Gamiing Nature Centre facts for kids
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| Founded | 1995 Lindsay, Ontario |
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| Founder | Mieke Schipper |
| Type | Charitable organization |
| Focus | Environmentalism |
| Location |
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Area served
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Southern Ontario |
| Method | Education, restoration, consultancy |
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Key people
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Volunteer Executive Director Mieke Schipper Projects Manager John Nolan Outdoor Education specialist Sandy Carrothers |
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Volunteers
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10-15 |
| Website | http://gamiing.org/ |
Gamiing Nature Centre (pronounced gaa'-min-j) is a special place located right on the western shore of Pigeon Lake in Ontario, Canada. It's like a school for nature, helping people learn about and protect our environment. Gamiing is a non-profit group, which means all the money it earns goes back into its projects, not to make a profit.
The centre was started in 1995 by Mieke Schipper, who is still a volunteer leader there today. The name "Gamiing" comes from the Ojibwe language and means 'At the Shore'. This name was chosen to respect the Indigenous people who first lived on this land and to highlight the centre's beautiful lakeside spot. The property covers 100 acres in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Gamiing's main goal is to teach people about how to live in a way that helps our lakes and their shores stay healthy. They work with everyone – from individuals to big community groups – to help them understand how to balance what humans need with what nature and wildlife need. Gamiing focuses on three main things: teaching about the environment, fixing up lake shores, and running a plant nursery. This nursery sells plants that are native to Southern Ontario, meaning they naturally grow in this area.
In 2009, the organization changed its name to 'Gamiing Nature Centre' from its older name.
Gamiing gets money through different grants and by holding fun events. They have golf tournaments and a Summer Lakeshore Music Festival. In 2009, they even hosted a "Green Golf Tournament," which was one of the first of its kind in Canada! Gamiing also helps young people who have finished school get experience in fields like parks, managing ecosystems, and marketing.
The centre also works hard to protect wildlife around Pigeon Lake. For example, they teamed up with the Trent–Severn Waterway to help bring back the homes for the Blanding's turtle, which is a threatened species.
Contents
What Gamiing Does
Gamiing Nature Centre works in many ways to help the environment. They focus on teaching, restoring natural areas, and offering advice.
Environmental Education
Gamiing offers many programs to teach people of all ages about nature. They help visitors understand how important it is to protect our lakes and the land around them. These programs often include hands-on activities, so you can learn by doing!
Lakeshore Restoration
One of Gamiing's big projects is restoring lakeshores. This means they work to bring back the natural plants and habitats along the edges of lakes. Healthy lakeshores are super important because they help keep the water clean and provide homes for many animals.
Native Plant Nursery
Gamiing runs a special nursery that grows and sells only native plants. These are plants that naturally belong in Southern Ontario. Using native plants helps local wildlife and keeps the ecosystem balanced. When you plant native species, you're helping to create a healthy environment for birds, insects, and other animals.
Community Projects
Gamiing often works with the community on important projects. These projects help improve the local environment and teach people about conservation.
Buckthorn Removal Project
One important project Gamiing has worked on is removing Buckthorn. This plant looks nice with its dark green leaves and berries, but it's not native to Ontario. It was brought here a long time ago and can spread very quickly. When Buckthorn grows, it takes over and pushes out native plants like maple and oak trees. Gamiing worked with students from Fleming College to help get rid of this invasive plant. This project helps protect the natural plants and trees that should be growing in the area.
