Community members in the Waterloo/Wellington area have a very special opportunity coming up on Sunday September 15.
That’s the day rare Charitable Research Reserve hosts its Trail Party, the 15th Annual Walk, Hike and Run Fundraiser for this community-based land trust and environmental institute.
“We will meet at Riverbluffs Park at 9 a.m. and get started on the trails at 10 a.m.,” said rare’s Communications Officer, James Bow. “At noon, everyone should have completed their route, and we will have a huge party at our rare ECO centre. There will be a big BBQ, music, and an interactive and exciting kids’ zone so everyone can have fun.”
The rare Charitable Research Reserve is a charitable land trust and research institute dedicated to stewarding over 1,200 acres of environmentally sensitive lands across Waterloo Region and Wellington County. Its first property, located south of Blair, can be traced to a purchase in 1837 by Matthew Wilks.
“Of course, its history stretches back well before that, with evidence of First Nations’ connection to this land for time immemorial,” Bow added. The Wilks family grew the estate over the years until it was ultimately gifted to the University of Guelph in 1973.
When the University of Guelph started work to sell these lands, concerned citizens, worried that the lands might be sold to a developer who’d tear up the land for golf courses or aggregate mines, launched a grassroots campaign to ensure these lands would be protected in perpetuity. The organization that became rare was formed to take over and maintain the property as part of a new community-based conservation strategy.
“Since then, rare has grown to over 1,200 acres across eight properties across Waterloo Region and Wellington County, and maintains 14 kms of trails for the community,” said Bow.
“Our Trail Party fundraiser is our biggest fundraiser of the year and raises money needed to run these education programs. These programs are critical to give people an understanding and ownership of our natural areas, so they in turn can become good stewards of the land, any way they can,” Bow explained.
Community members of all ages can participate in the Trail Party. Walkers/hikers/runners can register here at raretrailparty.ca for $30 per person. Youth 12 and under can register for free, with accompanying parent or guardian.
Registration fees and sponsorship monies go towards rare’s Every Child Outdoors (ECO) program which delivers curriculum-based outdoor environmental education programs for K-12.
“We are very excited about our great big Trail Party!” said Bow. “We hope everyone in the community will come out and support what we do here at rare. Bring the family and have a wonderful day out in nature, with us. See you then!”