The Copeland Forest Friends Board had a lot to celebrate at their first meeting since the launch October 3rd. One was signing the MOU with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, which Mary Anne Greatrix is holding up here. Mary Anne is the Board’s Secretary, and holds one of the Member-at-Large seats on the Board.
A reminder to everyone that deer hunting occurs in Copeland Forest and is restricted to muzzle-loading guns. The 2015 season is two weeks long and runs from Monday, November 2 to Friday, November 6th and Monday, November 30 to Friday, December 4th. This year, Continue reading Fall Deer Hunting Schedule in Copeland
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On our first official day as an organization, we raised $3,000 and took in 96 memberships. Not bad for an unseasonably cold and windy day that had a few of us reaching for our parkas.
Big Thank You to the businesses and organizations who helped sponsor our event and came out on launch day: Horseshoe Resort (Couldn’t have done it without you), Napoleon Grill, Maple Lodge Farms, Bikeland, Ride Guides, Copeland Hills Stables, Ganaraska Hiking Club, Orillia Naturalists Club, Brereton Field Naturalists, Severn Sound Environmental Association, The Couchiching Conservancy, Sojourn, Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club and of course The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Photo album from the launch here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/copelandforest/sets/72157659361305026
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Support a New Community with the Forest at its Heart. Join us for the launch of the Copeland Forest Friends Association and find out how you can support our efforts to preserve and protect one of the last tracts of Deep Woods forest in Ontario.
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Saturday October 3 from 10 am to Noon
Horseshoe Resort X-C Ski Lodge & Parking Lot
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Thanks to generous donations from local businesses, the majority of proceeds raised at the event will be used to fund the work of Copeland Forest Friends.
Additional Information:
*Bring your bikes (the kids bikes too) and have some fun: Ride Guides will be doing a bike skills workshop from noon to 1 pm. The workshop is open to all who would like to learn more about bike handling. There will also be some riding obstacles there to practice your new skills. From 10 am to noon there will also be short guided rides out into the Copeland Forest, another good reason to bring the bikes.
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Tethered balloon rides will give you the chance to view Copeland Forest from a whole new angle when The Copeland Forest Friends Association holds its official launch Oct. 3rd with a barbecue and other recreational activities.
The event represents a precedent-setting partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MNRF) to bring greater stewardship to the Copeland Forest, which is facing increasing pressure from recreational interests. The goal of the new non-profit is to conserve the natural integrity of the forest while facilitating compatible recreational opportunities.
The organization arose out of an initiative of the Couchiching Conservancy, which, with the blessing of MNRF has been working to develop community stewardship for Copeland Forest with recreational user groups and members of the public since 2011.
The governance model for Copeland Forest Friends, developed by the founding Board members, places the health of the forest first, and gives each of nine recreational user groups equal say in decisions regarding the forest. This model was developed after a series of well- attended public meetings in which users of the forest overwhelmingly expressed the need to protect this natural gem as the highest priority. The organization has been carefully crafted to ensure that all user groups are involved and heard.
The Copeland Forest is a 4,400 acre Resource Management Area under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. The forest contains headwaters for three watersheds draining into the Georgian Bay. It is the largest mature forest within commuting distance of the Greater Toronto Area.
The enterprise has enjoyed the support of The Ontario Trillium Foundation, Mountain Equipment Co-op, the Township of Oro-Medonte, Horseshoe Resort, the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, The Couchiching Conservancy, and of course the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Many people leave Copeland Forest with a lot of unanswered questions: “I’ve never heard that bird song before, I wonder what it was?”; “Are any of these plants rare? Do they have any medicinal uses?” People who can answer those questions are becoming as rare as some of the unique species found in Copeland Forest.
This May we’ve invited three very experienced naturalists – Bob Bowles, Margaret Kennedy, and Dave Lord – to share their knowledge with you and answer your questions. They have generously offered their time for free. Come celebrate spring’s arrival with us and take away a deeper understanding of this important forest. The number of participants are limited for each workshop, so please make sure you register in advance.
