RVCA (1141)
Children categories
Department (66)
Main Office Phone Numbers : 613-692-3571 / 1-800-267-3504
Staff Directory
Gloria Toffolo
Located just outside of Ottawa, 10 minutes from the Ottawa International Airport and near the scenic Village of Manotick, the Rideau Valley Conservation Centre (RVCC) offers a unique environmental setting for your next business meeting, training session or staff retreat.
RVCA does not rent its space for social events. RVCC is not available on weekends, Statutory Holidays or during annual RVCA office closures.
RVCC Rental Information
To learn more about renting space at the RVCC, download our Rental Guidelines (coming soon).
To see if your event's date is available, please complete our online RVCC Rental Request Form.
RVCC Facilities
The RVCC is a gold level LEED certified building — the first in eastern Ontario.
What is LEED?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is considered the worldwide standard in the construction of sustainable buildings. LEED is all about reducing or eliminating the negative impacts of building materials and the construction process on the occupants of the building.
Green Features — Inside and Out
Our energy and water efficient facility offers a large meeting room, an outdoor courtyard, kitchen and lobby area. Our outdoor space opens to the Beryl Gaffney Park and lovely walking trails that lead to the shore of the Rideau River. The RVCC is a nice departure from the concrete jungle.
The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority has been caring for the environment for over 50 years. Part of our commitment to the environment includes respecting the ecosystem we operate in and lessening our impact on it. That’s why, it is only natural for us to build a “green” building — one that saves energy, improves efficiency and reduces waste.
Atrium
A large, wide-open, airy space that can be used for meetings, gatherings and more. Full access to the boardroom kitchen via a pass-through.
Monterey Boardroom
A large, 90-person sit-down capacity meeting room that is perfect for meetings, presentations or any gathering — audio visual equipment is available.
Meeting Room
Perfect for smaller meetings. Full hook-ups for computers. It boasts a large meeting table, comfy chairs and large flat-screen TV, great for presentations.
Kitchen
Perfect for food served at your meeting or event. Coffee, tea, sugar and creamer are available at no extra charge. A refrigerator, full-size stove, microwave and dishwasher are available for your use. Also, plates, small bowls, coffee mugs and utensils for up to 40 people can be used. Garbage cans, blue box and black box are on site.
Outdoor Terrace
A beautiful, tranquil setting with picnic tables and a fountain. It's the perfect place to set up a BBQ, or just enjoy the fresh air during meeting breaks or lunch. Trails lead from our picnic area into tranquil forest setting along the Rideau River.
Other Features
Free fresh air and parking
RVCA works with many volunteers throughout the year to help restore and enhance our watershed. We offer a range of volunteer opportunities that require varying experience levels and time commitments. There may be an interesting and rewarding volunteer opportunity at RVCA that's right for you!
Check our Events Calendar (below) to see special, upcoming events for volunteers/participants or learn more about specific volunteer opportunities listed in the Get Involved! Volunteer menu (on right).
The RVCA collects, monitors and analyses watershed information.
Monitoring environmental conditions helps us see trends over time, focus our actions where they can do the most good, and evaluate the effectiveness of our watershed policies and programs.
Reporting information ensures the right information is available to municipal and watershed decision makers (including watershed residents).
Use the menu to the right to visit our monitoring and reporting information. You can also access information through our interactive mapping. See below for details on what is currently available.
Interactive Mapping Tool
Access information through our interactive mapping tool. Choose from these mapping options:
RVCA |
Access our robust interactive mapping with multiple tools to help you find regulation limits, flood event depths, flood & low water status, landcover, conservation areas and more. Note: as of April 1, 2024, Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits will replace the RVCA's existing Ontario Regulation 174/06 under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Our online map tooling tool is being updated to reflect Ontario Regulation 41/24. Our online mapping tool has been updated to reflect our Interim Policy for the Administration and Implementation of Ontario Regulation 41/24. |
Streamflow, Water Levels & Weather Stations |
See real-time and periodic information from a network of sources from across the watershed. |
Water Quality - |
View water quality data collected across the watershed. See where we test and the results. |
Subwatersheds and |
Explore our subwatershed reports that highlight four indicators of watershed health: water quality, forest cover, wetland cover and riparian cover. |
Map A Property |
Search properties to see if it may be subject to RVCA Regulation - Section 28. Note: as of April 1, 2024, Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits will replace the RVCA's existing Ontario Regulation 174/06 under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Our online map tooling tool is being updated to reflect Ontario Regulation 41/24. Watch for updates to our mapping tool as we modify our maps to reflect new wetland boundaries. Please contact us for information.
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The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) conserves and protects natural resources in the Rideau River valley for the benefit of everyone. The RVCA believes that sound land use and municipal planning is a critical part of protecting our land and water. It is also essential to preventing the loss of life and property damage due to flooding and erosion.
Note: As of April 1, 2024, a new Minister’s regulation (Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits) will replace the RVCA's existing Ontario Regulation 174/06 under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Moving forward, O. Reg. 41/24 will be used by all Conservation Authorities.
As part of this mandate, the RVCA continues to:
- Regulate construction in and along environmentally sensitive areas such as floodplains, steep slopes, wetlands, shorelines and waterways
- Review development proposals (municipal plan / Planning Act review) within or adjacent to natural areas
- Administer Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code on behalf of the City of Ottawa and Tay Valley Township by reviewing and issuing Building Permits for construction, enlargement and/or alteration of sewage disposal systems.
Our team of staff work towards clean water, natural shorelines and sustainable land use throughout the watershed.
RVCA is one of Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities. Under Ontario's Conservation Authorities Act, the RVCA is responsible for furthering the "conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources in the watershed." We are responsible for protecting people and property from natural hazards like flooding and erosion.
For over 50 years, the RVCA has worked to protect the health of our watershed and the people who live in it. Through environmental monitoring and reporting, on-the-ground restoration and stewardship, conservation lands and education, development review and approval and flood forecasting and warning working in close partnerships with our member municipalities, other levels of government and academia has made this work possible.
Our Vision
Our vision is for a thriving watershed with clean abundant water, natural shorelines, rich forests and wetlands, diverse habitat and sustainable land use that is valued and protected by all.
Our Mission
Our mission is to understand, manage, protect, restore and enhance the Rideau watershed through science, stewardship, education, policy and leadership.
RVCA helps improve the quality of water in our streams, lakes, rivers and groundwater reserves. We look to protect and enhance our watershed's natural resources by providing programs that will leave a healthy and sustainable environment for future generations. Programs such as tree planting, landowner incentive programs and shoreline restoration help us achieve our goals. We are delighted work with private landowners, lake associations, NGOs, Friends of groups, businesses, government agencies and the general public to make improvements to the watershed. Working with others, we divide the task and double the success!
This guide provides description of each program. Demand for these programs is high, so it is recommended you book early to avoid disappointment.
More...
This guide provides description of each program. Demand for these programs is high, so it is recommended you book early to avoid disappointment.
Foley Mountain Day Camps
2024 Summer Day Camp Registration
Join our qualified and experienced outdoor educators for some summer fun in the forest! Designed for children aged 6 – 12, we spend our time outside exploring, playing, and learning through experiential, hands-on opportunities. Each themed week is full of nature-based activities that could include discovering creatures that live in the beaver, searching for salamanders, playing Instincts for Survival, learning to build a shelter, crafts, and more! Our ratio of staff to campers is 1:8 and we accept 24 campers per session.
| Date | Program | Age | Camp Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
July |
Outdoor Adventurers |
6-12 | 9am - 4pm | $220/week $195/week for additional children in the same family |
| July 22 – 26 WAITLIST ONLY |
Nature Explorers |
6-12 | 9am - 4pm | $220/week $195/week for additional children in the same family |
| August 12 – 16 WAITLIST ONLY |
Forest Fun | 6-12 | 9am - 4pm | $220/week $195/week for additional children in the same family |
| August 26 - 30 WAITLIST ONLY |
Junior Naturalists | 6-12 | 9am - 4pm | $220/week $195/week for additional children in the same family |
To Register
Please complete the registration request form to be added to our registration list or wait list for camps that are currently full. Upon completion of the form, we will send you a registration package, including the program handbook and other necessary documents. PLEASE NOTE that filling out this form does not necessarily guarantee a space in the program but begins the registration process.
Interested in volunteering?
Looking to get your high school volunteer hours or just add some great experience to your resume? Fill in our volunteer information form at https://bit.ly/3RY4zuh to connect with our camp staff
| Our Community Partner | ||
 |
2024 Forest Explorers Summer Camp Ages 6-12 | Five-day program | $250 All fees are plus applicable taxes.
Baxter’s Forest Explorers Summer Camp gives campers the opportunity to enjoy summer adventures immersed in nature while playing, exploring, and making new friends. Camp will include a number of organized activities like our pond study, insect study, crafts, etc. and unstructured, child-directed time where our camp counsellors will follow the campers’ interests while providing a safe and fun summer camp experience. Campers will enjoy swimming at Baxter beach supervised by two certified lifeguards.
Our Forest Explorers Summer Camp will be offered for 6- to 12-year-old children. If your child turns 6 during the calendar year (by December 31st), they are eligible to register for our summer camp programs this year. We will have a 1:8 ratio with 24 campers and 3 staff each week. One week of camp will run from Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. One week of camp costs $250 per camper. We also offer before and after care for summer camp. Before care ($5/camper/day) is available from 8:00-9:00 am and after care ($5/camper/day) is available from 4:00-5:00 pm. The maximum cost for before and after care is $100 per family. All fees are plus applicable taxes.
Interested in volunteering?
Looking to get your high school volunteer hours or just add some great experience to your resume? Email .
| Date | Program | Age | Camp Hours | Cost* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 8 to 12, 2024 | Forest Explorers Summer Camp WAITLIST ONLY |
6–12 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | $250 | ||
| July 15 to 19, 2024 | Forest Explorers Summer Camp WAITLIST ONLY |
6–12 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | $250 | ||
| July 22 to 26, 2024 | Forest Explorers Summer Camp WAITLIST ONLY |
6–12 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | $250 | ||
| July 29 to August 2, 2024 | Forest Explorers Summer Camp WAITLIST ONLY |
6–12 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | $250 | ||
| August 12 to 16, 2024 | Forest Explorers Summer Camp WAITLIST ONLY |
6–12 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | $250 | ||
| August 19 to 23, 2024 | Forest Explorers Summer Camp WAITLIST ONLY |
6–12 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | $250 | ||
To Register
Click here to request registration.
PLEASE NOTE that Baxter’s summer camp is small and very popular. Spaces are limited and fill up very quickly once registration opens. Please check back here for the link to our registration request form.
PLEASE NOTE that filling out our registration request form does not guarantee you a space in our summer camp program. Registration requests are time stamped and processed in order they are received. Our staff will contact you ONLY if you are able to obtain a space in our summer camp. We will begin notifying families if they have obtained a space in our summer camp programs on February 5, 2024.
Additional Information
- Before and After Care is available at an additional fee. - Before Care 8:00-9:00 am - After Care 4:00-5:00 pm
Qualified and experienced outdoor education and camping staff Regular camp hours — 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - All fees are plus applicable taxes
Half Day Program
$175 per group
(maximum 30 students)
(90 minutes with an RVCA instructor)
Full Day Program
$250 per group
(maximum 30 students)
(two 90 minutes with an RVCA instructor)
Self-directed
Interested in just visiting the conservation area with your class but not booking a program? The cost is $2.50/person. This does not include the use of buildings other than access to public washrooms. To reserve facilities, contact staff. Staff must still be contacted to book a self-directed visit.
Overnight Tent Camping (accommodations only)
1-15 people - $75/night
16-30 people - $150/night
30+ people - contact for pricing
*Additional buildings also available for rent (link to facility rentals)
Take you class on an overnight adventure to our group camping area! Plan your own activities or book our education staff to provide programming during your stay (see above for pricing).
