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Spring is in the Air!
With signs of spring all around us, what better way to welcome the long awaited season than with a nature walk in the Ganaraska Forest? The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) is hosting their annual
Put Some Spring In Your Step! event on Sunday, May 3rd from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Ganaraska Forest Centre.
To register for this guided walk or for more information, please contact the GRCA at 905.885.8173. Pre-registration is required and appreciated. The walk will be held rain or shine. The cost for this event is $12 per adult or $6 per child (8-16 years of age).
Don't forget your binoculars and birding and flower guides!
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Ganaraska Forest Opens May 1st
May 1st marks the date the Ganaraska Forest opens to all recreational uses. After the long, severe winter we experienced, forest users are bound to be anxious to get back out on the trails. Users should be aware, that during the early spring thaw, trails are usually wet , soft and muddy and trail surfaces can be easily damaged by medium and high impact uses such as off-road vehicles, horseback riding and mountain biking. While it can be tempting to jump ahead of the opening date, it is extremely important that all users comply with this regulation as trail damage caused in the early spring can last throughout the year.
For an update on trail conditions and confirmation of the May 1st opening date please keep an eye on our
website, or call the Ganaraska Forest Centre directly at 905.797.2721.
Please note that all forest users require a
day pass or membership to use the trails. The following chart outlines membership and day pass fees effective May 1, 2015:
USE
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MAY 1st ANNUAL FEE
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MAY 1st DAY FEE
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HIKING
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$30 Adult
$0 Youth
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$6 Adult
$0 Youth
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SKIING
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$60 Adult
$25 Youth
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$15 Adult
$6 Youth
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NON-MOTORIZED
(biking, horseback, hunting)
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$70 Adult
$30 Youth
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$12 Adult
$6 Youth
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MOTORIZED
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$150 Adult
$60 Youth
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$30 Adult
$10 Youth
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MOTORIZED PASSENGER
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$70 Adult
$30 Youth
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$12 Adult
$6 Youth
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Ganaraska Forest Centre Weddings
As summer approaches, so too does the busy
wedding season at the Ganaraska Forest Centre. Nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and ruralalists seem to most truly appreciate the beautiful, natural settings that the Ganaraska Forest Centre offers to engaged couples. The 17,000-square foot centre allows couples and their families to plan a do-it-yourself, all-inclusive wedding and spend the whole weekend on site.
Friday nights usually entail small work parties setting up the hall, decorating, and organizing the weekend's activities. Some host their rehearsal party and others just relax by the camp fire, singing songs and enjoying each other's company. The Main Event is usually held on Saturday, with most couples opting to use one of several, natural outdoor ceremony sites. Guests mingle on the grounds during the photography sessions (or even have a hoe-down in the gymnasium, in one case), before enjoying an outdoor cocktail reception prior to the formal dinner in the Great Hall. With its soaring wood ceilings and massive windows overlooking the majestic Ganaraska Forest, couples can appreciate the uniqueness of the venue well into the evening.
Following the reception, guests saunter off to their evening quarters in one of 20 dorm rooms, where they sleep the night away in bunk beds. Some opt to sleep in tents in one of two available campgrounds, or for a select few, trundle their way to their own RV, that they can park on-site.
Sunday morning involves rousing the guests from their bunks to participate in a do-it-yourself brunch in the Weekend Kitchen or at picnic tables scattered around the grounds, prior to a final clean-up and farewells.
Interested parties can call the Ganaraska Forest Centre at 905-797-2721 to arrange a free, no obligation tour.
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Thank You to All of Our Supporters!
On Saturday, April 11th the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority held their annual conservation dinner and auction in support of the Ganaraska Forest Centre Outdoor Education Program and again, it was a great success.
Nearly 350 people came out to show their support for this worthy initiative and to enjoy the events of the evening. Auction prizes ranging from BBQ packages, to VIA rail trips, to beautiful prints from local artists were taken home by participants who enjoyed a fantastic meal and mingled with fellow community members throughout the night.
Chair of the GRCA Dinner Committee, Linda Laliberte, was grateful for such a successful evening, "This was the 26th year that we have partnered with OFAH to run this event and we are thankful to all who attended and supported the cause. The Ganaraska Forest Centre houses programs for close to 10,000 students each year and holds many public programs as well for visitors of all ages from the community."
The
outdoor education program
at the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority began in 1978. The program was subsidized by the provincial government until 1990 when the first OFAH/Ganaraska Forest Centre Conservation Dinner was held. The monies from this fundraising event go towards the purchase of supplies such as pond nets, cross-country ski equipment, snowshoes, microscopes, and other necessities to allow the programs to continue. The unique outdoor education programs offer students a hands-on environmental experience in the 11,000 acre Ganaraska Forest.
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GRCA Conservation Areas Set to Open Within First Few Weeks of May
As the warm weather is upon us, it is understandable that people want to get out and about to enjoy the great outdoors. What better spot to enjoy a sunny day than in one of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority's conservation areas? With 10 areas to choose from, we guarantee that your outdoor-urge will be met soon! Plans to have all conservation areas opened by mid-May are in motion. See you outside!
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Nature Nuts Summer Camp - Your Child Does Not Want to Miss  Out!
Already dreaming of summer? Prepare yourselves (and your children) for the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority's
Nature Nuts Camp!
Seven fun-filled weeks
of adventure and education. Learn how to survive in the great outdoors, dive into the lives of those cute, slippery creatures we call amphibians, or show your crafty skills through daily art projects - there's a different themed week for every child.
Plus, get ready for our
NEW camp - The Great Outdoor Adventure Camp - a week-long, overnight camp at the Ganaraska Forest Centre!
Register your child for this camp before May 15th and receive $25 off!
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Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
2216 County Road 28
Port Hope, L1A 3V8
Ganaraska Forest Centre
10585 Cold Springs Camp Road
Campbellcroft, L0A 1B0
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Copyright ? 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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