Rideau Waterway Land Trust

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Rideau Waterway Land Trust

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A charitable organization with a mission to preserve important natural lands in the Rideau Corridor.

The Rideau Waterway Land Trust (RWLT) is a charitable organization established in 1996 with a mission to preserve important natural lands and habitats in the Rideau Corridor and foster a healthy future for our communities. The RWLT is governed by an elected volunteer Board of Directors. These volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds including; land-use planning, environmental management, education, law, finance and fundraising. The Land Trust maintains a vibrant supporter base, which shares an abiding interest in the preservation of lands within the Rideau Corridor.

10/20/2026

💚A huge thank you to Bev Edwards, who has worked alongside our summer conservation intern, Kayla Horne, over the past two years to identify odonate exuviae — the shed exoskeletons left behind when dragonflies emerge from their aquatic nymph stage into flying adults.

Their careful work has added nine new dragonfly species to our observation lists!

▪️ Springtime Darner
▪️ Spiny Baskettail
▪️ Shadow Darner
▪️ Mottled Darner
▪️ Canada Darner
▪️ Black-tipped Darner
▪️ Beaverpond Baskettail
▪️ Band-winged Meadowhawk
▪️ American Emerald

Many of our new additions are darners, a group of dragonflies that can fly at speeds of almost 50 km per hour, making them notoriously difficult to catch and study! Baskettails present their own challenge, often spending time high in the treetops.

By finding and identifying these dragonflies' shed exoskeletons, Bev and Kayla are helping us learn more about the incredible diversity of life on our protected lands.

Thank you, Bev and Kayla, for your curiosity, dedication, and contribution to understanding the wildlife that calls our reserves home! 💚

10/15/2026

🏕️ Old Scouting Stories, New Memories at Rock Dunder! 🌲

Today, we welcomed a group of former members of Kingston’s 10th Scout Troop back to Rock Dunder for a reunion. More than 50 years ago, these lads camped here when the property was still owned by the Boy Scouts.

One story that stood out? A young scout who apparently pitched his tent a little too close to a cliff. One nighttime trip out of the tent to relieve himself later, and he somehow ended up at the bottom of the cliff! 😳 We're told he was okay, but it's always a good idea to keep a safe distance from cliff edges at Rock Dunder!

Thanks for coming back to visit, gentlemen! 🏕️🌿

You can read more about Rock Dunder's history at www.RWLT.org/Rock-Dunder

10/10/2026

A big thank you to Walker Climate Care for supporting the Rideau Waterway Land Trust! 🌿

We’re grateful to be one of the local organizations supported through Walker Climate Care’s WeCare Give Back Program, now in its second year of donations.

Through the program, a portion of new memberships are set aside to support local charities making a positive difference in their communities. It’s wonderful to see that support continue to grow, and to see local businesses investing in the places and organizations that help our communities thrive.

Walker Climate Care provides heating and cooling services throughout the Ottawa, Brockville and Cornwall areas.

Thank you to Ian Henderson and Joe Geneau for presenting the donation of $4325, and to everyone at Walker Climate Care for helping support conservation in the Rideau Corridor. We’re grateful to have you in our community! 💚

https://walkerhomeservices.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/WalkerCornwall

10/07/2026

🐾 A very special pack visited Rock Dunder Nature Reserve this past weekend! ❤️

These happy pups are all Rocky Road Rescue alumni, including several who were rescued from the streets of Beirut and given a second chance at a loving home. One sweet foster pup is still in Rocky Road Rescue’s care and, as a palliative dog, will remain there for the rest of her life.

We loved seeing this rescue pack enjoying the trails and wanted to help shine a little light on the people who give these loving pups a second chance. 🐕🌲

Interested in helping? Rocky Road Rescue in Ottawa is always looking for volunteers, adopters and supporters. Visit their website to learn more, or send them a message on Facebook or Instagram. ❤️

www.rockyroadrescue.com
https://www.facebook.com/RockyRoadRescueCanada/

10/02/2026

A big thank you to Mountain Warehouse for supporting the Rock Dunder team! 🍂

Mountain Warehouse at Kings Crossing in Kingston donated warm sweaters for our gate staff, along with hats and shirts for other members of our team. These are small things that make a big difference as our staff spend their days outdoors, welcoming visitors and helping care for this special place.

The Mountain Warehouse team also took some time to hike Rock Dunder and experience the trails for themselves. 💚 We’re grateful they could spend some time exploring the property and seeing firsthand the place they’re helping us care for.

They’re also offering 15% off coupons at Mountain Warehouse to all our fall hikers! Come by the gate to pick one up while supplies last!

09/30/2026

Pasàbikedjiwanong — “the river that passes between the rocks.”

Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we remember and honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, the survivors and their families, and the generations of Indigenous people who continue to carry the impacts of this history.

Visitors may have noticed a new sign at Rock Dunder Nature Reserve. The sign shares the traditional Algonquin name for the Rideau Waterway and recognizes the Algonquin Anishinabeg peoples, whose relationship with and stewardship of these lands and waters stretches back thousands of years and continues today. The language and pronunciation on the sign were developed with guidance from traditional language speakers.

We invite everyone visiting Rock Dunder, or another RWLT property today, to take a moment to pause, remember, and reflect on our own roles in reconciliation.

09/26/2026

🌳Protecting the places that matter — for today and for generations to come. 🐢

For 30 years, the Rideau Waterway Land Trust (RWLT) has been working to protect the natural lands, waters and wildlife of the Rideau Corridor between Kingston and Ottawa.

We are a small, grassroots organization with a big impact. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our community of donors and supporters, we have now protected 1,685 acres across 25 nature reserves — forests, wetlands, shorelines, islands and other special places that provide habitat for wildlife and help keep the Rideau landscape healthy and connected.

RWLT is a registered charitable organization, and our work is powered by people who believe that important natural places are worth protecting. Some of our reserves, including Rock Dunder, Whitefish and Fullard Nature Reserves, are open for the public to explore and enjoy. Others are protected primarily for the wildlife and sensitive ecological communities they support. Each one is different, but they all have something in common: they are protected for the long term.

And our work is far from finished. More people are reaching out to us all the time with opportunities to protect important natural lands. These are chances to protect habitat, preserve ecological connections and ensure that future generations inherit a landscape where wild places still exist.

What makes this possible is our community. Every volunteer who gives their time, every donor who contributes, every supporter who shares our work and every person who believes these places are worth protecting has helped build what RWLT is today.

30 years. 25 reserves. 1,685 acres protected. And a growing community working together to protect what comes next. 💚 Thank you for being part of it.

💌RWLT.org/subscribe
💚RWLT.org/donation-options
🤝RWLT.org/volunteer

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📸 by Allen Tian

09/23/2026

🌿 Help Shape the Future of Conservation in the Rideau Corridor

Are you a conservation scientist, wildlife ecologist, biologist, or environmental professional who wants to put your expertise to work for the places and species you care about?

The Rideau Waterway Land Trust is seeking a volunteer Board Member with a strong background in conservation science, wildlife ecology, biology, or a related field.

As part of our Board, you’ll help provide governance, ecological perspective and strategic guidance to a charitable organization dedicated to protecting important natural lands across the Rideau Corridor.

We’re especially interested in expertise related to:
🦉 Wildlife and habitat
🌱 Species at risk
🔗 Ecological connectivity
💧 Wetlands and aquatic ecosystems
📋 Conservation policy and land protection

This is an opportunity to mentor, advise and help shape our conservation work—strengthening the science behind decisions about land protection, stewardship and ecological priorities, and helping ensure that the lands we protect continue to support wildlife and healthy ecosystems for generations to come.

If you’re passionate about conservation and would like to contribute your expertise at the governance and advisory level, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Send your CV and a brief cover letter to Board Chair John Grass at [email protected].

🌿 Help us protect the lands, waters and wildlife of the Rideau Corridor—now and for generations to come.

09/16/2026

🌿 Go touch grass (or moss). With a friend. 🐸🐌

Looking for a reason to get outside this fall? From September 18–28, iNaturalist is inviting people around the world to take part in iNat Together, a global push to get outside, explore local nature, and discover the wild things living alongside us.

You don't need to be a naturalist or travel anywhere special. Head out your front door, wander a local trail, explore your backyard, or simply see what you can find in your neighbourhood. Bring a friend and make a little time to notice the plants, insects, birds, fungi and other neighbours you might normally walk right past.

How to join:
🌱 Download the free iNaturalist app
👟 Go outside with a friend
🔎 Look closely at the nature around you
📸 Share what you find on iNaturalist

You can also look for an iNat Together event near you, hosted by iNaturalist Ambassadors. 💚

🔗 Learn more: www.inaturalist.org/pages/inattogether

📸 www.inaturalist.org/photos/50190852

09/13/2026

🌿 Happy Grandparents Day! 💚

Today is a great excuse to get outside together!

Take a walk, look for birds, share stories, or simply enjoy some time in nature with your grandkids or grandparents. Some of the best memories are made outdoors.🌳

Looking for somewhere to explore? Visit one of our nature reserves, or try something a little different: check out the free AOG Art Trail at 42 Leacock Road in Frankville, one of our community partner trails where art and nature come together.

Wherever you go, take a little time to explore, discover, and enjoy the outdoors together. 💚

Learn more about the AOG Art Trail at www.AOGgallery.ca

Address

P. O. Box 42
Elgin, ON
K0G1E0

Telephone

+13436532500

Website

https://www.rwlt.org/, https://linktr.ee/rideauwaterwaylandtrust

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