Canada Travel News - Why Marsh Expands Eco-tour Porgram for Winter 2007

Midland, Ontario Canada. The Wye Marsh is expanding its successful summer eco-tour program to give guests and visitors the opportunity to explore winter in Ontario. Wye Marsh naturalists will guide visitors behind the scenes into the world of woodland and wetland research using snowshoes. Eco-tours will be approximately 3 hours in duration and will include a stop at a warm fire for hot chocolate and snacks. Tours start in January 2007, and continue through March on selected Saturdays and Sundays. Cost is $40.00 per person plus applicable tax and includes use of snowshoes. Additional times and dates can be personally arranged for groups of five or more. Scheduled dates and times can be viewed at Wye Marsh Winter Eco Tours.

One of the Wildlife Centre’s qualified and knowledgeable naturalist guides will lead visitors on a three-hour snowshoe adventure deep into the wooded areas of the 3600 acre Wye Marsh. Visitors may come face to face with forest creatures from beavers to deer, porcupines and chickadees that will eat right out of their hands. Winter is the best time for a personal look at the famous Trumpeter Swans numbering over 40 on any given day during the winter season.

With winter comes a new set of rules for animal survival and new ways to experience the excitement of nature in an ecologically friendly way.

Eco-tours will include:

* A three-hour (three - four km.) snowshoe trek (snowshoes provided-or bring your own)
* Hands-on winter animal tracking and tree identification
* Hands-on winter survival techniques plus bow and drill fire starting
* Research updates and swan information
* GPS workshop – You get to lead us home!
* Hot chocolate and hotdogs over an open fire in the woods

Learn about Canadian wildlife first hand through touch and feel experiences!

Our knowledgeable guides will take visitors through the problems associated with woodland and wetland management while discussing up-to-date research undertaken by the Wye Marsh staff. By learning the tips of tracking and birding, visitors will discover animal behaviours, characteristics and adaptations of some of Ontario’s most interesting animals and birds in their forest and marshland paradise.

Visitors will need: Water, snack, binoculars, weather appropriate clothing and good winter boots.

To reach the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre take Highway 400 to Highway 12 west to Midland, or take Highway 400 to Highway 93 to Highway 12 East. The Wye Marsh is located across from the Martyr’s Shrine, and beside Sainte Marie among the Hurons on Highway 12.

Reserve now for the outdoor winter eco-tour by calling 705-526-7809.