Ruiter Valley Land Trust

Keeping Track program

Is a training program in identification of the signs of animal presence. This innovative program, tried and tested in the United States, has been developed by Sue Morse, a well-known Vermont naturalist and founder of the organization Keeping Track. The monitoring program teaches citizens the scientific protocol to do an inventory of wildlife in their community.

In the long term, RVLT envisions setting up a Quebec chapter of Keeping Track and adapting it to the needs of local communities in the region. Such a program, by making scientific methods available to residents, creates a source of invaluable assistance to scientists, administrators and planners, concerned with wildlife preservation, as well as having a direct impact on the forest resource management of a whole area.

Wildlife education in the two Mansonville schools

This is our fifth year and is just a sheer delight to do. Other municipalities in the townships have taken our model to use in their schools. Workshops are also provided on a regular basis for adults

Workshops for adults with Sue Morse in October 2006

Environmental education in our schools workshop on mammals and their habitat

In early December 2006, 5th and 6th grade students from the Mansonville Elementary School and Le Baluchon school turned their outting on the Rivière Missisquoi-Nord peninsula into interesting discoveries. Equipped with compasses and binoculars, the kids took on to explore the peninsula looking for animals tracks and signs in this small reserve located in the hearth of the village.

On the right students from the Mansonville Elementary school , on the left students from Ecole le Baluchon

Photos Isabelle Gregoire

Animal tracks found on the snow cover, such as those of a fox, confirmed the evidence of animal presence. This was just the beginning of an amazing adventure as they ran into a huge moose skull, probably the remains of a hunter's prey that may have been dragged by a dog, a fox or a coyote. The students also noticed beaver teeth marks on branches by the river side, as well as fresh tracks of a red fox with its caracterial odor. Coyote tracks and numerous deer tracks were also clearly identified.

The excursions conducted by two Ruiter Valley Land Trust instructors, Isabelle Grégoire et Gaétan Champagne, were preceeded by a workshop in class that prepared the students to recognize animal tracks and observe nature's wonders. While combining fun with education, the excursions allowed the kids to understand that the presence of mammals can be a good indicator of the richness and health of local biodiversity. This reinforced the importance of habitat and ecosystems preservation for the protection of flora and fauna as a first step toward the protection of the environment for present and future generations.

Isabelle Grégoire

Environmental Education Program


	Keeping Track program Is a training program in identification of the signs of animal presence. This innovative program, tried and tested in the United States, has been developed by Sue Morse, a well-known Vermont naturalist and founder of the organization Keeping Track. The monitoring program teaches citizens the scientific protocol to do an inventory of wildlife in their community. In the long term, RVLT envisions setting up a Quebec chapter of Keeping Track and adapting it to the needs of local communities in the region. Such a program, by making scientific methods available to residents, creates a source of invaluable assistance to scientists, administrators and planners, concerned with wildlife preservation, as well as having a direct impact on the forest resource management of a whole area.	Wildlife education in the two Mansonville schools This is our fifth year and is just a sheer delight to do. Other municipalities in the townships have taken our model to use in their schools. Workshops are also provided on a regular basis for adults


			Workshops for adults with Sue Morse in October 2006

Environmental education in our schools workshop on mammals and their habitat In early December 2006, 5th and 6th grade students from the Mansonville Elementary School and Le Baluchon school turned their outting on the Rivière Missisquoi-Nord peninsula into interesting discoveries. Equipped with compasses and binoculars, the kids took on to explore the peninsula looking for animals tracks and signs in this small reserve located in the hearth of the village. On the right students from the Mansonville Elementary school , on the left students from Ecole le Baluchon Photos Isabelle Gregoire Animal tracks found on the snow cover, such as those of a fox, confirmed the evidence of animal presence. This was just the beginning of an amazing adventure as they ran into a huge moose skull, probably the remains of a hunter's prey that may have been dragged by a dog, a fox or a coyote. The students also noticed beaver teeth marks on branches by the river side, as well as fresh tracks of a red fox with its caracterial odor. Coyote tracks and numerous deer tracks were also clearly identified. The excursions conducted by two Ruiter Valley Land Trust instructors, Isabelle Grégoire et Gaétan Champagne, were preceeded by a workshop in class that prepared the students to recognize animal tracks and observe nature's wonders. While combining fun with education, the excursions allowed the kids to understand that the presence of mammals can be a good indicator of the richness and health of local biodiversity. This reinforced the importance of habitat and ecosystems preservation for the protection of flora and fauna as a first step toward the protection of the environment for present and future generations. Isabelle Grégoire Environmental Education Program