Category: Information

Installing the Boardwalk: July 2 and 3

Volunteers helped build the boardwalk.  Now it is time to put it in place.

When: Wed. July 2, and Thurs. July 3  9:00am-4:00pm  Oct 2013 e

Sections will be transported by truck to the wet area.  We will set the sections on blocks and attach them together using a screw gun (Robertson Red Head).   The boardwalk will be over 200 feet long and each section is 8 feet long.

Would you be able to help us?  You can volunteer both days, 1 day or half a day.   Half Day will be from 9:00-12:30  or 1:00-4:00.   We will have snacks available.  Please bring drinking water.  If you have a screw gun, could bring it too.

If you can help:  Please email me rmknapp@yahoo.com or phone me at 519 371 1255

Meeting Place will be at the Beach Parking Lot.   The work area is along the farthest north trail and extends to the trail close to the link to the Tom Thomson Trail.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Bob Knapp

 

Full Moon Hike Wednesday May 14th 7:30pm

DSCF4153The weather forecast for Wednesday looks good.  Looks like we will have some sun. Join us for an evening hike and hopefully the clouds will clear and the full moon will be shining.

Meet us at 7:30pm at the south parking lot by the pump house just after you enter Hibou Conservation Area.  Bob Knapp will lead us on a hike.  We will likely end by the shore before returning to our cars.  The full moon may be most visible.  In any case the view by the water will be beautiful.  Hike ends at about 9pm.

We would love to see you there.

Marie

marieknapp@rogers.com

 

Trail work still on for today May 1st.

We were lucky  with very little rain yesterday and only 1/2cm last night.  Today the chance of rain between noon and 3pm is only 20%.   So we will continue with our plan to do trail clean up and clipping this afternoon.

Bring clippers. Wear boots and work gloves.   And see you at the south parking lot at 1pm.

Committee members meet at 12:30.

Bob Knapp

Need volunteers for 2 hours on May 1st afternoon

We still need volunteers to join us May 1st at 1pm till 3pm to help with spring clean up and clipping of the trails at Hibou.  Help us make this beautiful area a great place to hike/walk as we watch the glories of spring come to life.

We will meet at the south parking lot of Hibou Conservation Area.  Ask us for directions if you need them.

Please let us know if you can join us.

Contact Bob Knapp:  rmknapp@yahoo.com   or call and leave a message at 519 371 1255

May Day Trail Clean-up

Happy Spring!  And along with the melted snow and ice, it is trail clean up time.  Volunteers welcome.

DSC_0033Join us as we do our part as the Friends of Hibou.

Meet at the south end parking lot at 1:00pm on Thursday May 1st.

Exactly what we do will depend on the trail conditions we see at that time.  But we do know there will be branches to clip and pick up off the trail.

So wear you rain boots (likely there will be water), work gloves and suitable clothing.  Bring along clippers if you have some.  If you can spend a couple of hours that would be much appreciated.

If you know in advance that you are going to join us, please let us know.    Email us at  friendsofhibou@rogers.com

OR give Bob a call at 519 371 1255.

Hope to see you there,

Friends of Hibou Committee.

Planning for 2014

photo 2What a great March meeting of our enthusiastic committee!  We discussed projects for 2014 as well as events.   While there remains a big question related to the effects of this cold and snowy winter on water levels, we still know there will be work to do.

You will notice that some of our signs we made with the GSCA staff  last fall are already in place.  A calendar of events is being created to share on our web site so that it will be easily available.  Keep watching.  We are all anticipating a lovely warm spring.

If you have not signed up to receive emails on our web site or just want to explore the site more just go to www.friendsofhibou.com.  You may also wish to “like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/friendsofhibou.

We are very pleased to now have a membership on the Community Foundation Grey Bruce Environment website.  Check it out here.

More news coming soon,

Marie Knapp

 

March Snowshoe at Hibou

Third sunny day in a row.  The temperature was finally above freezing.  I needed another photo 4snowshoe through the trees to help rejuvenate.  I took to the Hibou trails and thoroughly enjoyed the surroundings.  As I wandered along the trails, I was pleased to see the packed snow from a number of people who obviously frequent the area.  The thought crossed my mind that once the snow begins to melt the area is going to be flooded for a while.

photo 3The Friends of Hibou work group plus some Grey Sauble Conservation Authority staff worked hard to build the boardwalks that will be placed on the trails at the back where most of the water lies in the spring.  But we need the area to be reasonably dry before  their placement can be done.  You may wish to get out on the trails while it is still winter weather and they are passable.  Then you can also see the new signs that have been placed.  The remainder of photo 1the signs will go up soon.photo 2

Grant to build boardwalk

As you may be aware, the Friends of Hibou has received a $4000 grant from TD Canada Trust Environmental Fund to build a boardwalk at Hibou through the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority.
What follows are the plans, hoping some of you may be able to volunteer to help
The building materials will be delivered to Hibou Park on Monday Oct 28 in readiness to begin building on Wednesday.

Here are the plans for building, and assembly of the Boardwalk

When: 9am till 4pm on Wednesday Oct 30, Thursday Oct 31 costume optional), and Friday Nov 1st.
Where to meet: Hibou park by the garage in the beach parking Lot.
Construction: The boardwalk will be built in 8 foot sections using precut 2×6’s. It should go quickly.
To the site: Boardwalk pieces will be moved 700 meters along the northerly trail to the build location with the small truck owned by GSCA
Assembly: This will take place by putting sections on a block and using a screw gun to connect boardwalk pieces.
What to bring: warm clothes, hammer, gloves, ear protection (optional), Lunch if staying all day, drinking water.

Note: If it is too wet to move the board walk along the trail we will have to store them at Hibou until the trail is more dry.

Please contact us to sign up or if you have any questions.

• call 519 371 1255 or
• email friendesofhibou@rogers.com
• Be sure to leave us your phone number please
• Let us know which day or part of a day you can come. Oct 30, 31 and/or Nov 1. 9 to 12 and/or 12:30 to 4
• Note: work will only take place on Nov 1st if we have been able to move the boardwalk to the trail site.

Thank you.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Bob Knapp

Projects and Work Groups

So glad you are interested in helping us with projects.  Currently we are doing an inventory of the area and determining our priorities.  Soon we will be ready to set up work parties to help.  This is the place where you will learn about when and where and what to bring.  keep watching.

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Enthusiastic Group Begins

by Marie Knapp

For me this is like picking up where we left off over 30 years ago.  Bob had been very involved with the procurement of Hibou.  We have continued to visit the area for a walk along the shore or for a ski or snowshoe over the years.  The water levels changing have had an impact on the beach at Paynter’s Bay but that didn’t keep us from entering the trails more to the south and finding a place for a refreshing dip in the water on a hot summer’s day.

Frequently it crossed my mind that we should develop a Friends of Hibou to help with the upkeep of the area.  In his book published in 2008, Bob Knapp wrote: “Thirty five years have passed since Hibou became a park.  Perhaps it is time to form a friends of Hibou organization to assist with the park so that it continues to be a very special place on Georgian Bay“.

The timing is right.  Malcolm Kirk died in September 2012.  In his obituary I found the following: “An ardent conservationist throughout his life, Mac was deeply committed to the preservation of Ontario’s and Canada’s natural heritage. Mac and his generation were the pioneers of Ontario’s modern environmental movement. His legacy is manifested in numerous nature reserves which were secured in conjunction with public and non-profit nature organizations.”  Yes the time is right!  It is partly filling a legacy left behind by those of another generation who were ahead of their times.  This is very exciting!

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