Achievements
2017 Highlights
- Hosted a free movie (Pacific Crest Trail produced by Andy Laub) at the Kineto Theatre in Forest
- Installed a trailhead map display and two memorial benches on the Mystery Falls Trail
- Manned a LSNT Display at the open house sponsored by the Municipality of Lambton Shores and the Kettle & Stony Point First Nation at the Legacy Centre in Thedford
- Continued the process of cutting dead ash trees along the Ausable River Valley Trail
- Established a 3 km connector trail from the Ausable Cut to the Lambton County Heritage Forest
- Installed a ladder and security chain at a steep ravine on the Ausable River Valley Trail
- Planted a mix of 80 native trees on Earth Day to create a “Green Tunnel Trail” around the perimeter of the Port Franks Community Centre property in partnership with the Lakeshore Eco-Network, the Municipality of Lambton Shores, the Port Franks Garden Club & the Ausable Port Franks Optimists
- Combined forces with the Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce to produce and distribute thousands of
- LSNT Trail Maps as part of the area’s 2017 Tourist Guide
- Created & distributed a handy one-page trifold LSNT Trail Guide
- Participated for two days at the Ausable Port Franks Optimist’s ‘Arts & Nature Youth Camp
- Installed the first of two impressive Trailhead Log-Structures on municipal land in Forest (a similar structure is scheduled to be installed in Port Franks in 2018)
- Conducted a formal winter, spring, summer & fall ‘Nature Appreciate Hike and one hike with students from the North Lambton Secondary School
- Published a number of articles to promote LSNT in the Standard Guide Advocate
Additional Achievements
- Built a 'Volunteer Pool' of 100+ members
- Partnered with a number of local Landowners of Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA's), the local Council & Staff, local Community Service Groups and donors
- Constructed and/or upgrade trails, installed trail signage & painted blazes, and re-naturalized damaged areas in our 'Gems of Nature'. Built substantial trail infrastructure including ATV barriers, board-walks, benches, wheelchair-accessible lookout deck, floating dock for canoes & kayaks, small bridges over gullies, ladder on steep embankment. Included are: ABCA's 'L' Lake Management Area in Port Franks, the Ausable River Cut Conservation Area in Northville, the Lambton County Heritage Forest in Port Franks, 'Hidden Valley' in the Ausable River Valley, the Ipperwash Dunes & Swales Forest, and ABCA's Mystery Falls Property in the Ausable River Valley near Arkona
- Made the 'Stepping into Spring Fundraiser Dance' and the 'Mayor's Hike' annual LSNT Signature Events' in 2012, 2013 & 2014
- Created an extensive public awareness of the critical need to protect & preserve our remaining 'Gems of Nature' through public meetings, newspaper articles, presentations to community groups, tireless networking, a LSNT brochure, the LSNT website, guided hikes, insert in LS Leisure Guide, etc.
- In all, LSNT has blazed and now maintains 30 km of nature trails on over 1200 acres of the environmentally most sensitive lands in Lambton Shores & Vicinity beyond the confines of our treasured Pinery Provincial Park and ABCA's Rock Glen Conservation Area
