Kawartha Land Trust

10/28/2026

From the KLT photo archives: In 2023, Tanner Stevens joined KLT's stewardship team as an intern through the Canadian Conservation Core (CCC) program and spent several months working in the field, supporting KLT's land protection and land care goals.
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"My internship at KLT was such an amazing experience. Although it was a short time, it made a lasting impact on my career and was such a valuable stepping stone that got me to where I am today," shares Tanner.⁠
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"I had an amazing time in the Kawarthas and will always fondly remember overlooking the tallgrass prairie at Ballyduff Trails, crawling around the forest floor collecting seeds and nuts, and getting my hands dirty planting trees."⁠

Photo: KLT

10/27/2026

We love seeing your photos out on Kawartha Land Trust trails! 🍂

10/26/2026

KLT’s Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest is a place of peace and reflection in nature.

Situated within the 102-acre Roussel-Steffler Memorial Sanctuary in the Township of Douro-Dummer, the nature sanctuary is home to forests, meadows, and a section of a Provincially Significant Wetland. The property was generously donated to KLT in 2023 by the Roussel-Steffler family in honour of late husband and father Paul Roussel who loved and cared for the land for decades, along with his sons.

Earlier this October, staff and volunteers planted over 150 trees in the memorial forest to support its ongoing growth. This planting was made possible through memorial donations made to KLT to protect and care for nature.

Thank you to members of the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha for volunteering on the day. And thank you to all the donors who have helped support the ongoing care of KLT’s Roussel-Steffler Memorial Forest — encouraging it to grow into one thriving ecosystem that supports biodiversity, provides vital wildlife habitat, and contributes toward natural climate solutions for the region.

You can learn more about KLT’s memorial forest and in memorium gifts at
https://kawarthalandtrust.org/you-can-help/giving-in-memory/.

📸: Mitchell Walker

10/24/2026

It’s International Day of Climate Action and thanks to your support, Kawartha Land Trust is making a difference on our shared landscape.

Over the past 25 years, you’ve supported:

🌱 The protection of 50 properties, encompassing over 9,100 acres of naturally significant lands, saving them from development and in-turn reducing carbon emissions.

🌾 Tree plantings, grassland seed collections, and wildflower plantings for ongoing restoration projects that encourage carbon sequestration.

🌻 Community-led conservation that brings people out on the land for the land you love in the Kawarthas, ensuring care for these spaces in perpetuity.

Thank you for all of your contributions to make this planet a healthier place now and for the future.

📸: Sammy Tangir, KLT, Ashley MacRae, Kay Crawford, and Gerry Stokman

10/23/2026

We’re so honoured and share it with our amazing community of supporters! Thank you!

Congratulations to the 2026 Not-For-Profit recipient: Kawartha Land Trust!

The Not-For-Profit Business Excellence Award, presented by D.M. Wills Associates recognizes a Not-for-Profit organization that exemplifies excellence and/or growth in programs and services, with clear community-based mission and values that align with not-for-profit standards. They lead in volunteer management (recruitment, training, recognition, etc), fundraising initiatives, transparency/disclosure, strategic partnerships, and marketing & promotion.

Congratulations Kawartha Land Trust!

Kawartha Land Trust
D.M. Wills Associates Limited

10/22/2026

Have you been wondering what’s creating those neat rows of holes in trees? Ashley Cramer, Land Stewardship Coordinator, is at Christie Bentham Wetland with some fun answers to this mystery. 

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker! This species of woodpecker searches Maples, Birches, and Basswoods for sap and insects to feast on. Don’t fret! Healthy, mature trees will recover over time. 

You can find tons of cool signs of local species like this on KLT’s community trails, so plan your next visit in nature at kawarthalandtrust.org/connect-with-nature

Reel: Ashley Cramer
Photo: Isa Prophet

10/21/2026

Update: This event is now full and the waitlist is also at capacity.

Join us on Saturday, November 21st, for a magical, hands-on nature craft where creativity meets the outdoors. In this guided workshop at Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, Sammy Tangir will show you how to create your very own willow star — perfect as a decoration, gift, or keepsake. Sammy will provide soaked and prepared willow branches that she harvested from her willow farm, Bendy Farm, so that you can start weaving your very own star!

Registration for this KLT Passport to Nature event is required and spots are limited. We hope you'll join us!

🌿 KLT’s Passport to Nature: Weaving Willow Stars
📅 Saturday, November 21st, 2026
🕙️ 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
📍 Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, Peterborough, ON

You can register today through KLT's Eventbrite page.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/klts-passport-to-nature-weaving-willow-stars-tickets-1987162629919

📸: Ashley MacRae

10/17/2026

Travel back to early summer with KLT volunteer Kaitlyn Pinkett and experience our Passport to Nature Medicine Walk event. 🌿 On a beautiful June day at Tecasy Ranch near Buckhorn, Joseph Pitawanakwat, who is from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, shared Anishinaabe Mishkiki Aadiziwin — Anishinaabe knowledge of plant medicine use — with attendees.
It was a wonderful day of shared learnings and time spent out in nature.

We offer our deep gratitude to Creators Garden - Joseph Pitawanakwat for sharing his knowledge with us.

We would also like to thank Tecasy 1 Ranch, a KLT Partner in Conservation, for hosting us on the day.

Read Kaitlyn's article on our website.
https://kawarthalandtrust.org/passport-to-nature-medicine-walks-with-joseph-pitawanakwat/

10/16/2026

Coming up soon! Join Ashley Cramer, KLT’s Land Stewardship Coordinator, on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, for a relaxing, yet productive afternoon at KLT’s Ballyduff Trails. You can help care for a rare tallgrass prairie by collecting grass and wildflower seeds.

Tallgrass prairies are among the rarest ecosystems in Ontario. It's estimated that only 1-3% of Ontario's tallgrass prairies remain.

This event is open to all ages (those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). Register to help restore this critical habitat and enjoy the beauty of fall on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

🌿 KLT’s Passport to Nature: Hearts and Hands
📅 Saturday, October 24th, 2026
🕙️ 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
📍 KLT’s Ballyduff Trails, Pontypool, ON

For registrants that need transportation, KLT has arranged for bus transportation that goes to and from the event. The bus will depart from Peterborough at 12:15 p.m. and return for 4:00 p.m.

More details on parking and bus service will be shared by email with registrants.

Registration for this KLT Passport to Nature event is required and spots are limited. We hope you'll join us!

You can register today through KLT's Eventbrite page.
https://eventbrite.ca/e/klts-passport-to-nature-hearts-and-hands-tickets-1987162628916

📸: KLT

10/15/2026

A sneak peek of KLT's next community trails! We know you love being out in nature in the Kawarthas. And we're excited to be working on what we hope will become a new favourite place for you to visit.

Kawartha Land Trust staff and volunteers have been hard at work creating new community trails on KLT’s largest protected property — the Hammer Family Nature Preserve — for you to enjoy with your family and friends. Work on the trails will continue this fall and the trails will be opened to the public next spring.

We offer our enduring thanks to the donors and volunteers who make this work possible. Thank you! 💚

If you'd like to stay updated on the trails and everything related to KLT, sign up for our newsletter.
https://kawarthalandtrust.org/subscribe/

📸: Juliette Arsenault and Philippa Parry