Monthly Archive

RIDEAU AND MISSISSIPPI WATERSHEDS, July 31, 2024 – This summer’s weather has been unpredictable at best: torrential rains, extreme heat and even a recent tornado on Christie Lake near Perth. 

With this volatility becoming the norm, planting trees on marginal land or unused fields can help protect your property by reducing erosion, creating windbreaks, improving drainage, providing shade and more. 

And, comparatively at least, it’s not expensive. The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) offers generous tree planting subsidies for rural landowners in the Rideau and Mississippi watersheds with at least 1.25 acres of suitable land. The full-service program includes customized tree planting plans that suit the landowner’s vision and needs, on-site technical advice, ordering and handling of trees, site preparation, tree planting and tending, and survival assessments for five years.

Landowner costs range from $0.15 per tree within the City of Ottawa to between $0.30 and $0.40 per tree outside the city, depending on quantity. 

“It’s an incredibly economical way to protect and improve your property while cutting down on maintenance for idle fields and retired rough pasture,” said Ian Cochrane, RVCA’s forestry manager. “The program keeps your property working without having to do a lot of work yourself.”

Elizabethtown-Kitley farmer Tom Ronan said tree planting has saved him countless hours of bush-hogging since he planted 7,500 trees on several idle fields at the back of his 200-acre property. He’s also saved himself the cost of fuel to run the mowing machine. On top of that, he said it feels good to leave a legacy for future generations.

“By the time these new trees mature, there’s a good chance I won’t be around. But my kids and my grandkids will have an opportunity to enjoy it,” Ronan said. “The trees represent a new growth for the farm. They’ll put some of the scrub land back into use, and it’s helping the environment.”

RVCA’s forestry staff work with landowners across both the Rideau Valley and the Mississippi Valley watersheds. They are now booking site visits for this summer and fall to prepare for tree planting in spring 2025.  

To book your site visit, contact Ian Cochrane at  or visit https://www.rvca.ca/stewardship-grants/tree-planting to learn more.

KARS-ON-THE-RIDEAU, August 1, 2024 – If you’ve always wanted to try Forest School, now’s your chance.Baxter Conservation Area in Kars will offer Summer Forest School Drop-In Days throughout the month of August for both kindergarteners and school-age kids. 

Kids aged 4 to 6 (or turning so before Dec. 31, 2024) can register for half-day sessions from 9 to noon on August 23 and 28. The cost for half-day sessions is $30 per child plus HST.

Kids aged 6 to 10 (or turning so before Dec. 31, 2024) can register for full-day sessions from 9 to 3 on August 9, 14, 26 or 27. The cost for full-day sessions is $55 per child plus HST.

These one-day programs will run out of Baxter’s River Cabin facility on the shores of the Rideau River, and will include forest exploration, outdoor learning and games. 

“This is a great opportunity for kids to spend the day outside and see what Baxter’s Forest School is all about,” said Amy Tenbult, acting supervisor at Baxter Conservation Area. “Learning outdoors and taking risks is so important for child development, and by adding these drop-in days we hope more kids will be able to participate.”

Forest School is an increasingly popular alternative education option in which children spend most of their time outside learning through experiential, hands-on activities that promote curiosity in an active and authentic learning environment. 

Baxter offers regular Forest School sessions in the fall, winter and spring, in which students visit weekly for the entire semester. 

Registration is now open for summer drop-in days. To learn more or to register, visit https://www.rvca.ca/outdoor-education/baxter/new-summer-programs-at-foley-mountain-2.

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