Cattail marshes are highly productive ecosystems that include an abundance of plants and wildlife. And there’s no better way to explore them than from the intimacy of a canoe or kayak. Join us for a rare water outing as we paddle to Kawartha Land Trust’s van Nostrand wetland located on the shoreline of Rice Lake at the mouth of the Indian River. The property lies within a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) and also contains a portion of the regionally significant Indian River Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI).

Aside from the iconic stands of common and narrow-leaved cattails, a cattailmarsh includes many other colorful and fascinating emergent plant species, as well as free-floating and submergent ones. We may even find some carnivorous ones! Insects, turtles and many species of marsh birds inhabit the area and the area north of it. We will be on the lookout for all of them in what should be a highly informative afternoon on the water.

Lou Smyrlis and Steve Paul will be co-leading this outing. Bring your kayak or canoe and all legally required equipment (life jacket for each person and a safety kit for each boat), sunhats and sunscreen, water, snacks, and binoculars and camera if you wish. There will be lots to see! To register, contact Lou at [email protected]. Further details will be provided to those who register.

Saturday, July 13

Rain day July 14

1 to 5 p.m.

Maximum of 10 boats