May 31, 2024
Cooper Marsh Conservation Area
Visitors to Cooper Marsh Conservation Area can now upgrade their nature hikes thanks to a free lending library offered through the Marsh’s Visitors Centre. RRCA staff are also providing weekend guided walks at the Conservation Area from June to August.
“Our lending library lets visitors of all ages channel their inner naturalist by providing items like field guides, binoculars, insect collection kits, pond dipping kits, and more,” says RRCA’s new Nature Interpreter, Cloe Bailey. “All items are available free of charge from the Visitors Centre, which is open Wednesdays to Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.”
Bailey also offers guided walks through the Marsh every Saturday and Sunday this summer. All are welcome to gather by the Visitors Centre at 10 a.m. before heading out on a 40-minute tour. The walks are a chance for a deeper dive into the Marsh’s history and its hydrological and ecological functions, including the vital habitat it provides to many species of birds, fish, amphibians, insects, and plants.
“The lending library and walks also provide extra tools and opportunities for citizen scientists eager to share their observations with the RRCA and other researchers monitoring the Marsh’s biodiversity,” adds Bailey. “Using their mobile phones, visitors can now easily log their observations to a public database available at rrca.on.ca/CitizenScience.”
Located on the picturesque north shore of the St. Lawrence River, Cooper Marsh Conservation Area is a few minutes’ drive west from South Lancaster. The 673-acre wetland hosts a rich biodiversity and is part of the larger Charlottenburgh Marsh – one of the most significant coastal wetlands in Ontario. The RRCA actively maintains, enhances, and restores this natural area, which also features viewing blinds and towers, and a 12-kilometre system of boardwalks and nature trails. Nearly 45,000 people visited Cooper Marsh Conservation Area in 2023. The RRCA is reminding visitors that some of the Marsh’s trails are temporarily closed for maintenance.
The Cooper Marsh Visitors Centre provides an educational and interpretive space featuring taxidermy exhibits, a microscope station, interactive displays, and more. The Centre frequently hosts programs for students in partnership with the River Institute, including the upcoming Eco-Friends Camp this July. For more information visit rrca.on.ca or contact (613) 938-3611 or info@rrca.on.ca.