Fall 2015 Friends of Sandbanks Newsletter

Editor's Message
Welcome to the first issue of our new-look newsletter. I'm
pleased to assume the reins from retiring editor Evelyn
Sloane, and to continue a tradition of providing regular
news and updates to our Friends of Sandbanks members
and the Prince Edward County community.
Evelyn has been a driving force behind many of the activities
of the Friends. Along with her husband Doug, they have held
nearly every position within the Friends, as well as
participating in virtually every Friends' project, beginning
with the Dunes Trail.
Sunset on the back-dunes; Image 15-8355
Thanks to Evelyn and Doug for your support of the Friends!
Along with the newsletter, we are also bringing the Friends media presence
st
into the 21 century. You will notice an increase in Facebook postings, and, so
far, the response to our in-depth articles about history, geology and
archaeology posted over the summer has been encouraging.
You don't have to be a Facebook Member to enjoy these regular updates,
just go to our Facebook Page at:
http://facebook.com/friendsofsandbanks
That site will always have the most recent news and reports
about the Friends' activities.
We plan distribute this newsletter in electronic form only.
That would eliminate the ever-increasing cost of postage.
We want to maximize your membership contributions, and it
makes sense that an organization such as ours should be as
"green" as possible. Let us know if you want a mailed copy!
Evelyn Sloane at Circle of Friends, 2014;
Image 14-4276
Upcoming Events...
October 17 th , 2015 1000 - 1500 hrs
First Annual Tree Wrapping, County Road 12 just
south of the Lakeshore Lodge crossroads
November 27 th - 29 th
Support projects, not postage!
Another benefit of an electronic newsletter is the ability to
link additional information, photos and videos within each
article. Click on any image in this newsletter to view a high-
resolution version!
Please contact me with any ideas, submissions, comments or
complaints at: [email protected]
John A. Brebner
Festival of Trees at Isaiah Tubbs Resort
December 8th 1700 hrs
Annual General Meeting, Maple Rest Heritage
House. All members welcome, Pot Luck Dinner,
RSVP.
(Members most welcome, but please let us know if you plan to
attend!)
page 2
Chairman's Message
The summer of 2015 has been an incredibly productive year for the Friends of Sandbanks.
Working with the park staff along with contributions from the National Trails Council, TD Trust
and an Accessibility Grant from the Federal Government, with the construction of the
Lakeview Trail, we saw the addition of 2 km of cycling and hiking trails within the Park,
increasing the total to over 10 km.
Mark Despault
As well, 2 km of existing Woodlands Trail were resurfaced to better accommodate cycling.
The Friends continue to partner with the Park, and with financial support from Evergreen, Trees Ontario and Sky Power,
over a thousand trees and shrubs were planted, including four hectares of butternuts, that have been surrounded by
protective deer fencing. These planting projects bring us closer to completing the reforestation of many hectares of
retired agricultural lands within the Park.
Another exciting project that the Friends undertook this
past year was the installation of a barrier-free crossing
between the dunes and Lake Ontario, improving access to
the very popular Outlet Beach.
Deer Fencing surrounding butternut planting, Image 15-1280
Friends' Board members try out the new Mobi Mats, part of the barrierfree access program; Image 15-8244a
In line with our mandate to provide educational
opportunities for visitors that they might better
understand the cultural and natural features of the area,
funding was provided to produce several interpretive signs
at both the MacDonald's wharf site, (Lakeland Lodge) and
at Lakeshore Lodge Day Use Area.
Mark Despault, Chair
Friends of Sandbanks
Signage at Lakeland Lodge Day-Use Area, Image 15-1310
Interpretive signage outlining the history, the flora and fauna, and the
geological history of the Park proved to be very popular with visitors.
page 3
Sandbanks Provincial Park Superintendent's Message
With a Little Help From Our Friends
Sandbanks is a very busy park and as a consequence it earns a large revenue. You would think
that such income would be sufficient to cover every possible need, and, if it all remained at
Sandbanks, that might be true.
But it doesn't!
Robin Reilly
Sandbanks is just one in an organization of Provincial Parks across Ontario.
Many of those parks do not earn sufficient revenue to operate. The funds
from all operations are pooled and redistributed. That is a good thing as it
supports conservation efforts across every part of the province.
Sandbanks is funded to cover all its basic expenses... items including gate
reception, enforcement, maintenance, education and administration.
Park entrance; Image 15-9578
There is also occasional funding for special projects such as a new
campground or special maintenance upgrades. This all adds up to covering
the core functions of the park... the main course... the essential ingredients.
But what about dessert? That's where the Friends come in!
Over the last few years the Friends have funded many exciting initiatives.
The new barrier-free pathway across the Outlet Dune is a good example.
Robin Reilly pushes Friends' Board member
Agneta Sand up the beach in one of the
accessible beach wheelchairs, Image 15-8258a
Friends' support has also resulted in new trails, new education signs, new
programs and events. These extra elements have helped the park experience
evolve in new directions.
The Friends have been able to raise money from donations, sales, raffles and events. In addition, they have been able to
access grants and contributions from other sources.
Unquestionably, some of best improvements to the park experience this year have been made possible only through
the efforts of our Friends.
The Board of the Friends of Sandbanks, working with active members and with staff from the park, have much to be
proud of this year!
Robin Reilly
Superintendent,
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Right: A busy Sandbanks Beach; Image 15-9566
page 4
A Secret Weapon Against Invaders!
Zachary Flavelle
The Natural Heritage Education (NHE) Department is known for
its quality interpretive programs and aiding the operation of the
Friends' Nature Shop.
Away from the public eye, the department also has the
responsibility for various resource management projects.
One never-ending component is the battle on invasive plants
that choke out native vegetation, causing an adverse impact on
ecosystem diversity. In the past, this component played second
fiddle to park programs and the operation of the Visitor Centre.
And it can be difficult to spare staff during the hectic summer
months to remove pesky plants. To facilitate better
management of unwanted interlopers, NHE underwent a
restructuring that lead to the formation of a new team with a
focus on invasive species removal.
The Resource Management Team with a pile of white sweet
clover removed from the pannes. From left: Tyla Reed,
Brittany Williams, Jenny Andrews; Image 15-1458, courtesy
Sofia Jelovac.
The Resource Management Team (RMT) is the vanguard against
invasive species.
While still involved in other aspects of NHE, the RMT spent a majority of their summer eradicating plants, controlling
poison ivy, and mending trails in the sweltering heat.
Jenny Andrews, Tyla Reed, and team leader Brittany Williams invested hundreds of person-hours, armed with weedwhippers, backpack sprayers, clippers, saws, and safety gear.
They led other NHE staff in the removal of garlic mustard, white sweet clover, pale swallowwort, and buckthorn from
high priority areas. The success of the RMT is undisputable. Their impact on the unwanted plants is palpable and
preliminary removal plans have already been planned for the 2016 season.
The Resource Management Team was created, in part,
by the generous sponsorship of the Friends of
Sandbanks. Each member of the RMT was either fully
or partially employed by the Friends. These contracts
provided students with the opportunity to join one of
the most lucrative and beautiful parks in Ontario
while learning crucial transferable skills to help them
succeed in any career they may choose. Without the
hard work of dedicated students, the RMT would not
be able to make such progress against invasive
species.
Zachary Flavelle
Jenny Andrews and Tyla Reed with a daunting pile of buckthorn at
West Point; Image 15-1459, courtesy Brittany Williams
page 5
Nature Shop, Summer 2015 Season
The Nature Shop had yet another successful season, promoting both the Friends
and the Park with a wide variety of merchandise designed for every taste.
Each year, the shop showcases new books, stuffies, toys and T-shirt designs, as well
as stocking some of the old favourites, including our Sandbanks' logo patch, pin
and keychain.
Last year we introduced two new T-shirts, designed by our own Agneta Sand - a
Marram grass design and a Sandbanks 'S' design with a stylized campfire.
Expect to see these designs again, but on new items. Nowhere else can you get a
Frisbee-like flyer with a Sandbanks imprint!
Check out our bumper-stickers and monogrammed water bottles!
Don Metcalf and Janet Mooney in the
Nature Shop, Image 15-9731
Don't forget that your membership in Friends of Sandbanks gives you a 10%
discount in the shop!
And we still have a few copies of our 2012 flagship publication, "Sandscapes...
Exploring the Dunes of Sandbanks Provincial Park". (NOT available online!)
That well-illustrated and meticulously researched book will tell you almost all you
need to know about this fascinating area... from geology, to Ice Ages, to
mechanisms of dune formation and the unique wildlife that makes its home here.
Edited by long-time Park expert and naturalist Yvette Bree, this is a "must have"
publication for any serious researcher interested in learning about the Sandbanks
area.
(Ed's note... I have two copies, I wore out the first one during my research during the past
three years!)
Also available at Books and Company in Picton...
Nature Shop Hours from Labour Day to Thanksgiving: Weekends 1200 - 1600 hrs
Agneta Sand with Nature Shop
merchandise, Image 15-9734
Below: left to right; images from the Friends' Nature Shop; Images 15-7850, 15-7851, 15-7848
page 6
Sandbanks Provincial Park Eighth Annual Sandfest
There is much to be thankful for when organizing an outdoor event upon which fine
weather and the devotion of volunteers are so important. Such was the situation on the
July 7th evening when a gentle rain soaked the sands of the Outlet Beach at Sandbanks
Provincial Park. The following morning, a bright blue sky and a seemingly endless sandy
beach became the backdrop for another family fun event of sand sculpture
Don Metcalf
As the rope was stretched along the beach and the cross lines placed to form a series of squares, a few
inquisitive campers began to stroll along the just-formed quadrants. Families of all ages began to fill in the
spaces, picked up donated shovels and spades and began creating their 'sand-like' masterpieces. The event
was blessed with perfect conditions: A cool breeze from the lake and moist, easily compactable sand that
had been raked and cleared of beach debris. The eagerness and joy of the participants was infectious!
Children, teens and adults, in a flurry of activity, formed, modeled
and created every imaginable structure from Mermaids and Minions
to Planets and Palaces. In all, over 100 people were involved – the
most attended Sandfest on record. As the hive of activity began to
wane, families stood back to admire not just their own handiwork
but also the efforts of those who had joined them.
Over forty works of sand sculpture lined the edge of the beach by
the Outlet River.
As mentioned earlier, the success of any event is also dependent
upon those who volunteer their services to assist with such a
worthwhile event. For this reason I owe a huge debt of gratitude to
the following people: Mark Powell for assisting with setting up the
quadrants; Hannah Maracle, a student naturalist, who recorded
names, presented prizes and ushered families to their appointed
places; Neil and Penny Sipkes who distributed prizes and insisted
that no one left empty-handed; and Elaine Metcalf who ensured that
at-risk plant life was left undisturbed.
And finally to John Brebner whose talents with camera and video,
promoted, recorded and distributed the event to the Friends
website and Facebook.
To all, I say thank you.
Don Metcalf
Sandfest Coordinator
Top to bottom: Sandfest 2015; Image 158142, 15-8145, 15-8190
page 7
Events in the Park, Summer 2015
A wonderful season, with a variety of events,
from our annual favourite, Sandfest in June,
through Theatre in the Park, Lakeshore Lodge
Day and our newest event, Sandbanks New
Waves Festival that had its second successful
(despite rain!) year at the Park.
Theatre in the Park, with Zac and Hannah; Images 15-8704, 15-8687
Lakeland Lodge Anchor Ceremony, Keith MacDonald with Diane Denys-Wenn;
group photo; Images 15-8088, 15-8086
Sunset at Sandbanks Beach; Image 15-8383a
Park Store and Grill and
Dunes Grill and Patio
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Lakeshore Lodge Day, Park Staff in 1890's costume; Images 15-9827, 15-9964
178 Main Street
Picton, ON
K0K 2T0
Tel: 613-476-7418
www.pec.on.ca/williamson
13370 Loyalist Parkway
R.R. # 1, Picton, ON
K0K 2T0
Tel: 613.476.4888
www.blackprincewinery.com
Above: Sandbanks New Waves Festival; children, musician Sarah Harmer; Images
15-1038,15-1128
Below: Sandbanks Fun Run, Runners and Friends' volunteers; Images 15-1161,
15-1244
page 8
Please support our local advertisers!
Welch LLP
LLP
Chartered Accountants
290 Main Street,
Picton, ON
Tel: 613.476.3283
Charlie Thompson
Partner
www.welchllp.com
Picton Home Hardware Building Centre
13544 Loyalist Parkway
Picton, ON
K0K 2T0
Tel: 613-476.7497
Canoeing on the Outlet River, Image 15-9515a
Contact Us:
by mail:
Friends of Sandbanks
P.O. Box 22007, 97 Main Street
Picton, ON K0K 0A0
email:
[email protected]
www.homehardware.ca
239 Main Street,
Picton, Ontario
K0K 2T0
Visit us:
Tel: 613.476.3037
Website:
friendsofsandbanks.org
Facebook:
facebook.com/friendsofsandbanks
www.PictonBookstore.com
2015 Board of Directors and Committee Members
Join us:
Mark Despault
Chair
John Dreschler
Vice-Chair
Want to join? It's only $10.00/year for individuals,
$15.00 for families!
Brian McLaughlin
Treasurer
Don Metcalf
Secretary
Penny Sipkes
Past Chair
Agneta Sand
Director, Nature Shop Co-Manager
Janet Mooney
Director, Nature Shop Co-Manager
Neil Sipkes
Membership Coordinator
John Brebner
Newsletter and Media Relations
Online application form coming soon... printed form
is available on our website...
You'll receive this quarterly emailed Newsletter, and
a 10% discount at our Nature Shop in the Park!
Registered Canadian Charity:
The Friends of Sandbanks Park
BN: 893935767RR001
Unless otherwise noted, all images © John A. Brebner
Newsletter and content © 2015 Friends of Sandbanks Park