This weekend we had the privilege of having the ECO club from Arundel Elementary School at the ANSC. They took the initiative of building a beautiful rock bordered planting area in front of our garage. They also took the time to put our gardens to bed for the winter. The Eco club is led by a great teacher named Marion Hodge, who goes above and beyond for her students. Thank you very much for your hard work and commitment to the environment and the ANSC; it`s people like you who lead by example and inspire others to be better citizens. 

Inspiring Quotes

The time will soon be here when my grandchild will long for the cry of a loon, the flash of a salmon, the whisper of spruce needles, or the screech of an eagle. But he will not make friends with any of these creatures and when his heart aches with longing he will curse me. Have I done all to keep the air fresh? Have I cared enough about the water? Have I left the eagle to soar in freedom? Have I done everything I could to earn my grandchild's fondness?
Chief Dan George

When we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully, because we know the faces of our future generations are looking up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them.
Chief Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper, Onondaga Nation

Take Me outside Day!

Let us make an effort today to put down the remote control to the television or video game console. Go play outside, get some fresh air! 

Nice to hear from you!

Here are a few testimonies from students who have visited the ANSC. I thought that it would be fun to post some of their comments on our blog.

The field trip to the Arundel Nature and Science Centre was a once in a lifetime experience. I made new friends, conversed with peers, shared experiences and made memories that I will hold dear in my heart. I will absolutely cherish and appreciate these memories forever. I had the opportunity to be acquainted with and appreciate fellow peers and it changed my life along the way. I was able to discover some intriguing information and my classmates were able to see my potential as a friend. 
Thomas, student from Mother Theresa Junior High

At the ANSC, I experienced some things that were completely new to me: peace and quiet. I have a little brother at home therefore this is very hard to find back home. But if you sit in the forest and listen hard enough you could hear nature. You could hear the birds singing and the squirrels moving high up in the trees. At Arundel, the beauty of the forest surrounds you; it creates a unique experience you can't find anywhere else. Everyone should have the chance to feel what I felt at Arundel.
Amanda, student from Mother Theresa Junior High  

When I went to ANSC it was beautiful and peaceful. I experienced things that i never had before. I was sitting on the ground in the forest, hearing the sounds of the animals, the nature and just experiencing a peaceful moment. I learned how to look for Mars, Jupiter and in early morning Venus. 
Veronica, student from Mother Theresa Junior High

Do beavers work on weekends?

This weekend I went for a hike and I walked by a couple of yellow birches that had been worked on by the beavers. It made me wonder, do beavers work on weekends?

Owls are awesome!

Play outside

October 25th is our national Take Me Outside day in Canada. I encourage all Canadians to make the extra effort to go outside and exercise for a minimum of 45 minutes on this particular day. It's a good opportunity to reconnect with nature and all its glory. Rest assured, that if you come to the ANSC, everyday is spent outside!

Earth Day Canada

Marion Hodge, who is a teacher at Arundel elementary school, stopped by the center today and mentioned an initiative that Earth Day Canada is undertaking. She is very involved with us at ANSC and is bringing the ECOClub from her school to volunteer. Teachers like Marion are helping students become more environmentally conscious citizens and I feel that her efforts need to be recognized, thanks Marion! You are always welcome at the center. 

First aid

Safety is the most important factor when you decide to undertake any outdoor activity. Knowing first aid is a valuable skill that may come in handy in a bad situation. The link that I have posted has some great ideas to help you understand some of the steps you can take in different situations. Take the time to go through the slides and practice them at home. Practice makes perfect, have fun with it!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WQ6cWJeufyR0K90amJ1FCnjxHUu67suHA7-97F4koLA/present#slide=id.p16