Twenty five years ago we lived in a different
world. Computers were in their infancy, and we never even
dreamed of the internet where we could learn anything in a
moment by simply tapping a few keys.
Television had just met the VCR. The
programming we had on TV had no discovery channel, no weather
channel, and not much at all in the way of nature
programs.
Twenty five years ago the Sudbury Naturalists
came together to fill our curiosity for all things wild in
nature.
And for 25 years this nature club has
provided free lectures to the public on all sorts of topics,
from the secret lives of black bears to the distant stars that
make up the constellations for the Big Bear and Little Bear
(Ursa Major and Ursa Minor). There have been slide
presentations of trips and nature around the world.
They've looked at mushrooms and butterflies,
lichens and ancient pines.
The Sudbury Naturalists mandate is to learn
about and celebrate nature.
There have been field trips to the top of
Silver Peak in Killarney, and the western end of Manitoulin
Island. There are cross-country ski trips and snowshoeing
hikes, canoeing excursions and trips to visit the largest
remaining old growth Red Pine stand in Ontario.
Volunteer time has been put into cleaning up
the Chiniguchi River system and placing and maintaining thunder
boxes.
With a little financial help from Canada
Trust and the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, they have
organized research studies of the big pines, and surveys of
loon nesting success.
The Sudbury Naturalists are members of the
provincial Federation of Ontario Naturalists. This group has a
reputation of being a bunch of little old ladies in running
shoes and Tilley hats. And though some in the local club will
take exception to this, after 25 years there are a number of us
that fit this description. Still, there are lots of new members
and old ones, old folks, middle aged folks, young folks and
some kids.
This coming Friday night, Oct. 3, we will all
be getting together at Fielding Park to celebrate our 25 years
of nature study. The party will start at 5 pm with a great
potluck dinner followed by guest speaker, Dr. Dave Pearson,
then slides, talks, a look at some wild mushrooms, awarding of
prizes and a lot of reminiscing.
If you are currently a member and haven't
registered yet, please do so right now. Call Linda Wotton at
693-7801, or email
[email protected]
.
If you would like to become a new member,
call Doreen Pagnutti at 522-2103.
Membership gives you a monthly newsletter and
the chance to join in on field trips on Oct. 5th, Fossil
Communities on Manitoulin Island. Then on
Oct.18th you will have your chance to go on a hike with
mushroom expert Sue Stark in Killarney Park.
On Oct 26, there will be a hiking trip around
Lake Laurentian. At our next formal meeting on Nov. 11, Dr. Joe
Hamr will talk about black bear ecology.
So turn off the TV, step away from the
computer, and get your running shoes on to learn about nature
in person!
