Thistle Do Nicely (Nature Conservancy) - Sat, Jul 18 2015

Thistle Do Nicely (Nature Conservancy) (7/18/2015)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Volunteer

Event Location:

Clifford E Lee Nature Sanctuary (specific location will be provided at a later date)

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Jul 18 2015 9:00 AM (Carpool Departure: 8:15 AM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Jun 19 2015 7:00:00 AM

Event Duration:

6 hours

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Event Coordinator(s):

Ryan
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 18 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

4 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

NOTE: To fully register for this event, you must register yourself through the Nature Conservancy by visiting the following page. When you register, please indicate (in the notes section at the bottom of the registration page on the Nature Conservancy website) that you are with the Edmonton Outdoor Club. I have requested that 10 spots are tentatively held open for EOC members - attendance by more people may be possible, but please be aware that the Nature Conservancy may get all the volunteers they can handle and may begin turning people away if you try to register closer to the date of the event.

"Canada Thistle" (Cirsium arvense), or "Creeping Thistle", is a perennial plant native to Europe that was accidentally introduced to North America. How it got here isn't definitively known, but it has been suggested that it has been here since the 17th century. As with other invasive species, Canada Thistle is a pest that can grow very aggressively and will crowd out native plants. It has an extensive root system, and it is common for new shoots to grow out of its root system, which can produce infestations composed of genetically identical plants of one sex. Because of this root system, thistle's can be a bit tough to remove, and thistle's also release hundreds of seeds each year, which can remain dormant for up to twenty years when buried in the soil. Left unchecked, thistle infestations will tend to crowd out other vegetation, which adversely impacts wildlife by reducing access to food supply or nesting cover.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has been working on helping to eradicate these very bad plants by undertaking an annual thistle pull at the Clifford E Lee Nature Sanctuary. This year's thistle pull will be the 10th in the history of this annual event. You can read a lot more background here in an article published last year in the Stony Plain Reporter about the thistle pull at the Clifford E Lee Sanctuary, and what this event is all about.

Bottom line: if you love nature, this will be an awesome opportunity to learn about the Clifford E Lee Nature Sanctuary and the work that the Nature Conservancy is doing. We will spend the morning removing thistles at the Clifford E Lee sanctuary. After lunch (which will be provided), we'll also be given a sneak peak of the Nature Conservancy's Bunchberry Meadows project, which is located near the Devonian Botanical Gardens.

A few additional points:

Please click here for more information about Canada Thistle.

Please click here for the more detailed event description on the Nature Conservancy website

After registering for the event through the Nature Conservancy, they will be sending us further information (including maps to the meeting location, and further suggestions on what to bring). All tools needed for the thistle pull will be provided.

Required Items to Bring:
Comfortable closed-toe footwear (expect to potentially get mucky!)
Weather-appropriate clothing

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Camera
Drinking water

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

The Clifford E Lee Nature Sanctuary is located along Range Rd. 261 in Spruce Grove.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

40Km

Carpool Departure Time:

8:15 AM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

The event coordinator(s) will help you to arrange a centralized carpool if you require it, but it's not guaranteed. Please DO NOT pay your driver en route. Passengers will pay the coordinator, and he/she will distribute the money to the carpool drivers. SO PLEASE BRING CASH!!! Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $11.60 (calculated at total Km * $0.29, effective Friday, April 26, 2024). This is based on $0.09/Km for maintenance, plus current gas price divided by 9. This cost will be multiplied by the number of carpooled cars, and divided by the number of carpool participants.

Notes:

- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in EOC events.
- Please scroll through and read the entire online waiver when you sign up.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.

Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!