Algoma Highlands Conservancy

08/31/2026

🌿 Join us at the Sault Ste. Marie Museum!

The Algoma Highlands Conservancy is excited to be part of the grand opening of the History of Environmental Action exhibit on September 10!

Come celebrate the people, organizations, and initiatives that have helped shape environmental action in our community, and learn more about the important conservation work happening across Algoma.

📅 September 10
📍 Sault Ste. Marie Museum

We hope to see you there! 🌲

Join us at the Sault Museum on Thursday, September 10th from 6pm to 9pm for the grand opening of our latest exhibit, History of Environmental Action.

Take a walk through the vibrant history of environmental action in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma Region, featuring organizations you know and love such as Clean North and Algoma Highlands Conservancy!

Admission is by donation. Light refreshments will be served.

Date: September 10th, 11th, and 12th.
Time: Grand opening on September 10th, doors open at 6:00pm.
Location: Sault Ste. Marie Museum, 690 Queen Street East
Tickets: Admission by Donation

08/28/2026

If beavers ever figure out how to install a toll booth, the rest of the forest could be in serious debt. 🦫💳

Recently pulled trail-cam footage captures traffic on the local “damway,” where a beaver-built crossing has become a convenient route for some of the forest’s larger residents.

🐻 A black bear and her three cubs saunter across the dam, seemingly unfazed by the steep drop on either side.

🐺 Two coyotes scout from a beaver-built vantage point, taking advantage of the same dry passage.

Beavers are ecosystem engineers: their dams reshape water flow and create wetlands that benefit countless species. In this case, they’ve built more than habitat... they’ve built a wildlife highway. 🦫🌲🐻🐺

08/21/2026

🚨 OPERATION OUTHOUSE 🚨

We had absolutely perfect weather for last week’s highly sophisticated infrastructure project, and thankfully, we had reinforcements.

A fantastic crew of mountain bikers from Vélorution Bike & Ski and Sault Cycling Club came out to Norm’s to help wrestle the outhouse onto its shiny new base. Joel represented Stokely Creek Lodge, while Kees, Dave, Joann and Paul attended on behalf of Algoma Highlands Conservancy.

There was lifting. There was pushing. There was teamwork. There was an outhouse.

And now, most importantly, NOW there is an outhouse sitting exactly where we want it.

Thank you to everyone who came out to help. We couldn’t have done it without you! 😂👏

08/12/2026

Love Robertson Cliffs? We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help staff our trailside education booth this fall!

Volunteers will join us on select weekends in September and October, sharing information about the Cliffs, local conservation, and the work of AHC with visitors. We’ll work with your schedule to find dates that fit!

This opportunity is perfect for anyone who:

🌿 Loves Robertson Cliffs and the outdoors
💚 Wants to support AHC’s conservation mission
🦋 Enjoys talking with others about nature
👋 Wants to connect with fellow community members and trail visitors

Come spend a fall day at Robertson Cliffs and help us inspire others to care for this special place!

Methods of contact:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook/Instagram:

08/07/2026

Have you ever wondered why moths and other flying insects are attracted to light? 💡🌕🌚

On a warm summer evening, it’s easy to notice insects fluttering around porch lights, lanterns, or street lamps. It can look like they are chasing the glow, but the truth is far more fascinating.

This behaviour is connected to phototaxis, the movement of an organism in response to light. Some insects move toward light (positive phototaxis), while others move away from it.

For decades, scientists believed moths used the moon and stars as distant guides, keeping a consistent angle to these celestial lights to help maintain a straight flight path. A nearby artificial light could disrupt this system, drawing them into a spiraling path around the source.

More recent research suggests another piece of the puzzle: the dorsal light response. Many flying insects naturally orient themselves with their backs toward the brightest part of the sky, helping them stay level during flight. Under a natural night sky, this works beautifully. But when a nearby lamp becomes the brightest light source, a moth may adjust its flight toward it instead.

In a way, the moth becomes pulled into the light’s orbit, circling a false moon that is far closer and brighter than anything it evolved to navigate by.

Interestingly, not all outdoor lighting affects insects equally. Warm-coloured LEDs, such as amber and orange tones, are generally less disruptive than cool, blue-toned lights, which are more visible to many nocturnal insects.

07/28/2026

It is approaching that time of year again! Despite thousands of visitors to Robertson Cliffs, there is still some confusion about “who” exactly the Algoma Highlands Conservancy is—so let’s clear it up. ☺️

‼️We are NOT a government organization. We’re a CHARITABLE non-profit land trust, run by volunteers who love this region just like you do.

To say otherwise would be ignoring the decades of hard work completed by dedicated volunteers who have poured their time, energy, and passion into protecting the Highlands.

A conservancy is all about conservation, stewardship, and low-impact access. Our mission is to protect the unique and wild beauty of the Algoma Highlands—for wildlife, for the environment, and for people like you who walk, ski, snowshoe, paddle, and find peace here.

At Algoma Highlands Conservancy, we:

🌲 Care for over 3,200 acres of land, including rich forests, coldwater streams, and beloved trails, all contributing to Canada’s 30x30 land protection goal.

🐻 Support wildlife conservation and ecological research. We lead collaborative agency projects and youth outreach in our community.

🎿 Maintain public access for low impact, silent sport recreation such as hiking, skiing, and exploring.

🫂 Rely on memberships and donations!

If you hike, cross country ski, snowshoe, or just love the natural beauty of the Highlands, you’re already part of the story.

Want to do more? Becoming a member or making a donation helps ensure this land stays wild and free. We anticipate operating in a deficit this year.

$30 annual membership: https://www.algomahighlandsconservancy.org/Support-Us

Donate: https://www.algomahighlandsconservancy.org/donate-now

07/26/2026

Robertson Cliffs is protected, thriving, alive — and it stays that way because people like you gave before. Now it’s your turn. Help us protect more land.

Donate: https://www.algomahighlandsconservancy.org/donate-now🌎

07/16/2026

Important Notice for Goulais area and beyond — no open burning! With the climbing heat and rising smoke, keep cool, check on your neighbours and critters, and stay safe everyone.

🚨 TOTAL FIRE BAN NOW IN EFFECT 🚨

Effective immediately (Wednesday, July 15, 2026), the Fire Chief has implemented a Total Fire Ban under the authority of the Office of the Fire Marshal (O.F.M.) for the Goulais Fire & Rescue response area.

This fire ban applies to:
📍 Goulais River
📍 Searchmont
📍 Batchawanna Bay
📍 Ranger Lake
📍 Montreal River

Due to the current extreme fire hazard and dry conditions, all open burning is prohibited until further notice.

This includes:
🔥 Campfires
🔥 Fire pits
🔥 Brush burning
🔥 Burn barrels
🔥 Grass and debris burning
🔥 Any other form of open-air burning

⚠️ Please Note: This is a locally implemented Total Fire Ban and is not a Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ).

The decision to implement this ban has been made to protect our residents, visitors, firefighters, homes, businesses, forests, and natural resources during this period of elevated wildfire risk.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding. Your actions today can help prevent a devastating wildfire tomorrow.

Please share this notice to help ensure everyone in our communities is aware of the ban.

📞 For emergencies, call 911.

Goulais Fire & Rescue
Protecting our communities through prevention, preparedness, and professional emergency response.

07/14/2026

The Algoma Highlands Conservancy is ready to do more.

We're a nonprofit charity dedicated to protecting wild land and wildlife in the Highlands of Algoma— and we're positioning to expand our holdings. More acres protected. More habitat secured. More moments like this one, possible.

But we can't do it without you. Donations are low, and the opportunity to grow won't wait.
Become a member or make a gift today. Every dollar builds permanent protection.

🗓️ Don’t forget: Memberships and donations over $20 are tax deductible.

Join us here: https://www.algomahighlandsconservancy.org/Support-Us

Donate: https://www.algomahighlandsconservancy.org/donate-now

📸:J.LaRocque