Thamesford Lions’ Retro Rides and Community Vibes聽
Thamesford Lions' Retro Rides and Community Vibes聽 On June 15th, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) Partnerships and Education Staff participated in the Thamesford Lions鈥� Retro Rides and Community Vibes event, which was held in Lions South Park in Thamesford. This family-friendly event featured over 100 vintage and antique cars, live entertainment and games, and community partner booths and tents. The event attracted well over 500 attendees, many of whom stopped by the UTRCA tent to see the flood table simulator, learn about the Watershed Report Cards, and experience the 鈥渢ouch table鈥� which includes, turtle shells, deer antlers, and [...]
Brightly Coloured Fishes聽
Brightly Coloured Fishes聽 Fish surveys revealed some attractive spawning fish in the Upper Thames River watershed this spring.聽 Of note, a Striped Shiner caught in late May in Stoney Creek in London was one of the most brightly coloured specimens our crew had ever seen! In the Spring, these male Shiners dig nests into gravel. Males have bumps, called nuptial tubercles, on their noses used to construct nests of small stones. 聽 Striped Shiner found in Stoney Creek, London, May 24, 2024 Rosyface Shiner is another fish caught in spawning colours.聽 These fish spawn in late spring [...]
Over 400 Students Participate in the 2024 GREEN Leaders Summit
Over 400 Students Participate in the 2024 GREEN Leaders Summit On June 4th, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) Education and Community Partnerships staff hosted 16 grade 7 and 8 classes from the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) and London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) at Huron University College for the GREEN Leaders Student Summit. This marked the first time in GREEN Leaders history that all participating classes were able to gather in-person to learn, share, and celebrate their accomplishments as part of the program. At the beginning of the school year, each GREEN Leaders class selects one [...]
The Clean Water Act: Do You Know How Your Drinking Water Stays Clean?
The Clean Water Act: Do You Know How Your Drinking Water Stays Clean? Water is critical to all aspects of our lives, and it is important that we ensure there is a safe and reliable source for all our uses - now and in the future. The Clean Water Act (2006) is part of the Province of Ontario鈥檚 commitment to ensure clean, safe drinking water for all Ontarians by implementing a multi-barrier approach. Ontario鈥檚 Clean Water Act protects sources of municipal drinking water including lakes, rivers, and well water.鈥���� The Clean Water Act sets out a framework for source [...]
The WCC Live Roof 鈥� 12 Years Growing!聽
The WCC Live Roof 鈥� 12 Years Growing!聽 When the 糖心直播 (UTRCA)鈥檚 Watershed Conservation Centre was built in 2012, a 75 m2 live roof garden was installed on either side of the sidewalk leading up to the front doors. The live roof sits on top of part of the basement of the old office building, which was retained and renovated into a storage room.聽聽聽 The live roof is a component of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation that the building received. LEED is a green building certification program used worldwide. One of [...]
The Village Sustainable Design Challenge聽
The Village Sustainable Design Challenge聽 In 2023, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) accepted official ownership of what was formerly operated as the Children鈥檚 Safety Village, located within Fanshawe Conservation Area. Since then, the UTRCA has been assessing the property and exploring possibilities for future uses of the site. 聽 Over the past several months, approximately 350 students from 14 Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) schools have also been working on re-envisioning the Children鈥檚 Safety Village through 鈥淭he Sustainable Design Project.鈥� 聽 Spearheaded by Destreaming Classroom Support Teachers at the TVDSB, the Sustainable Design Project was created [...]
Subwatershed Celebrations a Success聽
Subwatershed Celebrations a Success聽 This spring, we partnered with the Friends of Medway Creek (London and Middlesex Centre) and the Mill Pond Committee (Dorchester) to bring two celebrations to these communities. First up was Celebrate the Mill Pond on May 25 at Dreamland in Dorchester. Unfortunately, there was a lot of rain and thunderstorms that morning so we pushed the beginning of the event to 11:30 am when the weather cleared to a beautiful day. Despite the late start, over 100 people were in attendance and took part in many activities. The community really came together and put on [...]
Flooding Education at Public Outreach Events聽
Flooding Education at Public Outreach Events This spring, our Community Education team was out in full force, bringing flooding education to watershed residents at the City of London Emergency Preparedness Open House as well as the Western University Science Rendezvous. The Emergency Preparedness Open House had over 2,500 attendees, mostly young families, who came out to learn about the various organizations in London that help keep the community safe and what to do in the case of an emergency. The all-day Science Rendezvous festival had over 3,000 people in attendance at Western University Alumni Stadium. At both events, UTRCA [...]
Spring STEM Programming at Fanshawe Conservation Area
Spring STEM Programming at Fanshawe Conservation Area聽 This year, UTRCA Community Education staff launched a new version of their flood-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs for grade three and five students. The STEM programs were adapted into a full day field trip to Fanshawe Conservation Area (FCA) and included connections to the natural environment and the newly renovated classrooms in the former Children鈥檚 Safety Village. The grade five program included a guided tour across the top of Fanshawe Dam, highlighting forces and structural engineering which thrilled students and helped set the stage for hands-on learning about flood [...]
Enchanting Fireflies 聽聽
Enchanting Fireflies 聽聽 While not everyone is a fan of insects, there is one insect that wins the hearts of many. Fireflies enrich our lives by lighting up the night sky with their magical twinkles. Their enchanting light display sparks curiosity and captures our imaginations, but behind all this drama, there are hidden secrets of romance, deception, and death.聽 First off, fireflies, or lightning bugs, are not flies nor bugs - they are beetles.鈥疶hey belong to the family Lampyridae (which means to shine) and are best known for their ability to emit light. Like other beetles, they have a [...]