More than 600 people took to the trails at the MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre for the annual Open Trails Day on September 23rd. Families and community members came out to enjoy the beautiful weather and discover what this 425-acre outdoor classroom has to offer.
The MacSkimming Centre, part of the Environment & Climate Change Canada’s Beckett Creek Migratory Bird Sanctuary, is home to many species of plants and wildlife. During Open Trails Day, visitors observed and recorded 30 new species of insects and fungi!
Families enjoyed walking the trails and roasting marshmallows for a cozy cookout snack. They also got an opportunity to learn about mushroom identification with the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club and Robert Courteau, founder of the non-profit conservation organization Think Fungi.
Here’s what some of the visitors had to say:
"I can not believe how biodiverse this site is!"
"Last time I was here was in Grade 3, thirty years ago!"
"We found 14 salamanders"
"I spotted a black-billed cuckoo!"
"The trails are great!"
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Each year, our Outdoor Education Centres – the MacSkimming Centre and the Bill Mason Centre – welcome more than 22,000 students to learn and participate in outdoor programs based on their grade’s curriculum.
While the centres are typically open only to attending students and classes, they host annual Open Trails Day events for the public with the support of staff and volunteers. Mark your calendars – the next Open Trails Day will be held at Bill Mason Centre on Saturday May 4th, 2024!
