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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, June 15, 1988-7 4-H'ers camp out in Tree Nursery by Lois McLeod Saturday afternoon the Orono Nature Nuts and their leaders hiked out to the woods to. camp overnight. overnight. The outing was a requirement requirement of the 4H project, Encounter the Outdoors. Members had discussed camping and other aspects of the Outdoors and this was their opportunity to practice what they had learned. The 4H Motto is "Learn to do by doing." Members learned by taking part in the planning and leading the program activities, shopping and preparing the food and collecting equipment for the trip. On the Overnight trip the group was busy with many different games and activities as well as cooking over a fire. To complete the project each member also completed a nature project of his/her choice. These included included nature photos and nature crafts. On June 20th the Orono Nature Nuts will meet with other groups at an Achievement Program in Blackstock. The members will per form their skit, "Captain Camper" and receive awards for completing the project. Members of the Orono 4H Club are: Jill Brown, Jenny Goodmur- phy, Chris Heffernan, Angie Hef- fernan, Katrina Kent, Marie McKinlay, Diana Mostert, Angie Robinson, Laurie Robinson, Cindy Tamblyn, David Tamblyn, Sheila VanDyke, Julie Wight, Michelle Ross. Leaders: Lois McLeod, Tom and Sally Barrie, Glenn McLeod and Faye Jose also joined us for the outing. Guides, Pathfinders and Mothers participate The Oroncr Girl. Guides, Pathfinders, their mothers and ' leaders participated in Canada's .Fitweek by attending an aerobics workout led by Carol Selby owner and operator of Active Bodies' Aerobic Studio in Bowmanville. The Federation of Ontario Naturaliste FON Conservation Centre, Moatfield Park , 355 Lesmiil Road, Don Mills, Ontario, M3B 2W8 Phone: (446) 444-8419 / by Marion Strebig Changing Attitudes Last week I lived near a marsh on the shore of one of the Rideau Lakes which is part of property owned by Queen's University. There were ducks and nesting, marsh birds like Red-winged Blackbirds, and common Yellowthroat. Banks of sensitive fern and sedges ringed the shore. The wild call a and heart-leaved bit- tercress bloomed in the swamp; , dragonflies rose in battalions like liny helicopters. With the setting sun, grçy tree frogs called like strange prehistoric birds. During the week I visited a nearby nearby bog. In the late afternoon sun the pink blossoms of the bog laurel flickered. Against the dark greens of the mosses the delicate white fringed fringed flowprs of the buckbean showed like unthawed snowflakes. Insectivorous plants thrive here. The red drooping flowers of the pitcher pitcher plant flaunt themselves, but only careful looking uncovers on the carpet of sphagnum moss the ' microscopic glistening spheres of the sundew. Unlike "the marsh the bog's future is uncertain. It is for sale. However,, interesting and picturesque picturesque wetlands appear to some observers, for many, wetlands are untidy, dirty unproductive places. It is estimated that, since European settlement began, a hundred million acres of wetland in North America Have been lost. Only recently have we begun to understand their ecological and economic importance. importance. in an effort to improve our understanding of the value of wetlhnds the Federation of Ontario Everyone had a great time. The workout and years end in guiding was concluded with a pizza party. Naturalists has produced a video about wetlands. Written and directed by Mark Murphy, the video, with its haunting shots of plants and wildlife, vividly evokes the attractions of these little worlds. The opening shots of Loons, Grebes, Green-winged Teal, muskrat and Black Tern suggest the variety and exuberance of wetland life. With Nancy Patterson, Federation Federation of Ontario Naturalists' wetland life. With Nancy Patterson, Federation Federation of Ontario Naturalists' wetlands specialist, as our guide the video takes us to visit marshes, swamps which are basically treed marshes, fens and bogs. These last two are usually more isolated from a v/ater source and build up layers of peat over thousands of years* The video emphasizes the rôle of wetlands in controling flooding and erosion and in providing habitat for a variety of plants and apimals. Some of our most beautiful native wild flowers like the rose pogonia bloom in wetlands. We begin to see that wetlands shelter and feed many creatures, including including fish, furbearers and large mammals, and that their destruction destruction means the destruction of a complex ecosystem. Nevertheless, all across Ontario marshes are being' drained for development or dredged from shorelines in cottage country. But the most serious threat to the existence of wetlands comes from agricultural drainage. The whole question of agricultural drainage is explosive and highly political. The video handles this delicate question fairly and honestly. We hear Brigid Pyke, current president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, strongly supporting present government policy which subsidizes drainage projects on agricultural land. On the other side is Jane Topping who fought to save her beaver pond from her neighbour's drainage project. project. Elbert Van Donkersgoed of the Christian Farmers' Federation expresses a middle view. He fears that overdrainage, which government government subsidies encourage, may permanently permanently lower the water table and even make irrigation necessary. Although the video plainly intends to emphasize the desirability of preserving wetlands, it gives all sides a fair hearing. Also outlined in the video are the government policies designed to promote the protection of wetlands. The Conservation Land Act which has been introduced at this session of the provincial legislature would make certain classes: of wetlands eligible fpr 100% property tax rebate. The EON has fought for this sort of conservation oriented tax system for years. Now the government government is involved in the process of evaluating Ontario wetlands according according to sociological, hydrological, biological and speçialfeatures. The government is- also working on a wetlands policy statement to be included included within the Planning Act. Recently the government, working with other agencies, purchased a large section of Wainfleet bog, a provincial^ significant wetland. Attitudes.-are changing, bqt not fast enough to savé many threatened threatened wetlands. The video ends by urging urging you to get involved in saving local wetlands. A group in Mississauga 'who' persisted in detnanding^ a re-evaluation of a small marsh and bog slated for development have succeeded in get- ton S?C>2£ 9OOct CLai.e.xin^ prepared by; Stanley & Deborah Johnson R.R. 1 Orbho, Ontario (416) 983-9Ç22 Enquiries warmly welcomed Critical of Cureatz letter Counc. Hubbard, chairperson for Regional Planning took exception exception to a letter from Sam Cureatz, M.P.P. Durham East, in which he suggests that an amendment to the Regional Official Plan would disallow farmers retaining retirement retirement lots. Counc. Hubbard stated that this was misleading and that although the Region was going through a process of revision the elimination of retirement lots was not to hap- pen. She said that the Region Planning department was meeting with municipalities and agricultural groups and that if Sam Cureatz had been attending any of these meetings he would be aware of what is taking place. She said there are concerns of some encroachment on agricultural lands that do inhibit agriculture operations. "Sam's letter is misleading" stated Counc. Hubbard. Hubbard. ting the municipality to order a new assessment. Only our concern will prevent further destruction. The video Why Wetlands? will be available to viewers in the Metropolitan Toronto area on Rogers cable channel 10 on Sunday June 12, at 8:00 p.m. and on Friday July 15 at 10:00 p.m. Viewers outside outside this area should consult their local cable station for times. If you would like to rent the video you may do so by contacting the FON at (416) 444-8419. If you would like a copy of a brochure on wetlands send your request to Marion Strebig, Federation of Ontario "Naturalists, 355 Lesmiil Road, Don Mills, M3B 2W8. can depend on -- Weed Spraying -- Crab Grass -- Fertilizing -- Insect,Spraying -- Plug Coraeratlon -- Programs available See The Difference Quality Make*' or 983-5598 (Orono, Newcastle) 14-tfSN Affordable Dream Vacations! e Free Vacation Planning Services 9 Discount Cruises > , • Airline Tickets # Charter Vacations e Honeymoon Packages e Hotel and Car Reservations PERSONAL & CORPORATE TRAVEL SERVICES Travel Agents International W'e 're with you all the way, 68 KING ST. E., BOWMANVILLE Over 300 Agencies in North America 023*6000