Nature Connection Summer Day Camp 2016

Hi all,
I wanted to let you know that I am leading a Nature Connection Summer Day Camp this summer for children aged 7-12.  I currently have a few spots remaining in my August camp.

Registration will end on July 27.

Please feel free to contact me Jen Neate with any questions by email at jen@spiritwalkers.ca or by phone (613) 792-3333.

See below for more details and/or check out the Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/NatureConnectionCamp/

Nature Connection Summer Day Camp 2016

DATE:               August 2-5
LOCATION:   Gatineau Park (Keogan Cabin parking lot)
AGES:               7-12
TIME:               9:30-3:30
COST:              $220 (tax included)

Nature Connection Summer Day Camp is an opportunity for children to experience themselves as an interconnected part of the natural world, as brothers and sisters to all living beings.  Together, we will move in the spirit of gratitude, respect and reverence for the sacredness of life around us.  As their mentor and guide, I will accompany children on their path of discovery, helping them to feel comfortable being themselves out in nature and sharing their gifts with the group.

Our days will be guided by curiosity, wonder and a keen drive to explore.  Some of our core routines will include:

Expanding our Senses
·        We will awaken and expand our senses using Owl Eyes, Deer Ears, Raccoon Touch and Dog Smell to inspire us to really sharpen our awareness.

Sit Spots
·        Through a growing relationship with their own special Sit Spots that they find during the week, children will have the opportunity to intimately experience the sights, sounds, smells, and textures in their particular spot in nature as they change with each visit.  This is fertile ground for deep connection with nature and with their own inner experience.

Wandering
·        Wandering as a group without time or destination creates an opportunity for children to follow their curiosity and to connect with nature according to their own interests and gifts.

Active and Cooperative Games
·        We will play a variety of active, running, jumping, moving games every day.  Animals and nature will be the inspiration for many of these.  Cooperative games will also be used to foster a strong group dynamic.

Storytelling
·        I will use stories throughout the week to inspire interest and curiosity on various subjects, to teach and to bring the group together to relax.

Sharing and Journaling
·        We will share the stories of our experience in our sit spots verbally or in writing or drawing.  This practice trains us to pay attention and allows the group to learn from the observations and experiences of others.  It also encourages self-confidence and deep listening skills in the group which help to validate each person’s experience.

Thanksgiving
·        Each day will begin and end with gratitude for the Earth, the Sun, the elements and all life, as well as for gifts we experienced during our day together.

The topics that we cover will include many of the following:

PLANTS
·        We will discover the amazing diversity of the plant world – trees, herbaceous plants, ferns and mosses to name a few.  Children will be introduced to food and healing plants as we gather herbs for bush tea or make a plantain poultice for an itchy bite.

MAMMALS & TRACKING
·        Looking for signs that they leave behind, we will discover the secret world of mammals in our forests.

BIRDS
·        Birds are the forest sentinels alerting all other animals to approaching danger.  We will learn to listen and look for the birds around us and practice moving invisibly through the forest in order to not raise the alarm.

INSECTS
·        Talk about diversity!  Whether sweeping through tall grass or looking under logs, we will be sure to meet many of the creatures in this group and marvel at their varied survival strategies.

AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES
·        A week in the forest wouldn’t be complete without a hunt for some of the forest’s elusive amphibians, the salamanders!  We will also look out for frogs by the water’s edge and snakes basking in warm, sunny places.

Every day will bring new discoveries as we awaken to the subtle rhythms and changes in the natural world around us and follow our curiosity wherever it may lead.

Online Reporting to the Ottawa Police Service

Subject: Online reporting with Ottawa Police Service
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:27:35 -0400
From: Dawn Neilly <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

Effective June 27, 2016, the Ottawa Police Service will no longer take reports over the phone for certain complaints. Complainants will be redirected and strongly encouraged to utilize the online reporting application available at http://www.ottawapolice.ca/.

For those complainants who do not have the necessary access and/or ability to submit a report online, a Call Centre agent will take the report by telephone.

Reports affected by this new online reporting feature are:

  • Theft
  • Lost property (with a visible S/N or distinct marking such as a custom engraving)
  • Mischief/damage to property
  • Theft from vehicle
  • Traffic complaints
  • Drug complaints
  • Fraud

Rationale:

The above-indicated reports have been earmarked as exclusive to online reporting. These changes are in accordance with the Service Initiative’s Demand Management Project, which aims to implement strategies and processes to improve demand management through the development and implementation of new business practices.


See also http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/contact-us/Online-Reporting.asp and http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/contact-us/FAQs-about-Online-Reporting.asp

Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for 2016-07-18

This week’s topics:

  • Witnesses sought – Car crash.
  • Missing girl.
  • Safety blitz results – OC Transpo bylaws enforced.

– Alex

—– Forwarded Message —–
Subject: Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for July 18
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2016 13:18:26 -0400
From: Dawn Neilly <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

Attached is the Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for July 18, 2016. Please feel free to pass it along to anyone who might be interested in receiving it. Any comments, information or requests to be added to or deleted from the list may be sent to wellingtoncpc@gmail.com.

Eileen Reardon
Volunteer, Wellington Community Police Centre
(613) 236-1222 x5870

NeighbourhoodWatch-2016-07-18.pdf

Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for 2016-07-11

This week’s topics:

  • Share the road – Cyclists can take whole lane in some situations.
  • Zero tolerance initiative – Byward Market area.
  • STEP in July – Cycling, red light running.
  • PREP information and test workshop for men and women.

– Alex

—– Forwarded Message —–
Subject: Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for July 11
Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2016 14:06:09 -0400
From: Dawn Neilly <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

Attached is the Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for July 11, 2016. Please feel free to pass it along to anyone who might be interested in receiving it. Any comments, information or requests to be added to or deleted from the list may be sent to wellingtoncpc@gmail.com.

Eileen Reardon
Volunteer, Wellington Community Police Centre
(613) 236-1222 x5870

NeighbourhoodWatch-2016-07-11.pdf

Brad Brooks Obituary

Joscelyn wrote on Thursday July 7 2016:

As many of you have heard, an active member of our community, Brad Brooks died unexpectedly on Thursday, June 30. Brad was the wife of Sarah and father to daughters Josie (13) and Lucy (10).

Although the tragic news has reached most people in our community, Brad’s family would like to make sure the community is aware of the memorial service that will be held at the West Chapel of Hulse Playfair & McGarry, 150 Woodroffe Avenue (at Richmond Road) on Saturday, July 9 at 1:30 pm. Reception to follow.

For those unable to attend the memorial service on Saturday, you are invited to visit at the West Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, on Friday (July 8) from 4:30-6:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Right to Play Canada, (http://www.righttoplay.ca/) respecting Brad’s dedication to empowering kids through sport, or to the Canadian Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.ca/), honouring the untimely deaths of many friends and family.

Obituary at http://www.hpmcgarry.ca/book-of-memories/2608266/Brooks-Bradley/obituary.php

Neighbourwoods Tree Inventory

On 02/07/16 06:28 PM, DANIEL BUCKLES wrote:
Neighbourwoods in Champlain Park is a new initiative of residents and neighbours in Champlain Park (Kitchissippi). It aims to foster neighbourhood stewardship of the trees in Champlain Park using a scientifically sound tree inventory protocol developed by Dr. Danijela Puric-Mladenovic and Dr. Andy Kenny (University of Toronto). The protocol is used by dozens of neighbourhoods in municipalities across Ontario. It starts with gathering information on trees, including species, size, location and condition. It is also a great way for residents to learn about the trees around us and get together with others contributing to community tree stewardship. Benefits from this information may include:

  • Estimating the economic benefits of trees and forest canopy at the neighbhourhood and household level;
  • Identifying spaces in the neighbourhood where new trees can be planted;
  • Identifying declining trees in need of attention;
  • Developing group actions such as collective contracting of arborists.

All are welcome to join in for an hour or a week as we complete the inventory for the community park, and expand outwards into the community. Volunteers may come to your door to explain what it is all about and seek your assistance. We need block ambassadors and people interested in learning about trees, so please contact Catherine Shearer (metshag@gmail.com) to get involved. Information on the broader set of environmental initiatives in the community is available on the CPCA website under “our association”.

Daniel Buckles

Neighbourwoods in Champlain Park – Initial meeting

Sorry for the short notice, but this seems best to catch most people before vacations take a lot of you out of town …

I attended a meeting in May hosted by Daniel Buckles and Adrian Bradley of the Urban Forest Green Spaces group.

Several initiatives were discussed that night including a tree inventory project. A number of you (along with some others) went to the Neighbourwoods weekend training session in early June and we have had several subsequent sessions to improve our skills in a group setting.  During these sessions, we started the actual inventory (location, species, size, condition) using the trees in the park.

The next step in “Neighbourwoods in Champlain Park” will be a meeting to organize the expansion of the inventory process.

Tuesday, 28 June @ 7pm in the Fieldhouse

This meeting will be for setting up teams for the actual inventory, data input, GPS marking, etc.  We expect to work block by block, in teams of 2-3 (or more).

EVEN IF YOU DID NOT GO TO THE TRAINING SESSION, we could still use your help.  You could work with some of those who were able to take the training, especially when they are do the inventory on your street.  You could serve as a block ambassador and introduce the team to your neighbours.

Catherine Shearer
Coordinator, Neighbourwoods in Champlain Park

Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for 2016-06-27

This week’s topics:

  • Security measures during “Three Amigos” visit.
  • OPS 2015 Annual Report now available – Slightly less crime last year.
  • Bank robbery suspect sought.
  • 2016 Ottawa Police Service Gala charities.
  • “One-metre” reader – Bike to car distance rule.

– Alex

—– Forwarded Message —–
Subject: Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for June 27
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2016 13:45:51 -0400
From: Dawn Neilly <wellingtoncpc@gmail.com>

Attached is the Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin for June 27, 2016. Please feel free to pass it along to anyone who might be interested in receiving it. Any comments, information or requests to be added to or deleted from the list may be sent to wellingtoncpc@gmail.com.

Eileen Reardon
Volunteer, Wellington Community Police Centre
(613) 236-1222 x5870

NeighbourhoodWatch-2016-06-27.pdf

Local Vandalism

Hello Champlain Park community members:

We have had a couple of incidences of vandalism via the use of projectiles into people’s homes through their front windows.

The first incident was reported to me on August 27 2015. The first incident appears to have been caused by the use of an air gun or pellet gun. The second, most recent incident, occurred on or about June 21 or 22 2016 around late evening around 11:00 pm. Both incidences occurred on Clearview Avenue. I have no information on what may have cause the second incident. Both resulted in serious damage, which will cost the homeowners.

I would ask that Champlain Park community members be on the look-out for anyone in the neighbourhood – as I’m sure you already do – who appears to be loitering. These two incidences, which resulted in damage to property, could simply be a result of bored youth. But, they could be a precursor to other property damage.

Destruction of property is of course not acceptable. We would ask that anyone who see something “out of the ordinary”, please contact me. Please provide me with all the details you are able to gather. If, however, your property is damaged, please report it to the Ottawa Police Service and let me know as well. The Ottawa Police Service will be able to better track these types of incidences when they are reported.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Sincerely,

Sarah Livermore
Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, Champlain Park
sarah.livermore@hotmail.com