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rare

@rare_sites

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rare stewards a 1,550 + acre urban land trust in Waterloo Region/Wellington. Dedicated to conservation, research & education.
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Celebrate 25 years of rare in style! Our 25th Anniversary Merchandise Store is officially OPEN! For 25 years, rare has worked alongside our community to protect natural spaces, advance conservation research and connect people with nature. Now, we're celebrating this milestone with a limited-edition merchandise collection! Featuring beautiful artwork by @caisepulis, our collection includes t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, cozy hoodies and mugs, perfect for showing your love for nature or gifting to someone special this holiday season. Every purchase helps support rare's ongoing conservation efforts across Waterloo Region and Wellington County, protecting the natural spaces that wildlife and our communities depend on. But don't wait! This special collection is only available from November 4 to 22, 2026. Shop the collection and help us celebrate 25 years of protecting nature, now and for the future! SHOP NOW: raresites.org/donate by @rare_sites
With over 1,550 acres of protected land across Waterloo Region and Wellington County, rare is a living laboratory offering exciting opportunities for environmental research, artistic exploration and collaboration. Students studying biodiversity, exploring ecological restoration or developing an art project inspired by the environment, rare could be the perfect place to help realize those ideas. Project applications are open year-round, and we welcome students from all backgrounds and disciplines. Projects must have an environmental focus and use rare as a field site, case study or in another meaningful capacity. Scholarship applications will reopen in 2027, and projects submitted in 2026 may be eligible. Interested in getting started? Before submitting an application, please contact Jack Robinson, rare's Conservation Scientist Assistant, to discuss your project and learn more about the application process. Email: research@raresites.org Phone: 519-650-9336 ext. 111 Learn more and apply: raresites.org/programs/research/project-applications by @rare_sites
Each fall, as the leaves turn and students head back to the classroom, the rare Research team sets out to complete the season's final monitoring work: salamanders! These small amphibians act as bioindicators; changes to their species diversity and populations over time help us understand the health and quality of their environment. For 8 weeks, staff and volunteers trekked out to the monitoring plots, where they gently lifted cover boards to spot salamanders underneath and record their findings. Overall, there were 197 salamanders observed. Most were the lungless eastern red-backed salamanders, a small terrestrial species that loves to hide under rotten wood. Other species included the yellow-spotted salamander, blue-spotted salamander, and four-toed salamander. From 2026 onward, the data collected will specifically support rare’s habitat corridor creation project, which aims to restore two agricultural fields and reconnect the fragmented forest, improving habitat connectivity for salamanders. Thank you to the volunteers who joined us and contributed over 36 hours to our research efforts! by @rare_sites
Looking for a meaningful gift for someone special this holiday season? Give them a Gift of Nature with rare. This year, we're inviting you to adopt a habitat in honour of someone you love. Instead of another item under the tree, give a gift that helps protect and care for the natural spaces that wildlife and our communities depend on. Choose from three incredible habitats: Floodplain: Help protect the riverside habitats that support wildlife and healthy waterways. Wetland: Support vital ecosystems that provide homes for turtles, frogs and countless other species. Forest: Help care for the woodlands that provide shelter, food and space for wildlife to thrive. Each Gift of Nature comes with a beautiful certificate representing your chosen habitat, making it a thoughtful gift for friends, family, teachers or anyone who loves the natural world. Give a gift that lasts long after the holidays and help rare protect nature, now and for the future. Explore the Gift of Nature program and give today: raresites.org/donate by @rare_sites
Before October comes to a close, we're taking a moment to appreciate the incredible colours, sights and little wonders that autumn brings to rare. As the last leaves fall and November approaches, we're grateful for another beautiful season spent exploring and protecting these special landscapes. Swipe through for a little autumn inspiration, captured by members of our wonderful rare community. Happy Halloween from all of us at rare! by @rare_sites
It's never too early to start dreaming about your 2027 garden. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 15, 2027, because rare's annual Plant Sale & EcoMarket is returning! Whether you're a seasoned gardener, a first-time plant parent or simply love spending time outdoors, this is the perfect opportunity to kick off the growing season! Explore a wonderful selection of plants, connect with local vendors and discover ways to make your garden a little greener. From growing your own food to supporting local biodiversity, there's plenty to look forward to! More details are coming, but for now, save the date and start dreaming about your 2027 gardening season! by @rare_sites
Registration is NOW OPEN for rare's 2027 March Break ECO Camp! Trade screen time for green time this March Break! Young explorers ages 6 to 12 are invited to spend the week discovering the wonders of nature through hands-on activities, outdoor adventures, wildlife encounters and plenty of opportunities to get curious, creative and a little muddy! From exploring forests and gardens to learning about local wildlife, every day brings something new at rare's ECO Camp. Spaces are limited, so register today at raresites.org/programs/education/eco-camps by @rare_sites
Last week, rare's Manager of Gifts, Christine Thompson, travelled to Ottawa to participate in Nature on the Hill 2026, hosted by Nature Canada. Conservation organizations and advocates from across Canada met with federal decision-makers and championed the importance of protecting Canada's natural heritage. These conversations highlighted the importance of strong environmental protections, continued investments in conservation and recognizing that healthy ecosystems are essential to thriving communities and a strong economy. rare is proud to have been part of these important conversations and to stand alongside organizations working to protect biodiversity, now and for the future. Thank you to Nature Canada for bringing together passionate voices from across the country! Pictured from left to right: Colin Cassin (Invasive Species Centre), MP Katrina Gould, Kate Potter (Canadian Biosphere Regions Association), Christine Thompson (rare, Manager of Gifts) and Angela Coleman (Conservation Ontario). by @rare_sites
Get outside, get your hands dirty and help restore nature! Join rare and Nature Guelph for a hands-on day of conservation along the beautiful Eramosa River! Learn about the restoration work taking place on rare's protected conservation lands and help make a difference by removing invasive Buckthorn, building swales and planting shrubs to support a healthier ecosystem. We'll begin with a guided walk to the restoration site, where you'll roll up your sleeves and take part in this important work. If time allows, we'll wrap up with a walk to the Eramosa River for snacks and some time to explore! Dress for the weather and outdoor field conditions, including sturdy footwear, long sleeves and pants. Come prepared to get a little muddy! We hope you'll join us for a rewarding day of learning, conservation and community! RSVP at raresites.org/events by @rare_sites
A little planting today for a fruitful future! Thanks to the generous support of @treecanada , we’ve expanded the fruit tree orchard at rare’s Springbank Farm Hub with 10 new apple trees! Our wonderful volunteers spent a beautiful morning planting the trees and installing individual fencing to protect them from hungry wildlife over the winter. As these trees grow and begin producing fruit, their harvests will be donated to the @cambfoodbank , helping provide fresh, locally grown food to our community. A big thank you to Tree Canada and our dedicated volunteers for helping us grow something wonderful! by @rare_sites
Do you want to stay in the know about rare? sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to stay connected and never miss a thing! Visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/yoehZ9t/rarenews or click the link in our bio! by @rare_sites
A little Fern to help welcome a fabulous Friday! by @rare_sites

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