The Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) manages three beautiful Conservation Areas in SDG: Grays Creek, Cooper Marsh and Charlottenburgh Park.  These conservation areas are the perfect outdoor classroom locations for schools looking for local hands on educational field trips.  This grant from TD Friends of the Environment will help the RRCA with the costs of materials needed to establish an educational program.

Today’s children and families often have limited opportunities to connect with the natural environment. Children spend more time viewing television and playing video games than they do being physically active outside. The funding will allow the RRCA to purchase the tools to provide children fun and hands on experiences such as nets to catch and identify frogs, binoculars for viewing birds and benthic nets for sampling aquatic insects.

“Being outdoors has countless benefits to one’s health and well-being so we are to happy to connect children with nature and diversify their outdoor experience.” states Richard Pilon, RRCA General Manager.

“Programs that help connect young people to environmental issues and their local green spaces are particularly important to TD FEF, which is why we’re excited to support the RRCA’s environmental education program”, said Michelle Huntley, Branch Manager.  “The program will introduce 14 new education courses to be offered at three of their conservation areas promoting increased awareness of environmental issues in the region”, added Leigh MacDonald, Branch Manager. Both ladies agreed they are proud to live and work in Cornwall and even prouder to support our community and our youth, the environmental leaders of tomorrow.