TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF A snowflake IT IS NECESSARY TO STAND OUT IN THE COLD.

Thanks to Ed, Ross, Mike, Christine, Amy, Trixie, Willemina, Lee A, Linda, Tony, Gage, Fran, Mary Lou, Bernard, Bryan, Sean and Sue for planting dune grass at the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area. Your efforts to return the landscape back to its natural state and reduce erosion is greatly appreciated!

Another success for our passionate volunteers as they used their craftsmanship and experience to build stairs and install box steps at Mystery Falls. This eliminates the need for visitors to use an unsafe crevasse to get to the bottom of the falls.

Thanks to Lee T, Lee M, Al, Mike, Christine, John, Phil, Fran and Ross. Their unselfish act of kindness is greatly appreciated!

A dedicated group of volunteers came together to build a 200 foot long boardwalk at the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area. The boardwalk will help reduce the erosion of the sand dune and the destruction of the dune grass by "guiding" people through this sensitive area. Special thanks to John, Al, Lee T, Lee M, Randy, Mike, Christine, Phil, Sean, Sue, Matthew, Fran, Lee A, Darren and Ross for their 80+ volunteer hours making this project a reality.

LSNT is excited to introduce a new badge program to encourage our youth to use the trails. The Youth Nature Challenge officially begins December 1, 2022, our “winter” season, but kids can join the challenge at any time, during any season. And, of course, family and friends are encouraged to help our youth rise to this challenge!

Young hikers can earn four seasonal badges by completing the nature challenge over the course of a full year. Each season, hikers use clues to figure out the "challenge" trail and, during the hike, find and solve the puzzle posted along the trail. Finally, they need to draw a picture in their brochure.

Once hikers have completed the challenge for all seasons, they can submit their brochure to claim their badges.

The Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group and Lambton Shores Nature Trails teamed up to build and install boot brush stands at local trails - Ipperwash Dunes & Swales, L-Lake Management Area, Lambton County Heritage Forest and the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area.

Boot brushes are used by visitors to clean their footwear as they enter and exit the trails. This helps to prevent the introduction of invasive exotic plant species. Exotic species that reproduce via seed are of special concern when their seed becomes dispersed following attachment to the soles of footwear.

 The Directors of Lambton Shores Nature Trails would like to congratulate Ross Atkinson, one of several local individuals recently selected to receive the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for their “tireless service to our community and country.” The medals, presented by MP Lianne Rood at a recent ceremony in Thedford, recognize residents who have made valuable contributions to enrich the lives of their fellow citizens.

Following in the footsteps of his parents, siblings and his wife Colleen, Ross has volunteered over the years with various organizations, many times utilizing his computer skills to help them out.  To Ross, volunteering has always been a way of giving back to his community. With LSNT, his greatest reward has been witnessing the community enjoy the work that has been done on the trails. His humility is evident as he is quick to highlight how LSNT’s achievements would not be possible without ongoing community support, the partnerships with landowners, the volunteers who give selflessly of their time and ask nothing in return, the time and energy of the LSNT Board of Directors as they work together on a common vision, and last but not least, the support of his family.  It inspires him to work even harder.

A canoe/kayak launch has been added to the dock at the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area.  This will allow people to easily and safely get in and out of the water.  Thanks to Lee M, Al, Mike, Ed and Ross for their efforts.  Lambton Shores Nature Trails will be installing another launch at the end of Huron St. on Mud Creek next spring!

A map sign has been installed at the Mystery Falls parking lot. This should help first time visitors to navigate their way to the falls via the longer white blazed trail (3 km) or the shorter blue blazed trail (1 km). Thanks to Darren, Ed and Ross Atkinson for volunteering!

A commemorative sign has been installed at the Forest trailhead.  Volunteers donated their time and skills over the past year, turning this concept into reality!  Special thanks to Jay Talbot for donating the live edge board, Dave Nettleton for getting it planed, Lee Main for his carpentry work on the support logs and Ross Atkinson for the lettering.  We would also like to thank Lee Talbot, Ed Hunter and Walter Michielsens for helping with the cement, mulch, sod removal, and sign installation.

Lambton Shores Nature Trails would like to thank Adrian Verberk, owner of Oakridge Family Campground in Northville, for creating four of these nostalgic signs. This generous donation is a wonderful addition to the Grand Trunk Trail in Forest and another part of our ongoing beautification efforts!

The next phase of the Port Franks portage project was completed today. A boardwalk and deck was built at the end of Huron St to the edge of Mud Creek where the old Mud Creek bridge once stood.  Additional modifications are planned including a canoe/kayak launch. Lambton Shores Nature Trails would like to thank the volunteers who helped make the build a success as well as the Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group who helped clear phragmites from the area this past winter.

Although the railroad has long since left the Town of Forest, a historical marker still exists along a small 2 km stretch of the rail line heading west from Forest. Now known as the Grand Trunk Trail, it is frequented by locals and visitors alike. This original whistle post, like many others along the Grand Trunk Railway system, indicated to the engineer to blow the train whistle. Located exactly 1/4 mile from the next crossing, the sound of the whistle warned people of the trains pending approach.  In recognition of this historical marker, Lambton Shores Nature Trails is pleased to announce the installation of a plaque. We would like to thank Lee Main for fabricating the pedestal.

Enbridge employees and their families along with members of the Sarnia-Lambton Arbor Week Committee planted 40 trees behind the Port Franks Community Centre.  The additional trees along the accessible "green tunnel" path helped to fill in gaps and replace a few dead trees from our original planting.  Lambton Shores Nature Trails would like to thank Enbridge for their generous donation to purchase the trees and for allowing their employees the opportunity to give back to the community!

A great day to be out in nature and to help our friends - Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group! A combined group of volunteers cleared phragmites at the end of Huron St in Port Franks, along the Mud Creek shoreline and across the creek at the NCC Forested Dunes.  Thanks to all the volunteers who took the time to help remove this invasive species!  LSNT looks forward to building a boardwalk and dock this spring with a dedicated canoe/kayak launch at this location.

A small group of volunteers recently cleared the Northville Cres. fence line of brush beside the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area.  6 additional split rails were added to fix the gaps in the fence. In the near future, volunteers will complete the work by cleaning up the garbage and ground vegetation. Last year a stretch of fence line along Hwy 21 was also cleared.