Dan Hutt: Look to the Eastern Shore

01 Nov 2024

When you picture the jewel-toned waters and white sand beaches of the 100 Wild Islands, chances are good that you are picturing Shelter Cove. It’s one of the show-stopping coastal vistas that has brought the Eastern Shore into the Nova Scotia mainstream – and Property Guardian Dan Hutt has been helping to take care of it from almost the beginning of its life as a Nature Trust conservation land.

Louise Cook: Learning in every season

03 Sep 2024

The Bras d’Or is world-renowned as a sailing paradise – and for Louise Cook, it called out to her to unexpectedly set anchor and make a new home. More than twenty years after originally getting "stuck" in Nova Scotia, Louise is dedicated to learning about and caring for the nature all around her, including as a Property Guardian for our North Mountain Ridge Conservation Lands.

Jesse Milani: The forest and the trees

01 Sep 2024

When Jesse Milani arrived in Nova Scotia in 2023, he immediately looked for ways to connect his self-proclaimed "tree nerd" passion for forestry with Nova Scotia’s own unique forest. He was delighted to find the Nature Trust’s Property Guardians program, where could put his fieldwork experience and expertise to good use.

Peter Himmelman: Part of the team

01 Jun 2024

“Nature is how I unwind,” says Peter Himmelman, who’s been volunteering as a Property Guardian since 2021. His love of the outdoors shines through not only his family life but also his professional life as a teacher and certified Outdoor Educator. Read his story!

Andrew Kingdon: Right Place, Right Time

01 May 2024

You could say that Andrew Kingdon’s volunteer story is one of those “right place, right time” stories – as long as you know that the “right place” for Andrew is a bog, knee-deep in mud. He's one of our Wilderness Property Guardians, taking care of some of our wildest wild places - read his story!

Robin Johnston: Making a difference close to home

01 Feb 2024

For Robin Johnston, being a Property Guardian is about building a relationship with land close to her home. “People feel very strongly about the place they actually live. The more people you have out there with eyes on the ground, who are engaged, the more they could make a positive difference in the place where they live.” Read Robin's stewardship story as we celebrate her as our volunteer of the month!

Hank and Judy Bird: Guarding Their Neighbourhood Wildlands

04 Dec 2023

Hank and Judy Bird have been Property Guardians at our Pennant River Conservation Lands since 2019. If you’ve attended a work party or guided hike on the land since then, you’ve almost certainly met these two stalwarts, who don’t hesitate to wade knee-deep through a muddy bog or wield a hand saw in the service of maintaining the trail for visitors to enjoy. We’re delighted to celebrate them as our Volunteers of the Month, and to share their story!

Jacques Giard: An infinite source of ideas

01 Nov 2023

"I'm a nuts and bolts guy," claims Jacques Giard, our Volunteer of the Month. A retired industrial engineer, Jacques is fascinated by the connection between the artificial world and the natural world. Having supported land protection as a volunteer steward in Arizona for more than a decade, Jacques has jumped in to support the Nature Trust as a Property Guardian and a photographer as well as a monthly donor and legacy donor along with his wife, Mercedes. Please join us in thanking Jacques for stepping up to protect nature in so many ways!

Dennis Edwards: Protecting our hemlocks, conservation lands and more

04 Oct 2023

Property Guardian Dennis Edwards has championed a number of projects in his time as a volunteer: he’s monitored and cared for many conservation lands, some even spending a few days out at a time – walking property boundaries, assessing trails, observing and recording any changes or things that are not permitted on the property, and documenting and taking pictures of notable areas. He also recently helped our stewardship team install important signage at our St. Croix property after discovering evidence of HWA throughout, to inform visitors and help reduce further spread of the adelgid. Join us in celebrating Dennis as our recent Volunteer of the Month!

Helping others experience nature while inspiring support for conservation

01 Jun 2023

Nestled on Nova Scotia's eastern shore is 'Murphy's Camping on the Ocean', one of the province's longest running campgrounds that provides visitors with unforgettable outdoor experiences and untethered access to the 100 Wild Islands. Since 2014, the Nature Trust has worked to secure more than 85% of this area, with great support from the family-run business, including Ryan Murphy. Having been involved in the initial securement of the 100 Wild Islands and offering integral support as both a volunteer and donor over the years, we're pleased to share Ryan's story as our recent Volunteer of the Month!