INSIDE: Online Auction has begun!; Talk to Toyota about their 2050 environmental challenges; Become a monthly donor in March and CanadaHelps will provide a donation; Spring Plant Sale and EcoMarket celebrates spring; Pollinator Talks and other events in April; Seasonal trails reopen!; Teachers invited to Online Information Session; Spaces still available for Summer Teen ECO Camp; PD Day Camp spaces still available; Our biweekly poll

Photo by: Erin Sonser

Going Once! Going Twice!

rare's Online Auction Has Begun!

Do you have a special event coming up that you'd like a unique gift for? Or perhaps you'd just like to treat yourself? Either way, we've got you covered!

The Online Auction to benefit rare's Every Child Outdoors (ECO) program has begun, running from now until March 31. That's just eight days to bid on some wonderful prizes and one-of-a-kind experiences. Check out the listings here!

For example, what are we bid on this beautiful John Hardy 9mm Lahar Diamond Kick Cuff donated to the auction by Knar Jewellery? Or how about a gift card towards Off the Block's unique ready-to-wear or custom hats? What about a brunch in a box from Terroir Artisan Bakery featuring one benchmark sourdough, one pack of croissants and a jam of your choice, made from ingredients produced exclusively by local food producers?

These and more could be yours for the right bid, and every bid will help support rare's ECO program's camps and education opportunities. So, find your favourites and place your bids! You may walk away with a deal while sparking a sense of wonder in nature in our next generation of conservationists.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) has partnered with rare, supporting our Springbank Farm garden program and our operations, and rare has been pleased to help TMMC with its initiatives such as their Teaching Garden and other activities in support of TMMC contributing to biodiversity and a sustainable future.

On Wednesday, March 29, at 7 p.m., you are invited to rare's headquarters at Lamb's Inn (1679 Blair Road, Cambridge) for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and a chance to meet with representatives of TMMC's Terra Group, who will talk about Toyota's 2050 environmental challenges and its initiatives towards reducing its carbon footprint, improving biodiversity and sustainability. Or sign up to watch the event virtually.

This event is FREE, but seating is limited and registration is required. To register, please click the button below. Those who can't attend are invited to sign into the Zoom simulcast of this event, a link to which can be found on the registration page. Bring yourselves and your questions and we look forward to seeing you there.

There would be no rare without its dedicated supporters. We greatly appreciate all of the support given to this organization, especially from monthly donors. Monthly donations are not only affordable, they provide a steady stream of income that helps rare plan our budget and programs.

If you've thought about making a monthly donation to rare, CanadaHelps wants to help. Every gift amount makes a difference, but for every monthly donation of $20 or more set up at CanadaHelps for the month of March, CanadaHelps will donate $20 to rare. Simply visit this page and CanadaHelps will take care of the details.

This is a great opportunity to show your support for preserving and protecting our natural areas. As governments change environmental regulations and cut back the responsibilities of conservation authorities, support for organizations like rare protects nature and improves the health of our environment and our communities, changing the world for the better.

A Celebration of Spring! Everyone is Invited to rare's Spring Plant Sale and EcoMarket, Saturday, May 13.

Thousands of herb, vegetable and pollinator seedlings for sale, along with unique local vendors at our all-weather EcoMarket

Mark your calendars: rare's annual Spring Plant Sale and EcoMarket runs Saturday, May 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the rare ECO Centre and Slit Barn at 768 Blair Road in Cambridge. Thousands of seedlings will be on sale for your garden, including vegetables, herbs, and native pollinating plants. And, just like last year, we will be hosting an EcoMarket full of eco-related artisan vendors from the local community, selling one-of-a-kind items including foods, art, textiles and more.

The Spring Plant Sale and EcoMarket is more than a marketplace; it is a celebration of the start of planting season and a chance to connect with people in your community excited about growing things. There will be food and good company, and this event is not to be missed. Funds raised at the Spring Plant Sale support Springbank Farm's Food Bank and Community Gardens.

(Are you interested in sponsoring this event? Contact Major Gifts Manager Christine Thompson to discuss various opportunities)

Pollinator Talks and Volunteer Days and Other Events to Look Forward to in April!

Will you help Springbank's garden grow? Volunteers are needed for the Springbank Community Garden Cleanup happening on Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please come out to Springbank Farm at 681 Blair Road to help remove all garbage and microplastics in and around the Springbank Community Garden, the Education Garden, the Food Bank Garden and picnic areas. No registration is necessary, just show up! Note that to ensure visitor safety, no vehicles will be allowed beyond the parking lot at 681 Blair Road unless they have a valid accessible parking permit and have registered their vehicle with rare.

The Earth Day Shoreline Cleanup Volunteer Day will take place on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Volunteers should gather at rare’s Lamb’s Inn parking lot at 1679 Blair Rd., at 1:00 p.m. where staff will lead people across Blair Road and down to the entrance to rare’s Blair Flats site (about 7 minutes). From there, we will proceed to the shoreline of the Grand River to begin garbage ceanup. For further information and to register your attendance, please follow this link.

On Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m., you are invited to join Dr. Victoria MacPhail at the rare ECO Centre and Slit Barn at 768 Blair Road in Cambridge for our Conversation for Conservation on How to Grow a Pollinator Garden. Dr. MacPhail, coordinator at the Centre for Bee Ecology, Evolution and Conservation at York University will talk about the benefits of making your gardens friendlier to native pollinators, and tips for how to get started. You can also purchase "This is a Pollinator Garden" signs at this event, and sign your garden up for the 1,000 Gardens Project. This event is free, but registration is required, so, click here to register:

We're back! Seasonal Trails are now open at rare

The Grand River trails at rare, which were closed to the public in November 2022, are now reopened, although visitors should continue to take care to watch out for icy conditions and weather patterns. 

The Alvar, Woodland, Osprey and River trails splitting off from the City of Cambridge’s Grand Trunk Trail were closed for the winter due to icy conditions and to protect overwintering wildlife. These trails are some of the more rugged trails at rare, so care should always be taken following the paths. Dogs are also NOT permitted on these trails, for the safety of other trail users and local wildlife.

The Springbank Butterfly Loop remains closed until Springbank Farm reopens to the public in May.

For more information about rare’s trails, and to download and view a map, please visit raresites.org/trails/

Check out the special ribbon-cutting ceremony our March Break ECO Campers put together to celebrate the reopening of these trails!

Teachers! Still time to register for our Online Info Session on rare's Education Programs!

We are holding a Virtual ECO Education Program Info Session on Zoom to highlight the education modules offered at rare. This hour-long information session takes place Monday, March 27 at 3:30 p.m. featuring rare educators Istafa Sufi and Michele MacMillan talking about how rare can engage your students in the environment, how our program relates to the curriculum, and how teachers can earn points towards their EcoSchools certification. The webinar is FREE, but registration is required. Sign up today to learn more about what rare has to offer.

Teens aged 12-16 looking for an outdoor adventure still have a chance to participate in our rare Summer ECO Camp! Our campers will learn from special guests, visit Springbank Gardens, explore our many habitats and create a journal of their time at rare.

The Teen camp runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Tuesday, August 8 to Friday, August 11 and the cost of registration is just $200 for the week! Extended care is also available an hour before or after each camp session for either $25/week for the morning or afternoon sessions or $50/week for both.

So give your teens an outdoor adventure exploring our diverse environment. For more information, and to register, please follow this link.

Photo by Michelle MacMillan

Spaces are still available at our rare PD Day ECO Camps taking place on Friday, March 31 and Friday, June 2. Give your kids an outdoor adventure on their day off! Our PD Day camps run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and cost just $55. Extended care is available an hour before and after ECO Camp for $5 for either the morning or afternoon session or $10 for both. Click here to register for PD Day ECO Camp today!

Photo by Michelle MacMillan

Poll: Have you participated in March Species Madness?

We had a great turnout for our previous poll asking whether you would be attending the Spring Plant Sale and EcoMarket. Not only did we get more votes than previous polls, the response was overwhelmingly positive, with over 75% saying they planned to attend! It promises to be a grand day out, and we look forward to seeing you there on Saturday, May 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the rare ECO Centre and Slit Barn, rain or shine.

For our next poll, we ask if you've participated in our March Species Madness to pick our the most popular species that call rare home. If you haven't yet, click here to see the latest scores and participate in the latest matches. There's still time to decide who wins the champsionship.