On one side you have the anti gun, anti hunting, animal rights types whose objective it is to see all guns in Canada confiscated and firearms ownership made illegal. On the other side you have the gun lobby who feels that we should have the American right to bear arms. What you saw during the debates leading up to the vote was these two groups firing missiles at each other. If you listened closely to the rhetoric you would think that the survival of the human race hung in the balance.

And the media, always hungry for a controversial issue to latch onto was no better. Stories were written in newspapers and aired on TV and radio. Objectivity – the foundation of good reporting – ceased to exist as reporters were forced to follow the personal views of their editors and producers.

Everyone that was opposed to the registry was classed as a fanatical right wing Conservative. I suggest that the only link to Conservatives for a vast majority of those in favor of shutting down the registry is in the fact that the Conservative Party were the ones to bring forth and support the bill. Personally I am non partisan and vote in favor of good legislation, no matter what party brings it forward, but I simply cannot abide "feel good / do nothing" legislation. This was bad legislation when it was first introduced, it is bad legislation now, and it will continue to be bad legislation until the day that it is finally scrapped.

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Keep Kids Busy with Geocaching

Geocaching – that high tech game of hide and seek – isn't just for adults. "I'm booorrrred", a refrain that all parents dread…especially during the family vacation! Let's face it, it isn't easy keeping the kids entertained all day long and how about some time for you too. So why not get creative and break out the GPS for the kids.

Kids these days tend to grasp the intricacies of electronic devices like we used to grasp kicking a beach ball or throwing a Frisbee. Set up a course around your cottage or campsite with treasures hidden in each place. You can make the course as long or short as you like but it will keep idle minds active for quite awhile, especially when you know just what treasures will pique their interest. Here are a few suggestions that will make it a bit easier:

• Let the age of your kids determine the length and complexity of the course.
  
• Pre-program all the waypoints and show them how to navigate from one to the other.
  
• Choose an area that is relatively free of biting insects.
  
• Give them a list of things they will find at each set of coordinates.
  
• Encourage them to use navigational terminology like coordinates, waypoints, etc.
  
• Be sure the last set of coordinates is your home base…we just want them busy for awhile and want them to find their way back home easily.
  
• Give them a set of clues for each cache and, again, let their ages determine how well hidden the caches will be.
  
• Give them some questions to answer about each location that will help them learn about the outdoors
  

Make his a fun experience and you'll not only get the kids active but they will be learning about our great Southern Ontario outdoors at the same time. Have a safe and happy summer season wherever you are in Southern Ontario.

©Lloyd Fridenburg - 2010

Don’t Put That in Your Mouth

There is simply no better gift that you can give your child than to share Southern Ontario's great outdoors. Even infants will love the chance to explore new territory and getting dirty is a bonus. But parents of toddlers and infants also need to be vigilant to ensure that children are safe in their surroundings.

This can be a difficult task even at home, but on the trail or in the bush it is essential. Of course there are the obvious dangers that can result in scrapes, bruises, or sprains but there are also those that can result in severe illness or even death. Many of these dangers are hidden under the guise of beautiful plants or insects. You as a responsible parent need to take the time to educate yourself about the hazards in your area and what to do about them.

Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus; ticks can transmit Lyme Disease; and the venom from wasps, bees and hornets can cause a life threatening allergic reaction, especially if multiple stings are inflicted. Plants to watch out for include daisy, periwinkle, poison ivy, poison oak, nightshade, morning glory, some varieties of mushroom, arrowhead, and milkweed. Some of these plants – or parts of them – are edible at certain times of the year and some are even medicinal, in the correct proportions, but unless you are an expert it is best to avoid them all together.

Here are a few tips to help keep your kids safe:

• If they have eaten any form of vegetation remove any pieces from their mouth and try to identify it.
  
• If you are able to identify it and it is amongst the poisonous varieties seek medical attention as soon as possible, or call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017.
  
• If you can't identify it or even if it is something you believe to be harmless watch the child closely for several hours so see if any symptoms arise. Symptoms can include being lethargic, trouble breathing, fever, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Don't hesitate to call the Ontario Poison Centre, they can tell what symptoms to watch for.
  
• Know the risk category of the region for things like Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus. There is actually a very low risk of contracting one of these diseases and an even lower risk of serious symptoms developing, but know the symptoms. Take precautions, but don't live in fear of mosquitoes and ticks.
  
• If your child is stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet watch closely for any signs of a reaction. In the event of multiple stings or if symptoms arise, seek medical assistance immediately! For more information read the article titled Bees in the Bush on the Southern Ontario Outdoors camping blog dated June 2009.
  

"Knowledge is Power"! It simply isn't practical to think that you can protect your kids from all things that may be harmful, but a bit of research will help you keep them safe and happy in our great Southern Ontario Outdoors.

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Elora & Fergus Tourism Wins Big at Ontario Economic Development Awards

I don’t normally post press releases in this blog but it feels just great to have one of Southern Ontario Outdoor’s key sponsors win some of the most prestigious Economic Development awards in Ontario. This is a true sign that size doesn’t matter as much as determination. Elora and Fergus have become a major Southern Ontario Tourist destination worthy of a visit by everyone.

Front row-Rhoda Lipton, Fran Weima, Aileen Murray-past president EDCO, Samantha Dirksen, Second row-Benny DiZitti, Deb Dalziel, Kelly Waterhouse
Third row-Kevin Kroetsch , Karen Thomas, Debbie Rushton, Mayor Joanne Ross Zuj,
Councilor Kirk McElwain
Fourth row-Deborah Barr, Melanie Ward,
Fifth row-David Bar, Garrett Klassen, Dave Rushton

“The Ontario Economic Development Awards took place on Thursday February 4^th at the Toronto Marriott Eaton Centre Hotel. Elora & Fergus Tourism, Sensational Elora and Grand River Country took top honours in 3 separate categories in best visitor guide, best marketing campaign and best specialty brochure in the provincial tourism marketing categories. The ceremony honours winners and honourable mentions for their efforts in promoting their communities for location and tourism opportunities.

“This year, over 130 entries were judged” stated 2009 EDCO President Lauren Millier. “The competition allows local communities to see just how they stack up against other municipalities when it comes to promoting location, investment & tourism opportunities”.

Expert judges reviewed all of the entries that covered everything from promotional brochures to infrastructure development projects. There are judges from specialized areas of expertise assigned to judge specific categories.

Over 20 tourism partners from Centre Wellington were on hand to accept these awards during the Annual Conference of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario. “It is always an honour to accept these awards as the competition is very competitive”, stated Deb Dalziel, Tourism Coordinator for Elora Fergus Tourism. “These awards demonstrate our effectiveness in our economic development and tourism marketing efforts, and provide recognition to so many of our creative and hardworking events and projects in our community. It was especially thrilling to have our Mayor, members of Council and so many partners present to participate in the award ceremonies.

These prestigious awards were especially distinctive as the Honourable David Onley; Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was on hand to personally congratulate all winners including the large delegation from Centre Wellington.

EDCO is the country’s largest provincial economic development association that offers this program as well as professional development opportunities throughout the year. Membership is close to 600 that come from the private and public sector.”

Congratulations to all and keep up the great work.

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Elora, Fergus and Ice Fishing on Belwood Lake

Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you want to spend the day immersed in nature, casting for trout, or sitting on a frozen lake waiting for a nice pike to make your drag sing, but your significant other has, shall we say…other plans. As I write this post it’s -15c in Southwestern Ontario, the lakes are hard as a rock and the fish are waiting.

Well if your idea of relaxation on a cold winter’s day differs from that of your spouse I just may have the compromise you’re looking for. Head to Belwood Lake near Fergus and Elora. just outside the town of Fergus where you can ply the frozen depths while those less inclined spend a great day browsing the shops and sites of beautiful

Nestled along the scenic banks of the upper Grand River the towns of Fergus and Elora boast unique shops, great scenery, and fantastic restaurants. The towns abound with artisans of all kinds and you’re sure to find something to please any taste.

Belwood Lake is a man-made flood control reservoir administered by the Grand River Conservation Authority and is just upstream of the town of Fergus. Live bait and ice hut rentals are available and the ice fishing is great. As with all good things there is often a downside; it is quite conceivable that you will run out of bait before your spouse runs out of cash and there is always the chance that you could be forgotten altogether.

Oh well, there are plenty of great B&Bs available in the area, so why not make a weekend of it. Whatever your preference, get out and enjoy our great Southern Ontario Outdoors.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions