On June 2, a group of volunteers will meet at the King Mountain trail’s head to assist in the repair and maintenance of the trail.  More specifically, we will be transporting and spreading crush stones on selected areas of the trail.

This fun/educational/work party, an initiative of the Friends of Gatineau Park, is hoping to gather a sufficient number of volunteers to repair erosion damages and to learn about trail conservation practices.  Two Park agents will supervise our activities.  Already, a number of men and women have confirmed their participation but we need many more to volunteer.

We will meet at 8h20, at the trail parking lot where coffee and donuts will be served and where directions will be provided.  After the morning activities, we will take lunch together and resume our effort until about 3 pm.  Hard hats, gloves and tools will be provided by the NCC.

If you have not registered yet, please do so soon as we need to plan that day.  E-mail Mario Simard at simard.m@sympatico.ca and give your name, phone number and e-mail address.

Claude Cousineau, coordinator of the annual work/fun party

Paule Tremblay / Julien Raby, “Adopt-a-Trail” Program

The kick-off meeting for this season took place on May 2 and a dozen enthusiast trail adopters were present as well as an NCC representative. Paule Tremblay is the new coordinator for the 2012 season which runs from May 15 to October 15; as coordinator, she will be receiving and reviewing reports submitted by volunteers and she will transmit problems reported to the NCC.

For more details on the program, please consult the drop down menu entitled “Get involved” under the Adopt-a-Trail item.

Moreover, the persons in charge of this program are organizing, in close cooperation with the NCC, other activities such as the rehabilitation of the King Mountain trail on Saturday, June 2, 2012.

The Friends of Gatineau Park (FGP), in cooperation with the National Capital Commission (NCC), invite you to participate in the restoration of portions of the KingMountain trail. This special event will take place on Saturday, June 2, on the Journée nationale des sentiers 2012 in Québec. It is a unique opportunity to spend a pleasant day in the Park and to join other volunteers who cares about the GatineauPark and who wants to protect it!

Building on the success of the PinkLake rehabilitation project that took place in October 2011, this spring, the Friends are planning restoration work on KingMountain trail. Here are more details about this activity and we really need your assistance! 

• Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012;
• Volunteers needed: 25 to 30, or more;
• Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.;
• Type of work: manual transportation and spreading of gravel, erosion control and repairs of wooden stairs and boardwalks.

We are counting on you as volunteers and to confirm your participation, please send an email to Mario Simard (simard.m@sympatico.ca), volunteer coordinator of the Friends. Please also indicate your name and phone number. More details (e.g., map) will be provided in the next few weeks.

 Share this invitation with your friends and hoping to see you there!

Claude Cousineau – Event coordinator /                                                                      Julien Raby – Responsible for the Adopt-a-Trail program

Our new e-mail addresses are: friendsgatineaupark@bellnet.ca or amisparcgatineau@bellnet.ca

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Your membership fees are at work

Here are brief descriptions of a few of our activities:

SENSATIONAL ANIMALS: (5 to 7 years old) – presented in May & June

The children will experience and discover first-hand how the animals of the Park can see, smell, hear feel and taste for their survival.

GREEN MAGIC: (8-9 years old) presented in May & June

The participants will discover the unique ways in which plants meet their needs for survival in the Park.

KING MOUNTAIN TRAIL HIKE: (for adults and children 10+) – prensented in May and June

Come and hike from a shady hemlock grove to the top of the Eardley Escarpment. You will watch the concept of biodiversity come alive!

For more information on these and other activities, please call  at 819-827-3113 and ask for Jocelyne

Bernie Ladouceur, who has been the leader of the Friend’s Owl Prowl for the last six year, engaged thirty-six enthusiastic visitors and seven volunteers on distinguishing characteristics of local owls during the indoor portion of this event held at the Park’s Visitors Centre. The presentation included an AV presentation.   In the subsequent field trip, taken in a well-supervised convoy to three nearby locations, Bernie was successful in having a barred and a northern saw-whet owl return his calls.  He encouraged participants of all ages to practice these and other owl calls.  Bernie augmented his imitation of these birds with an identification of planets and constellations in the clear moonlit sky.  All participants received an invitation to support the Friends, a registered charity by becoming a member.   

Barred adults are 40–63 cm tall with a 96–125 cm wingspan. Weight in this species is 500 to 1050 grams . It has a pale face with dark rings around the eyes, a yellow beak and brown eyes. Population is on the increase because it has few predators.

Saw-whet adults are 17–22 cm long with a 42–56.3 cm wingspan. They can weigh from 54 to 151 g with an average of around 80 g making them one of the smallest owls in North America.  During the day, they will use their plumage colouring to camouflage their location on or near the ground.  Preyed upon by larger Owls, Cooper’s Hawks and Northern Goshawks.

Of interest to those who could not be enrolled in this informative March outing, is a similar session  to be held the evening of April 13.   You can registered by calling 819 827 2020, option 3.   Enrolment is limited, first come - first served.  Arrive a few minutes early and enjoy the photographic exhibit of resident birds of the Park in the Bill Mason Room. 

The Friends of Gatineau Park are happy to present this exciting outing, 

When: Friday, April 20 (English) and Friday, April 27 (French), 7-10 p.m.

Where: Gatineau Park Visitors Centre, 33 Scott Road, Chelsea

Adults $15 (Members $12), Seniors/Students $12 (Members $10), Children $5 Information and Registration: (819) 827-2020

Bring out the kids! They’ll really enjoy this activity!

More details (info & registration) are available at the following link: http://guidegatineau.ca/amis-friends/2012/03/09/owl-prowl-english/

François Chapleau concluded that biodiversity has been sacrificed to sport-fisherpersons during a presentation to the 2008 Friends’ Research Forum and in this discerning article.  In a study that spanned more than a dozen years, northern pike and small mouth bass – introduced fish eaters – had and continue to have an impact in some of the fifty lakes located in Gatineau Park.  Where introduced, there is a decrease, if not loss of other species.

Michel Prévost reported on covered bridges in West Quebec, including two located in the park – Meech Valley and at the entrance to Lac Philippe Sector.   Before the 1997 rebuilding of the Wakefield Bridge, the latter was the last covered bridge built in the area (1958).   Prévost’s informative study also provided those in attendance at the 2010 Friends’ Research Forum and the reader a history of the construction and preservation of covered bridges as a context for why Park visitors should treasure these two examples of this disappearing constructed heritage in our region.

Marilyn Light and Michael MacConaill summarized a 26 year study of wild orchids found in the park during the 2010 Friends’ Research Forum and in this enlightened submission.  While there are over 40 species within the park, they report on the helleborine orchid, a commonly seen specie.  Marilyn and Michael reminded us that the environment of the Park, particularly its wetlands are relatively fragile.  Human visitation can lead to soil compaction, resultant changes to the soil community and potential loss of vulnerable species.   They call upon us to stay on established paths, leaving the surrounding environment undisturbed.

Owl Prowl

Adults $15 (Members $12), Seniors/Students $12 (Members $10), Children $5.

Information and Registration: (819) 827-2020;                                                website: www.friendsofgatineaupark.ca

Come alone or with friends and family!