Friends and Neighbours
We’re not alone. Meet some of our friends and neighbours
who are also working hard to help you connect with nature.
Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust
With its mission to permanently protect land in the Thousand Islands Watershed region through acquisition or conservation agreements, and to achieve good land management through stewardship agreements and education, the TIWLT was originally created as the Canadian Thousand Islands Heritage Conservancy in 1993 when there were only 2 other land trusts in Canada. Since then, the Trust has achieved several notable accomplishments, including spearheading the successful establishment of the UNESCO Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve (see below), joined 22 other Ontario Land Trusts as a founding member to create the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, and helped to double the size of Thousand Islands National Park and grow Charleston Lake Provincial Park (see below) by a third of its size.
Frontenac Arch Biosphere
Initially nominated by the community in 2000, the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Region was designated as Canada's 12th biosphere region by the UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" programme in November 2002. It was re-designated in 2007, with a larger land area including Frontenac Provincial Park. The biosphere region overlaps with the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe (Algonquin) and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) lands and covers an area from Brockville and Gananoque, extending north of Kingston including Harrowsmith, Verona and Westport. It encompasses an area of approximately 2,700 sq. km.
Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative
Threshold Forest is located within the Frontenac Arch - a narrow bridge of land that connects the Algonquin Park area to the northwest with the Adirondack Park area to the southeast. This area from Algonquin to Adirondacks (A2A) is a unique bioregion that the Collaborative works to protect and enhance in order to provide a larger functioning ecosystem. To achieve this, the tireless efforts of the committee, volunteers, partners and donors are applied to the activities of trail designation, policy work, scientific research and information-sharing and community outreach and education.
Charleston Lake Provincial Park
Charleston Lake is our closest Provincial Park neighbour, just a 10 minute drive away. It’s an excellent park with a lot to enjoy including swimming, boating, fishing and wildlife viewing. There are 235 beautiful, large car campsites with lots of trees and privacy and 122 of them have power service. There are also 10 backcountry campsites. The washrooms are very clean, including the hot showers! There are 7 trails ranging in distance and difficulty and bikes are welcome in the park for getting around on park roads. There are scheduled activities including guided hikes and kids nature programs at no extra charge. There is a boat launch, park store, laundromat, picnic shelters and a playground. Canoe, kayak and stand up paddleboard rentals are also available and a great way to get to the several small beaches in the park, including a beach that is open to dogs! A large section of the park prohibits motor boats so swimming across to the island and even scuba diving is safe. Not much more you could ask for!
Cataraqui Conservation
Caring for the 3,800 square kilometres of the greater Cataraqui Watershed region, comprising 11 local watersheds from Greater Napanee in the west to Brockville in the east, Cataraqui Conservation is one of 36 conservation authorities in Ontario. Cataraqui Conservation is also home to a forest therapy walk program led by one of the first ANFT certified guides in Canada, Stana Luxford Oddie, who is also a Senior Conservation Educator.
Ontario Nature - Lost Bay Nature Reserve
Ontario Nature, founded in 1931, is one of the most important charitable, non-profit organizations protecting nature in Ontario. The organization represents more than 30,000 members and supporters and more than 150 member groups across Ontario. As one of Ontario’s leading land trusts, Ontario Nature stewards its nature reserve system with locally customized management plans. Just across the lake from Threshold Forest lies just such a reserve, the 238 hectare Lost Bay Nature Reserve.
MaryDonna Whyte
MaryDonna is a dear friend and colleague who is also a certified ANFT Forest Therapy Guide. MaryDonna is currently located in western Massachusetts. She has a formidable set of many health skills building on her core profession as a nurse practitioner. More recently, beyond Forest Therapy Guiding, MaryDonna has also become certified as a Wellness Coach, an Aromatherapist, and Intuitive Energy Medicine Practitioner. AND, she is also an excellent photographer!
Murphy Acres
Sarah Herr is a dear friend and colleague who is also a certified ANFT Forest Therapy Guide. Sarah and her husband Brent are currently located in the Muskoka area. Sarah is a kind and gentle soul and a great lover of the innocent creatures of the world that need our protection. Sarah and Brent are preparing to offer nature connection experiences on their 70 acre private forest, Murphy Acres, and Sarah blogs about the experience on their site, Our Wildlife Blog.
Toadstool Walks
Tam Willey is a dear friend and colleague who was also one of Ted’s 3 instructors during his ANFT training. Tam is currently located in the Boston area where she provides forest therapy walks and related services at the Arnold Arboretum and many other premier local nature venues. Tam is a very busy guide so check out her many walks and events on her website.
Among the Trees
Among the Trees is the online home for prefessional development and networking for guides. Founded by ANFT Guide, Nadine Mazzola, Among the Trees is a central part of the online home for forest bathing and therapy guides. Nadine is not just a guide though, she is also a trainer, mentor and advisor for ANFT and an award winning author. Her book, “Forest Bathing with Your Dog” combines the practice of forest therapy with the practice of walking our dogs.
Forest Bathing Finder
Forest Bathing Finder is a fantastic service that gives visitors a one stop portal to find forest bathing guides, walks and venues around the world. Founded by Alexis Abramson PhD, whose mother Phyllis, is an ANFT certified guide, the site is the leading way for guides to get the word out to the public. From anywhere in the world, visit Forest Bathing Finder to find the forest bathing services and providers near you.
Diva Design
If you need design work for your personal or business brand, website, or marketing materials, you can’t do better than working with Diva Design. The multi-talented Becca Maclean has tons of experience working with a wide range of businesses, doing a variety of projects - from websites to branding packages to print - in all different media! As you might have guessed, she created our beautiful whimsy tree logo and we are deeply grateful for Becca’s creation of our visual brand identity!