If you are concerned about our environment, there are lots of things you can do to make it better.   

You can plant trees, preserve sensitive natural lands and protect our local waterways.  You can also help our children become great stewards of the environment through a range of environmental programs. 

For over 30 years, the Conservation Halton Foundation has helped our local natural environment by helping to purchase natural lands, plant trees and provide environmental education programs for hundreds of thousands of local school children.

There are many exciting opportunities for you to help protect our environment.  We hope you enjoy supporting projects that help you feel good about protecting our environment. 

HOW TO MAKE A DONATION

Grow a forest

Trees are important for our community.  They help clean the air we breathe and the water we drink.  They provide habitat for wildlife, and they help us save energy by shading our houses in summer and acting as a wind break in winter. 

Trees play an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide and decreasing the effects of global warming. 

Over the next 5 years, Conservation Halton will support the planting of 500,000 trees – and you can help.  Our goal is to increase the size of our forests to make our air and water cleaner, to absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants, and enhance wildlife habitat and recreation areas for our community. 

Priority areas for tree planting include:

·          protected natural lands in Burlington, Oakville and Milton

·          working with local schools to naturalize school yards to provide shade and natural learning areas, and

·          restoring areas around the banks of streams and rivers.

 

$2,000	Plants native grasses, shrubs and trees to re-establish a 1/2 acre of wildlife habitat or naturalized schoolyard.
$5,000	Provides 5,000 seedlings for planting in local natural areas or on private lands being rehabilitated to protect natural habitat.
$10,000	Provides a community tree planting event for 1,000 people to plant 4,000 native trees and shrubs to rehabilitate parklands or stream areas

Adopt an Owl

Each year, 15,000 children visit with the hawks, owls and eagles at our Raptor Centre at the  Mountsberg Conservation Area.   The kids get to see the birds close up and learn how our birds play a role in our environment.

The birds at the Raptor Centre are there because they are injured or imprinted to humans and couldn’t survive on their own in the wild. 

Our birds are also used in presentations at local schools, seniors homes and special events.

Chomper is a male Great Horned Owl who lives at Mountsberg because he is human-imprinted.  Cornelius is a male Bald Eagle who is at Mountsberg because of a permanent wing injury.

Donations to our Adopt a Raptor program are used to fund veterinary care and training of our raptors.  The donations also fund equipment so our ecologists can learn about raptors and their habitat, the construction of raptor facilities, and the purchasing of important habitat areas.

There are many creeks, streams and wetlands in our community including Bronte Creek, Sixteen Mile Creek and Grindstone Creek.  These waterways and other wetlands provide us with clean water, areas to walk, canoe and swim, and habitat for deer, rabbits, songbirds, ducks, geese and other creatures.   

But many of our watercourses flow through urbanized areas that have reduced tree cover.  This means two things – less wildlife habitat and more pollutants in our waterways.  Without lots of vegetation as a natural barrier, substances like motor oil, fertilizer, road salt and other pollutants can flow into our waterways and degrade their quality.    

By planting trees, shrubs and grasses along our streams and rivers, we increase habitat for animals, birds and insects.  We also add tree cover that shades the stream to cool the water and make it better for fish and insects.  Trees, shrubs and grasses help prevent dirt, chemicals and other pollutants from getting into our waterways and keep them healthy for us and the organisms that live there.

Buy natural lands

Do you want to protect natural lands?  Conservation Halton does.  We’ve been doing this for 50 years.  And so far, we’ve protected 10,200 acres – that’s about the size of 1/4 of the City of Burlington or the Town of Oakville!  

Conservation Halton protects headwater areas and wetlands that bring us clean water.  We preserve forested areas that clean our air and water and provide habitat for birds, animals and insects. 

Conservation Halton has the largest portfolio of protected natural lands in our community.  These lands provide wonderful areas to get out and enjoy nature and protect important plants and animals. 

Mount Nemo (pictured) contains more than 400 acres of protected lands and is home to a rare forest of ancient cedar trees –  with some that are more than 800 years old!

These protected natural areas make our community a great place to live and are enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of families, children and community groups every year!  

Send a kid to camp

The Ways of the Woods Day Camp (WOW) is a day camp for children ages 6 to 14 that offers children the opportunity to explore, discover, and play in our six conservation areas.   

Ways of the Woods creates an experience where children can explore the natural world through hands-on activities, discover new skills, and build new friendships. 

Kids enjoy a range of activities that include swimming, hiking, native lore, bird watching, canoeing, caving, campouts, stream study, archery and more. 

Your support can help provide much needed equipment and offer the chance for children to enjoy great times at WOW: 

Build a village

Did you know that the Iroquoian First Nations people used to live near you?  It’s true.

A rare glacial lake, Crawford Lake has drawn people to its shores for hundreds of years. Nestled in lush forests atop the Niagara Escarpment, visitors can watch soaring turkey vultures or step back in time and explore a 15^th century Iroquoian Village that has been reconstructed on its original site. 

As a draw for school groups and tourists throughout our area, the longhouse village will take you back in time with the smell of wood smoke, animal hides and tools, to experience the lives of Ontario’s First Peoples. 

 Teach kids about water

The Halton Children’s Water Festival is an annual event that teaches local students important lessons about water. 

The Festival provides 3,000 students from grades 2 to 5 with a fun day at Kelso Conservation Area in Milton where they interact with 50 hands-on exhibits to help them learn about water conservation, health and safety, science and technology, protection and stewardship.

The Festival links with the local school curriculum and is presented in partnership with the Halton District and Halton Catholic District School Boards and other partners. 

The Festival addresses the need in our society for a greater understanding and respect for water.  In a time when summer water restrictions are routine, and ‘boil water’ advisories are common, it is important to teach children about water so that as they become tomorrow’s community leaders, they use lessons from experiences at the Water Festival as a way of forming opinions and taking actions. 

Start your own ‘green’ fund 

If you’d like to do something really exciting, you can make a contribution to the Conservation Halton Foundation Green Values Fund.

The Green Values Fund is managed by the Burlington Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Oakville to generate income to plant trees, to buy sensitive natural lands and to teach kids about nature. 

To make a contribution to the Green Values Fund, please contact the Conservation Halton Foundation at (905) 336-1158 extension 255 or by email at found@hrca.on.ca

Plant a Remembering Forest

If you want, you can Adopt a Tree or Plant a Remembering Tree to honor someone special to you.  This is a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday, a wedding, an anniversary or to mark the passing of a special person in your life.  

You can choose Red Oak, Sugar Maple or White Pine and have the trees planted at the Conservation Area of your choice.  Tree plantings will be managed by Conservation Halton staff in the spring or fall to maximize tree success. 

Adopt a Trail

Conservation Halton trails are a great place to get out with family and friends for fresh air and good times together.  By sponsoring a trail, you’ll help enhance our trails and parks for all to enjoy.   

Adopt a Bench

Individuals, families or groups can Adopt a Bench to honor someone special to you.  This is a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday, a wedding, an anniversary or to mark the passing of a special person in your life.  This special gift creates a rest area where visitors can enjoy the beauty of Conservation Halton parks.

Buy a Copy of Halton: Rising, Wild and Beckoning

Learn more about natural wonders in our community and support local conservation projects by ordering your copy of Halton: Rising, Wild and Beckoning. It's the perfect gift for the naturalist on your list.

Yours for only $35 (Regular price $39.95).  All proceeds to conservation projects funded by the Conservation Halton Foundation.  Visit our Conservation Shop to order your copy.

If you have any questions call Brian Hobbs 905.336.1158 extension 255 or e-mail found@hrca.on.ca.