EASTERN ONTARIO, November 19, 2018 — Thanks to the hard work and fundraising efforts of the Friends of Foley Mountain, hundreds of students will be able to experience the wonder of Foley Mountain trails by snowshoe this winter. Forty-four new pairs of snowshoes arrived at the Conservation Area last week, just in time for winter programing.

Foley Mountain Conservation Area, owned and operated by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), welcomes over 2,500 students annually to learn about nature and their local environment. Winter programing has traditionally included the opportunity for students to experience one of the oldest forms of transportation in Canada. Students learn how to safely travel with snowshoes and, once comfortable, follow the snowshoe trail through the forest and try snowshoe games.

“Our snowshoe program has been very popular — which is amazing! But it means we need more shoes or have to replace worn equipment to accommodate the demand,” said Rebecca Whitman, Foley Mountain Area Supervisor and Outdoor Educator. “We are delighted to have partners like the Friends of Foley Mountain and Trailhead Kingston who want to help us maintain our programs and keep programs accessible to schools and students from Eastern Ontario.”

“The Friends of Foley Mountain are pleased to help make education programing at Foley Mountain more accessible to the communities it serves,” Rob Struthers, President of Friends of Foley Mountain. “We look to support actions that remove barriers and help more people get out into nature — through accessible trails, low program cost and special busing subsidies, supporting new program development like the Foley Mountain Forest School, and now, an increase in equipment. Children are our future and deserve our investments. It is with pride that the Friends of Foley Mountain continue to support RVCA in its education programs”

Foley Mountain’s snowshoe experience opens the door to an amazing winter learning for local students. Not only do these snowshoes allows classes to access the forest for outdoor learning, it also introduces students to a wonderful recreational activity. Snowshoes provide a great fitness and recreation option for the winter season.

Students learn snowshoeing techniques and trail etiquette along with important safety tips. Once comfortable, students follow the snowshoe trail to experience a winter wonderland of rugged Canadian Shield, hardwood forests, old growth white pine and yellow birch. And you never know what you may spy when out on the trails with one of Foley Mountain’s expert outdoor educators.

“Without the ongoing commitment from the Friends of Foley Mountain, we couldn’t work towards our goal of fostering a lifelong relationship between children and the natural world,” said Mrs. Whitman. “Thanks to the Friends, local youth can experience a wonderful adventure and learn best by doing.”

To learn more about the Friends of Foley Mountain and their fundraising initiatives, visit www.friendsoffoley.ca. To learn more about outdoor experiences at Foley Mountain Conservation Areas, visit www.rvca.ca.