Events
Below is a list of events for 2011. All events start or take place at the
Rouge Valley Conservation Centre located near the Metro Toronto Zoo just off
of Meadowvale Road in Toronto. For a map to the centre click here or scroll to
the bottom of this page. PLEASE NOTE: Dates and times may change. Please
make sure that you RSVP if you would like to attend a meeting.
The centre is accessible by car or public transportation (TTC). Parking is available
at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre.
By car:
From the 401: Take the Meadowvale Road exit. Go north on Meadowvale Road past Sheppard Avenue.
Stay in the right hand lane and take the ramp up towards the Toronto Zoo. At the top of the ramp turn right.
The Conservation Centre is the two storey house on your right.
By TTC:
If taking the TTC routes 85A, 85B and 86A all go near the centre. Please visit the TTC website for exact routes and bus times.
To attend any of these events, please RSVP at least 24 hours in advance with your information to info@citizenscientists.ca. You will receive a confirmation email with final details for the event.
May 2011
New volunteer orientation and in-stream training
Date: May 28, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 3:30pm
Description:
This full day event takes place at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. The morning will be an in-class session that will include a brief presentation about Citizen Scientists' plans, goals and achievements to date. We will also present our findings and results to date. Following that we will provide an introduction to the Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP). After lunch we will do in-field training which will include a practical application of OSAP and field measurements.
Please make sure to dress appropriately for the outdoor activities and bring any clothes or boots that you may need. We recommend that you wear long pants (oudoor pants if you have them, jeans are okay but may be difficult to hike in). Hiking boots or old running shoes are okay for hiking down to the stream. Rubber boots or waders are good for in-stream (if you don't have any, we have some waders that you can borrow on that day). You will be hiking up and down a steep hill and you may get wet when you are in/down by the stream so just make sure that you are comfortable. We also suggest bringing a hat and possibly a jacket if it's cold on that day. And of course, sunscreen, bug spray and water are also recommended.
There will be no rain date. In case of rain we will be doing the afternoon portion of our training at the Conservation Centre instead of in the stream. Lunch will be provided.
New volunteer orientation and in-stream training
Date: May 29, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 3:30pm
Description:
NOTE: This is a repeat of the event that that is taking place on May 28 and is meant for any volunteers who cannot make it to the May 28 event.
This full day event takes place at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. The morning will be an in-class session that will include a brief presentation about Citizen Scientists' plans, goals and achievements to date. We will also present our findings and results to date. Following that we will provide an introduction to the Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP). After lunch we will do in-field training which will include a practical application of OSAP and field measurements.
Please make sure to dress appropriately for the outdoor activities and bring any clothes or boots that you may need. We recommend that you wear long pants (oudoor pants if you have them, jeans are okay but may be difficult to hike in). Hiking boots or old running shoes are okay for hiking down to the stream. Rubber boots or waders are good for in-stream (if you don't have any, we have some waders that you can borrow on that day). You will be hiking up and down a steep hill and you may get wet when you are in/down by the stream so just make sure that you are comfortable. We also suggest bringing a hat and possibly a jacket if it's cold on that day. And of course, sunscreen, bug spray and water are also recommended.
There will be no rain date. In case of rain we will be doing the afternoon portion of our training at the Conservation Centre instead of in the stream. Lunch will be provided.
June 2011
Electrofishing, Fish, Crayfish, Bug Identification presentation
Date: June 11, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 2:30pm
Description:
This full day event takes place at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. This will be an in-class session on Electrofishing (process/procedure and safety), Fish Identification and Benthic Invertebrate Identification. We will have a short slide presentation and have stations set up for each order of insect as well as preserved fish samples. We will be taking you though key identifiers and answering any questions you may have about the fish and invertebrates and their significance as well as give you the chance to try and identify some benthic invertebrates from a stream sample. This is session meant to be a working session to help volunteers:
- learn how to identify fish and benthic invertebrates found in the streams
- to take volunteers through the basics of electrofishing
- general safety information necessary for doing the electrofishing collections
- to build the benthic invertebrate id skills necessary for doing the 100 bug counts
PLEASE NOTE: Anyone who is interested in participating in our electrofishing outings scheduled this year should attend this meeting.
If you plan on attending, please make sure to bring your own lunch and drinks. We will have some tea and coffee available in the morning.
Electrofishing, Fish, Crayfish, Bug Identification presentation
Date: June 12, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 2:30pm
Description:
NOTE: This is a repeat of the event that that is taking place on June 11 and is meant for any volunteers who cannot make it to the June 11 event.
This full day event takes place at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. This will be an in-class session on Electrofishing (process/procedure and safety), Fish Identification and Benthic Invertebrate Identification. We will have a short slide presentation and have stations set up for each order of insect as well as preserved fish samples. We will be taking you though key identifiers and answering any questions you may have about the fish and invertebrates and their significance as well as give you the chance to try and identify some benthic invertebrates from a stream sample. This is session meant to be a working session to help volunteers:
- learn how to identify fish and benthic invertebrates found in the streams
- to take volunteers through the basics of electrofishing
- general safety information necessary for doing the electrofishing collections
- to build the benthic invertebrate id skills necessary for doing the 100 bug counts
PLEASE NOTE: Anyone who is interested in participating in our electrofishing outings scheduled this year should attend this meeting.
If you plan on attending, please make sure to bring your own lunch and drinks. We will have some tea and coffee available in the morning.
100 Bug Counts
Date: June 18, 2011
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Description:
This is a full day event. We will meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 10:00am and then head out to the monitoring sites. This will be an in-field and in-class session and volunteers should dress appropriately. We will be conducting 100 Bug Counts for two of our sites. This will involve doing the initial part of the OSAP protocol at the monitoring site and then returning to the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre to will identify and count the bugs and fill out the benthic macroinvertebrates form. Volunteers should bring/wear the following:
- lunch and bottled water
-
-sunscreen and bug spray
-
-running shoes or hiking boots to walk to the site
-
-it is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and a hat
A limited number of hip/chest waders will be available for volunteers to borrow.
If you can help with car pooling from the Conservation Centre to the site, please let me know how many people you can fit into your car when you RSVP.
Electrofishing
Date: June 26, 2011
Time: 10:30 - 4:30pm
Description:
This is a full day event. We will meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 10:30am and then head out to the monitoring site. This will be an in-field session and volunteers should dress appropriately. As part of the electrofishing session we will be identifying, weighing and measuring all the fish that we capture. Please try and brush up on your fish ID skills (see below). Volunteers should bring/wear the following:
-
-lunch and bottled water
-
-polarized sunglasses
-
-sunscreen and bug spray
-
-running shoes or hiking boots to walk to the site
-
-volunteers MUST wear long pants
-
-hat
A limited number of hip/chest waders will be available for volunteers to borrow.
To brush up on your fish identification skills, you can go to the Fish of Wisconsin Identification Database
Please concentrate on the following species:
Blacknose Dace, Creek Chub, Common Shiner, Rainbow Trout, Brook Stickleback, Johnny Darter, Northern Redbelly Dace, Pearl Dace
If you can help with car pooling from the Conservation Centre to the site, please let me know how many people you can fit into your car when you RSVP.
NOTE: There is limited space for this outing therefore we will be taking people who RSVP first.
July 2011
100 Bug Counts
Date: July 9, 2011
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Description:
This is a full day event. We will meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 10:00am and then head out to the monitoring sites. This will be an in-field and in-class session and volunteers should dress appropriately. We will be conducting 100 Bug Counts for two of our sites. This will involve doing the initial part of the OSAP protocol at the monitoring site and then returning to the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre to will identify and count the bugs and fill out the benthic macroinvertebrates form. Volunteers should bring/wear the following:
- lunch and bottled water
-
-sunscreen and bug spray
-
-running shoes or hiking boots to walk to the site
-
-it is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and a hat
A limited number of hip/chest waders will be available for volunteers to borrow.
If you can help with car pooling from the Conservation Centre to the site, please let me know how many people you can fit into your car when you RSVP.
OSAP Protocol
Date: July 10, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 4:30pm
Description:
This is a full day event. We will meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 10:30am and then head out to the monitoring site. This will be an in-field session and volunteers should dress appropriately. We will be conducting the entire OSAP process at one of our sites. Volunteers should bring/wear the following:
- lunch and bottled water
-
-sunscreen and bug spray
-
-running shoes or hiking boots to walk to the site
-
-it is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and a hat
A limited number of hip/chest waders will be available for volunteers to borrow.
If you can help with car pooling from the Conservation Centre to the site, please let me know how many people you can fit into your car when you RSVP.
100 Bug Counts
Date: July 24, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 3:30pm
Description:
This is a full day event. We will meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 10:30am and then head out to the monitoring sites. This will be an in-field and in-class session and volunteers should dress appropriately. We will be conducting 100 Bug Counts for two of our sites. This will involve doing the initial part of the OSAP protocol at the monitoring site and then returning to the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre to will identify and count the bugs and fill out the benthic macroinvertebrates form. Volunteers should bring/wear the following:
- lunch and bottled water
-
-sunscreen and bug spray
-
-running shoes or hiking boots to walk to the site
-
-it is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and a hat
A limited number of hip/chest waders will be available for volunteers to borrow.
If you can help with car pooling from the Conservation Centre to the site, please let me know how many people you can fit into your car when you RSVP.
August 2011
Pebble Count
Date: August 6, 2011
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Description:
This is a half day event. We will meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 10:00am and then head out to the monitoring site. This will be an in-field session and volunteers should dress appropriately. A Pebble Count will help us detect changes to the spawning habitat and involves counting and measuring 400 pebbles across the stream width. Volunteers should bring/wear the following:
- lunch and bottled water
-
-sunscreen and bug spray
-
-running shoes or hiking boots to walk to the site
-
-it is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and a hat
A limited number of hip/chest waders will be available for volunteers to borrow.
If you can help with car pooling from the Conservation Centre to the site, please let me know how many people you can fit into your car when you RSVP.
Full Bug Collection
Date: August 7, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm
Description:
This is a full day event. We will meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 10:30am and then head out to the monitoring sites. This will be an in-field and in-class session and volunteers should dress appropriately. We will be conducting Full Bug Collections for four of our sites. This will involve doing the initial part of the OSAP protocol at the monitoring site and then returning to the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre to sieve and preserve the sample. Volunteers should bring/wear the following:
- lunch and bottled water
-
-sunscreen and bug spray
-
-running shoes or hiking boots to walk to the site
-
-it is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and a hat
A limited number of hip/chest waders will be available for volunteers to borrow.
If you can help with car pooling from the Conservation Centre to the site, please let me know how many people you can fit into your car when you RSVP.
Full Bug Collection
Date: August 20, 2011
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Description:
This is a full day event. We will meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 10:00am and then head out to the monitoring sites. This will be an in-field and in-class session and volunteers should dress appropriately. We will be conducting Full Bug Collections for four of our sites. This will involve doing the initial part of the OSAP protocol at the monitoring site and then returning to the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre to sieve and preserve the sample. Volunteers should bring/wear the following:
- lunch and bottled water
-
-sunscreen and bug spray
-
-running shoes or hiking boots to walk to the site
-
-it is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and a hat
A limited number of hip/chest waders will be available for volunteers to borrow.
If you can help with car pooling from the Conservation Centre to the site, please let me know how many people you can fit into your car when you RSVP.
Full Bug Collection
Date: August 21, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm
Description:
This is a full day event. We will meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 10:30am and then head out to the monitoring sites. This will be an in-field and in-class session and volunteers should dress appropriately. We will be conducting Full Bug Collections for four of our sites. This will involve doing the initial part of the OSAP protocol at the monitoring site and then returning to the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre to sieve and preserve the sample. Volunteers should bring/wear the following:
- lunch and bottled water
-
-sunscreen and bug spray
-
-running shoes or hiking boots to walk to the site
-
-it is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and a hat
A limited number of hip/chest waders will be available for volunteers to borrow.
If you can help with car pooling from the Conservation Centre to the site, please let me know how many people you can fit into your car when you RSVP.
September 2011
Ecological Analysis Presentation
Date: September 25, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 2:30pm
Description:
This event takes place at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. We will do a short presentation on Ecological Analysis and answer any questions. If you plan on attending, please make sure to bring your own lunch and drinks. We will have some tea and coffee available in the morning.
October 2011
Data Entry
Date: October 15, 2011
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Description:
This full day event takes place at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. This will be an opportunity to enter the data that we have collected this year and do some analysis. If you plan on attending, please make sure to bring your own lunch and drinks. We will have some tea and coffee available in the morning.
Data Entry
Date: October 16, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 3:30pm
Description:
This full day event takes place at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. This will be an opportunity to enter the data that we have collected this year and do some analysis. If you plan on attending, please make sure to bring your own lunch and drinks. We will have some tea and coffee available in the morning.
Data Entry
Date: October 29, 2011
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Description:
This full day event takes place at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. This will be an opportunity to enter the data that we have collected this year and do some analysis. If you plan on attending, please make sure to bring your own lunch and drinks. We will have some tea and coffee available in the morning.
Data Entry
Date: October 30, 2011
Time: 10:30am - 3:30pm
Description:
This full day event takes place at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. This will be an opportunity to enter the data that we have collected this year and do some analysis. If you plan on attending, please make sure to bring your own lunch and drinks. We will have some tea and coffee available in the morning.
