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!

Barb Mason: World traveler, conservation expert and new Nature Trust Board member

02 Aug 2023

Barb Mason was seeking a volunteer opportunity after recently moving to Nova Scotia when she came across the Nature Trust. She signed up for our monthly e-newsletter, Landlines, and eventually saw a call-out for new Board Members. She reached out and we were delighted to have her join our Board this past March, bringing nearly four decades of invaluable experience to her new role on our Board.

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!

A love of conservation from New Zealand to Nova Scotia

01 May 2023

Over recent months, Gemma Burns has been researching and writing profiles about important representative species found on Nature Trust conservation lands. It’s been a great way for us to share short tidbits of important information about birds, plants or other wildlife through our newsletters or social media, and has also been a great way for Gemma, originally from New Zealand, to become more familiar with the different species found in Nova Scotia. Check out Gemma's story as our recent Volunteer of the Month!

Learning Through Volunteering: Experiencing the “field” firsthand with NSNT

01 Mar 2023

As part of an Experiential Learning course that Myles McNaughton was taking at Dalhousie University, it was required he gain volunteer experience with a local biology or nature-based organization. After some research, Myles came across the Nova Scotia Nature Trust and reached out, and we were happy to find him a spot on our Stewardship Team as a volunteer for the fall 2022 semester.

Aviva’s Commitment to Sustainability Helps to Protect Nature

01 Feb 2023

The Nature Trust was thrilled to be approached by the staff team at Aviva Canada with an offer to assist with property stewardship last spring, and we look forward to working with them again as we prepare for another busy field season.

Volunteer of the Month: John Saville

31 Oct 2022

John Saville has long been concerned with the health of the environment. His commitment to protecting the environment inspired him to reach out to the Nature Trust offering to become a volunteer Property Guardian. We even quickly found a match for his talents and interests as a Master Gardener, with his first role being to help renovate and restore the native species garden at the Nature Trust office in downtown Dartmouth. We're happy to share John's story as our recent Volunteer of the Month!

Volunteers of the Month: Bob & Brenda Cox

30 Jun 2022

Originally from Arkansas, Bob and Brenda Cox have been visiting Cape Breton every year since 1996 after their interest in the area piqued from listening to a Rankin Family CD. Today, the pair share their time between Virginia and Nova Scotia, and have been volunteering as Property Guardians in the Mabou area of Cape Breton Island since 2019. We’re delighted to share their story as our volunteers of the month!