Have you ever seen a flying squirrel? These critters are relatively common around here, but they are seldom seen because of their nocturnal nature. If you’re lucky, right at dusk you can see them “fly” from one tree to another.

“Although I only began working with the Central Algoma Land Trust in October, I already feel like I have learned so much! From day one, the team has been exceptionally kind, welcoming, and supportive as I settled into my new role. Everyone has taken the time to share their knowledge about the wide range of work that we are involved in, both past and present (and there’s a lot!).”

January 25th marks a special milestone for the Central Algoma Land Trust as we celebrate 10 years of service from Carter Dorscht, our Executive Director!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 10th annual Desbarats Christmas Bird Count, which took place on December 27, 2025! This year, 34 volunteers took part in the count. Of those, 18 were out in the field while 15 monitored their feeders throughout the day.

This week, Corinne and I led a guided snowshoe along our Gravel Point Preserve Hiking Trails. We explored just under 4 km of trails, taking in the sights and sounds of the forest in winter.

We're hiring! Our Bat Monitoring and Education Program has been very successful since it began in 2022, collecting over 400,000 individual recordings. We're looking for a Bat Monitoring Technician to join us this summer to assist with the program.

There are only a few days left to contribute to our 2025 Annual Campaign, and we still have a chance to reach our goal of $30,000 by year’s end, complementing the other fundraising efforts we’ve accomplished throughout 2025. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’re over 75% of the way there.

Central Algoma Land Trust’s Executive Director, Carter Dorscht, was recently selected by SodaStream Canada for their Canadian Sustainable Hometown Heroes campaign, which celebrates Canadians making a real difference in environmental stewardship and community well‑being. The campaign highlights how local efforts and individual actions can create meaningful change.

For the Central Algoma Land Trust’s second Volunteer Spotlight, we are excited to feature Janice Fairfax. Since 2022, Janice has been a dedicated volunteer with our Water Quality Monitoring Program. We asked her to share a little about herself and her experience volunteering with CALT.

Our 2025 Annual Campaign is in full swing. We’re working toward a goal of raising $30,000 by year end to complement the other fundraising efforts we’ve completed throughout 2025.

Rare bird alert! A few days ago, Central Algoma Land Trust member Jane Smith photographed a Yellow-throated Warbler visiting her feeders. This is the first time this species has been documented in the Central Algoma region, and only the fifth record for the entire Algoma District.

This year, we’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $30,000 by the end of December. Reaching this target will allow us to continue our conservation efforts, expand our impact, and ensure that the places we all care about remain protected for generations to come.