Tag: Hibou projects
Fall Newsletter, 2021
We hope you enjoy our Fall newsletter. We would love to hear your feedback.
April 25, 2019 Hibou Beach Clean-up
When: Thursday April 25th 9:30 till noon or so
Where: meet us at the beach parking lot.
What to bring: Pitchforks and Wheel barrows are most useful. Rakes help you pull the debris up and onto the shore as much is still in the water this year. You will need rubber boots as often you will be at the water’s edge. Work gloves can also be helpful. Bring water and a snack.
If heavy rain, we will postpone. We will work if only drizzling.
Please let us know if you plan to join us. Your help would be much appreciated.
rmknapp@yahoo.com or 519-371-1255 (can leave a message)
June 28, 2018. The Hibou Wetland Interpretive Trail was officially opened!
We would like to thank all who have supported Friends of Hibou volunteering your time, and energy since we began our work in 2013. Celebrating the completion of this project was a great event. It was a sunny warm day. We enjoyed seeing all those who attended. Thank you to Carol Harris for these photos.
People gathered at the entrance to the trail. Sonya Skinner, CEO of Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) greeted people arriving.
Kate McLaren is past President of OSFN, one of our donors.
Krista Mckee, retired from GSCA, contributed significantly to the design of the signs abd brochure.
Don Sankey, a member of the Friends of Hibou Steering committee is also Chair of the GSCA Foundation, another donor.
Catherine Little, Chair of the GSCA Board of Governors brought greetings from the GSCA and complimented Friends of Hibou on the work that went into 
the trail as well as the outcome.
Bob Knapp, Co-Chair of the Committee, spoke about the history of Friends of Hibou and introduced the speakers.
Dick Hibma, past Board Chair expressed his support for this project. He introduced Larry Miller MP who said he will be bringing his grandchild to walk the trail when they come to visit Owen Sound.
Bill Walker MPP spoke of the value of the Interpretive Trail in educating as well as in promoting and supporting general health and well being.
Don Sankey thanked the Funders: Kiwanis Club of Owen Sound, OSFN, Community Foundation, Bob and Marie Knapp Family Endowment Fund (Community Foundation), GSCA Foundation, TD Environmental Fund.  Marie Knapp expressed the vision seeing a future where parents and grandparents bring their children to the Trail. She also invited teachers to bring classes there for the many ways the trail supports the curriculum at several levels. The brochure is available in the box below the signs at both entrances and on line if someone wishes to review it in advance.
The Trail was officially opened when the ribbon was cut by Stewart Reid of Community Foundation with Kate McLaren of OSFN and Kevin Dandeno of the Kiwanis.
Following a short meet and greet with light refreshments, Bob Knapp led a walk around the trail loop.
 
We hope you will find an opportunity to walk the trail. Pick up a brochure at the large sign and read the interpretive comments related to each number as you reach the appropriate post. Wetlands serve a valuable purpose in preventing flooding and helping to filter surface water. They also provide habitat for plants and animals not found elsewhere. Enjoy your walk through this wetland.
Tues-Wed Aug 29-30 morning, 2017 Volunteers Needed
GSCA will have boardwalk and cement blocks on the trail ready to place and attach with screw drills. Â On the 29th, we will put in place 18 to 20 eight foot lengths of boardwalk on the wet land trail and attach as needed.
If you can help please meet us:
When:Â at 9:00 am till 12:30 Tues. Aug. 29. Â We will use Wednesday if we need a rain day or if the work has not been completed Tuesday.Â
Where to meet:Â by the road at the main gate to the Hibou Conservation Area beach on East BayShore Road.
What To Bring: Â Â work gloves, drinking water, boots for wet land and a battery operated drill if you have one.
RSVP:  marieknapp@rogers.com  It would be helpful to know if you think you can make it.  We hope to have 6 to 8 volunteers along with workers from GSCA.Â
Friends of Hibou is grateful for your volunteering assistance.
Saturday May 27: Trail Clipping New Date
Postponed Trail Clipping that was scheduled for Tuesday May 9th. We will plan to do it on Saturday morning May 27 and combine it with the shoreline cleanup.
Due to the excessive wet in the wet land area we decided to postpone the Trail Clipping that was scheduled for Tuesday May 9th. Â We will plan to do it on Saturday morning May 27 and combine it with the shoreline cleanup.
Meet us at 9:30am at the first parking lot after the Hibou Entrance when you are coming from Owen Sound.
Bring work gloves and clippers if you have them, water, hat, sun screen and “bug stuff” may be helpful too. Â It would be helpful if you let us know if you are coming. Â But just showing up is fine too. Â Hopefully the sun will be shining.
Beach Clean-up Tues Apr 25, 2017 9:30am
When: T
uesday morning April 25th at 9:30 till noon
Where to meet: at the beach parking lot
What to bring: work gloves, tools such as rakes and pitchforks plus a wheel barrow if you have one. Â we simply have to move the sawdust debris from the shore and dump it back a little so that the GSCA tractor can pick it up.
It is getting to be that time again.  Sometime in the last century there was  sawmill and they dumped the sawdust into Georgian Bay.  The current picks up what lies on the bottom and takes it to be dumped along the shoreline at the Hibou beach area.  By getting rid of it a little at a time, it makes the beach area much more pleasant for swimming through the summer.  We are hoping that by doing this in early spring this year we will catch more of the sawdust before it is washed into the water.
It is so helpful for us to know roughly how many will be there to help. If there is significant rain that morning we will have to reschedule. Many hands make lighter work.
let us know by email at friendsofhibou@rogers.com
New Boardwalks For Hibou
We are very grateful for all the help we get from our volunteers. Â Thank you so much for your contributions of time and energy. Â The pictures show well the success of work teams in the past. Â You are great.
We have scheduled two mornings when we plan to build boardwalks again. We need volunteers. Can you help? Please let us know ahead. Email Bob Knapp rmknapp@yahoo.com
Date and Time: Wed July 27 and Thurs July 28, 9:00 to 12:30.
Location:Â meet at the garage at the left parking lot at main beach.
Bring: hammer, work gloves and ear protection if you have it and a bathing suit if you want to swim.
Plan: There will be pre-cut wood on the site. We will work in teams to build 8 ft sections. They will be stored in the garage until a later date when we use them to replace some of the older sections in the wetland.
Please contact Bob Knapp ahead if you plan to come:
rmknapp@yahoo.com or phone 519 371 1255
Hibou Beach Cleanup May 17th
Reminder: Help us get Hibou Beach ready for kids and adults to enjoy this summer. Last year the beach was significantly improved when several volunteers came together for a morning to work at removing sawdust and wood debris along the shore. Let’s do it again!
When: Tuesday May 17th from 9:30 till noonish.
Where:Â Meet at the beach.
Bring rakes, pitch forks, wheelbarrows, work gloves if you have them.
Please RSVP if you can join us.
Email: marieknapp@rogers.com
or phone us at 519-371-1255 and leave a message.
Hope to hear from you.
For more information about Friends of Hibou go to www.friendsofhibou.com
Marie and Bob Knapp
Beach Cleanup
Great group of 10 volunteers and 3 GSCA staff worked hard today raking up much of the decayed leaves and sawdust debris from the beach edge. Beautiful day and amazing view the entire time.
Thank you to everyone who was there. We are hopeful for a good year of swimming close to home.
Feels good! Job well done!
Friends of Hibou Conservation Area - Ontario, Canada 