Trans Canada Trail Bio Kit Letter

7/28/2019 Trans Canada Trail Bio Kit Letter

1/19

Photo:TCTSlaveRiver,N.W.T.

PRODUCTIONTEAM

Production:TransCanadaTrailandBiosphre,EnvironmentCanadaResearchandcoordination:EtienneAngersandJaneMurphyWriting:EtienneAngers

Triptychphotoonfrontcover:Jean-FranoisBergeron/EnvirofotoImageswithnovisiblecreditsarefromiStockphoto.

Acknowledgements: DanAndrews,YvesBilodeau,JulieBrouard,BronwenBuck,Andr

Champoux,AnnDacres,TimHoskin,ElizabethKilvert,JeanLanglais,ChantalLepire,MargaretMofford,WesMoon,JohnNisbet,DominiquePelletier,CatherinePinard,CarolynRing-Ade,Charles-AndrRoy,RichardSencal,AndrewSpringandeveryoneelsewhocontributeddiscerningsuggestionsandcommentsduringtheproductionofthisBioKit.

AgenerousdonationfromLoblawCompaniesLimitedhasbeenprovidedinsupportoftheTransCanadaTrailBioKitproject.

Aussidisponibleenfranaissousletitre:BioTroussesentierTranscanadien

Printedonrecycledpaperusingvegetable-baseddyes

HerMajestytheQueeninRightofCanada,representedbytheMinisteroftheEnvironment,2011

CatalogNo.:En154-64/2011E-PDFISBN:978-1-100-18937-6

Legaldeposit:LibraryandArchivesCanada,2011


2/19

Photo: Jane Murphy Discovering the Trans Canada Trail, N.B.

The Biosphre, Montral

Photo: EnvironmentCanada

Photo: Jean-Franois Bergeron/Enviro oto Charlevoix, Que.

Photo:DanaMeise

Reconnect with your environment...

A TRAIL TO EXPLORE

The Trans Canada Trail is the longest network o

trails in the world. Once completed, it will extendover 22,000 kilometres between the Atlantic,Pacic and Arctic Oceans. Millions o Canadiansand visitors use it or hiking, cycling, skiing,

horseback riding, canoeing and snowmobiling.The Trail provides countless possibilities toexplore Canadas biodiversity.

Environment Canadas Biosphre encouragescitizens to take action and get involved in

environmental issues. In addition to presenting exhibitions

and special events, the Biosphre develops educationaland awareness-raising products or a diverse clienteleacross Canada and is a recognized clearinghouse or

environmental inormation.

The Biosphre, Environment Museum and Trans Canada Trail

are providing this activity kit to help you explore the Trailanywhere in Canada all year round.

How the BioKit Works1. Choose a section o the Trans Canada Trail near your home. You may use

the Locate Trail tool on the Trail website to help you.

2. Take your material: GPS device (optional), magniying glass, binoculars, camera,pencil and clipboard.3. Head towards the chosen section. Once there, begin your outing and complete

the BioKit activities on the ollowing pages.

4. Upon your return, discuss your outing with other people and record the resultso your diagnosis on the Web.

In the electronic version o this document, available on the BioKits website,

highlighted words are hyperlinks to a website.

ec.gc.ca/biospheretctrail.ca

Four Seasons of Fun for the Whole Family!
http://www.tctrail.ca/tlocator/tlocator_en.htmlhttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFZD99Fhttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFZD99Fhttp://www.tctrail.ca/tlocator/tlocator_en.html


3/19

Name osection visited: __________________________

Date: ___________________________________

Departure time:__________________________

Return time: _____________________________

GPS coordinates: _________________________(optional)

Modern explorersleave no trace!

Use the seven principlesof the Leave No Traceprogram, as a guideline

to help reduce theimpact of your outdoor

activities on the Trailenvironment.

1 Plan ahead andprepare.

2 Travel and campon durable suraces.

3 Dispose o waste

properly.

4 Leave what you nd.

5 Minimize campreimpacts.

6 Respect wildlie.

7 Be considerateo others.

WEATHER

Temperature: _____________________ C

Are you ready toexplore the longest trail

in the world?

n Cloudy

n Sunny

n Snowyn Rainy

n Partly cloudy

n Windy

Hi there! Im Blaze!

Im the Trans Canada Trail blazer!

Look for me on every page and

Ill point you in the right direction as youexplore the Trans Canada Trail.

Its a Go!
http://www.leavenotrace.ca/homehttp://www.leavenotrace.ca/home


4/19

Illustration: Dominique Pelletier

na

ng

nd

nk

ni

nn

n

o

ne

nb

nl

nj

nh

nc

nf

nm

The Trans Canada Trail offers a beautiful arrayof natural and cultural diversity along its route. Test your sense of observationand try to locate the different elements in the image all along your expedition.

Its easy to go out and explore theTrans Canada Trail no matter where you are!For 80% o Canadians, the Trail is less than30 minutes away rom their home.

a Kayaker

b Cyclist

c Snowmobiler

d Hiker

e Horseback rider

f Snowshoer

g Person in wheelchair

h Historic site

i Group on an outing

j Insect

k Shrub

l Mushroom

m Conifer

n Deciduous tree

o Mammal

My favorite place on the Trail:

_______________________

Discover Your Trail


5/19

Photo: TCT* Lower River Passage, N.B.

Photo: TCT

Conederation Trail, P.E.I.Photo:TourismP.E.I./LouiseVessey

*TCT = Trans Canada Trail

Youre finally

on the Trail!

By the way,

what is a trail?

A trail is much more than just an access lane!It can be used to:

Getbacktonature

Traveltoworkorschool

Explorecommunities

Getbackintoshape

Learnaboutourhistory

And why are you on the Trail?

________________________________________

________________________________________

You know youreon the Trail when

you see this logo!

A TRAIL FOR BIODIVERSITYPlants and animals also have their own trails

that they use or nding ood, nding a mate,

and getting around. They circulate on what areknown as biological corridors. These vegetationstrips are very important or maintaining

biodiversity.

I you were an animal, could you easily travelalong the Trans Canada Trail? I so, you may also

be on a biological corridor.

Come ace to ace with the signs!Found all along the Trail, Discovery Panelsprovide inormation on the surrounding wildlie

and plants. Keep your eyes open!

Painted turtle

Grey wol

Heres the Trail!


6/19

Photo: Betty Anne Graves Ban Legacy Trail, Alta.

Did you know...

When you turn out your lights at night, you help migrating birds. Some use thestars to navigate at night. Unfortunately, city lights sometimes cause them to lose

their way and they use up their energy going in the wrong direction.

Where are you coming rom?

Can you indicate in which direction your house is ound?

____________________________________________________

Where are you?

What is derived rom nature?

_____________________________________________________

What was modied by humans?

_____________________________________________________

What was this section o the Trail in the past?

_____________________________________________________

Where are you headed?

Finding north enables explorers to nd their way anduse a map properly. But how can you manage withouta compass? Here are three methods!

A watch with hands

Holding your watch fat, point the hour hand towards the sun.

South is located between the hour hand and 12 oclock, and

north is in the opposite direction.

With the help o a shadow

Using a stone or any other object, mark the location wherethe shadow o a pole or branch planted in the ground ends.

Wait teen minutes and then place a second stone wherethe shadow now ends. Connect both stones with a line. Therst stone indicates the west and the second the east.

In relation to the sun

The sun rises in the east, is located south at noon

and sets in the west.

Ater you completedone o the three activities,

use this compass to ndthe cardinal points.

When you go off on anadventure, its important to

ask yourself where you came

from, where you are and

where youre headed!

Points of Reference


7/19

Bats situate themselves by emitting

high-pitched cries that humans cannot hear:

ultrasounds. These cries bounce o the various

surrounding objects. The bat perceives this echo and

can easily locate in mid-air the insects it eeds on.

This is called echolocation.

A polar bears sense o smell is highly

developed: it can easily detect the presence

o a seal more than a kilometre away!

Near-blind

like most moles,

the star-nosed mole

uses its tentacles to

easily fnd its ood

beneath the earth.

These tentacles are

believed to be six times

more sensitive to touchthan your hands are!

Test your senses with these activities and, at thesame time, compare them with the senses o dierent Canadian animals.

HEARINGHold your breath and identiy the sounds around you.

Sounds o other Trail users: ______________________________

Sounds o nature: _____________________________________

SMELLHave your companions try to guess a natural element on the Trailsimply by its odour and by placing it under their nose. Be creative:

choose a blade o grass, some moss or a damp lea!

TOUCHUsing your hands, locate the object in nature that is

the smoothest, the roughest, the spikiest.

And i you were to tickle someone, what would you choose?

________________________________________________

Skilful adventurers

must use all of their

senses to fully explore

the Trail!

Try echolocation! 1. Blindold a person inyour group to be the bat. 2.The rest o the group will be insects.3. The bat repeatedly calls out Beep, Beep. 4. The insectsmust respond Buzz, Buzz. 5. The bat tries to catch an insect.

Little brown bat

The Trail from Another Viewpoint


8/19

Photo: Jamie Bastedo Black bear, N.W.T.

Photo: 123RF

Conederation Trail, P.E.I.Kettle Valley Rail Trail, B.C.Montral, Que.Near Penetanguishene, Ont.

Photo: Michael NesbittPhoto: Bruce ObeePhoto: Dana MeisePhoto: Dan Andrews

Did you know...

The coat colour of the snowshoehare changes with the seasons soit can hide from its predators. Frombrown in the summertime, it becomes

entirely white in the winter.

One trail, our versions I you passed through here during another season, what would be dierent?

Colour code

Among animals, bright colours are used to seduce or to signaldanger, whereas discreet colours help or camoufage and

concealment or to hunt prey.

I you were an animal, what colour would you be?

________________________________________

On a trail!Keep your eyes open near muddy or snow-

covered areas o the Trail. No matter the season,youll probably nd some tracks made byanimals or by Trail users.

What ootprints did you see on the Trail?

_____________________________________

Colours:

Which colour is the least common?

_________________________________________

And the most common?

_________________________________________

Shapes:

Can you see other shapes?

_________________________________________

No matter the

season, the Trail

will unveil all of its

colours and shapes

to you! Use your

eagle eyes to find

the following natural

elements.

The Trail Year-round


9/19

Photo: Travel Alberta Ban, Alta.

A healthy ecosystem cleanstheairandwater, producesoxygen,

trapscarbondioxidegas, controlsinsectsandanimal

pests naturally,

encouragespollination, helpscontrolfloodinganderosion,

producesfertilesoil, playsanimportantrole

in the economy, healthand food safety.

These are services

that the public wouldotherwise pay or.

... a bird?Stand upright on a raised area such as

a rock, a bench or a hill, and fy away! As a bird:

Where do you build your nest?

____________________________________________

What do you eat?

____________________________________________

... a tree?First nd a place to take root!

Then spread out your arms to makebranches. Now youre a big tree:

What plants or animals seek

shelter on your trunk or branches?

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Are the other trees similar to you?

Why?

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

... an ant?Find a little patch o grass along the trail. Now get down on all

ours! Explore this site in great detail as though you were an ant:

How many plant species do you see?

____________________________________________

Are there any other tiny creatures around?

____________________________________________

As a signpost, I discover

the world my way: at trailintersections. What would

I see if I explored it

in the form of...

Small,Medium and Large Explorers!


10/19


11/19

Photo: Environment Canada

Photo: Harold Sellers

Attempt to locate a plant or animal that has

adapted to its environment in a unique way.

What did you fnd?

_______________________________________

The tremendous diversity

and adaptation capacity of

species allow life to exist in

all parts of the country, and

by means that are sometimesquite astounding!

IF YOU WERE AN EXPLORER, WHAT NEW ABILITYWOULD YOU INVENT TO EASILY EXPLORE:

The mountains? ______________

The Arctic?___________________

Underwater lie? ______________

The orest? __________________

The Canada lynxhas very large eetcovered with coarse hairthat enable it to travelover thick snow, likesnowshoes.

Here are a ew original species you may see along the Trail:

Skunk cabbageis one o the only knownplants able to produceheat. By bringing itstemperature to morethan 20C over that othe ambient air, it manages

to melt the snow in springor early blooming!

The wood frogcan easily survive eveni its body temperaturedrops below the reezingpoint: its blood contains100 times more sugar thanthat o humans, preventingit rom reezing!

Cacti in Canada?You bet! Four species haveadapted to the countrysconditions. Brittlepricklypear is ound romBritish Columbia to Ontarioand is one o the cacti that

grows the urthest north.

Celebrate Diversity!


12/19

Photo: Chantal Lepire

Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org The Trail will lead you through the

heart of the countrys major cities.

A unique biodiversity can be found

here if you know where to look

for it. This is the perfect mission

for an urban explorer!

Take a close look atthe cracks on the ground.You may come across thebroad-leaved plantain,a species commonlyound in majorCanadian cities.

With their agile hands

and their ability to eat just

about anything, raccoons have

adapted to city living.

So, what did you see?Plants: _______________________

Animals: _____________________

City streets are oten tree-lined. Drawthe leaves and bark o your avourite one.You can try to identiy it upon your return.

PROWLING FOR LICHENSDid you know that the type and amount o lichens growing on tree trunkscan tell us about the air quality? Most lichens are sensitive to air quality and

deteriorate when air pollution levels are high.

Take a look at the tree trunks around you.

Do you see any lichens? ________________________________________

Do you see dierent types o lichens? ____________________________

Lichen: composed o a ungus and an alga livingin symbiosis (a relationship that benets both).

Lichen orms a clump, sometimes coloured,

on tree trunks and rocks.

The Secret Life of Cities
http://www.treecanada.ca/site/apps/trees/index.phphttp://www.treecanada.ca/site/apps/trees/index.php


13/19

Photo: Klaus Bolte,CFS-SCF, NRCan-RNCan

Photo: T. Wells, DFO-MPO

Photo: Jan Samanek,

State Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org

Here are several examples of

invasive alien species found in

Canada. Have you seen them?

European green crabFound on Canadas east and west coasts

since the 1950s, the European green crabcauses signicant damage to mollusc and

crustacean populations. It also hunts thecommon crab, an indigenous species.

Leay spurgeFound mainly in the Prairies,

the leay spurge is a ruthless enemyo biodiversity. Its roots even produce

a substance that inhibits the growth

o other nearby plants! In addition,its sap may irritate human skin

and can poison livestock.

Emerald ash borerDetected in Quebec and Ontarioin 2002, this insect has already caused

the death o millions o ash trees inAmerica. Its larvae bore tunnels

under the bark, which prevent thesap rom circulating, causing thedeath o the tree.

Common buckthornOriginally rom Europe, this largebush grows very densely, inhibiting

the growth o all other plants. Even

when you cut it, its branches will growback again rom the stump withouta problem.

Introduced to a region by accidentor on purpose, these plants and animalsrepresent a major threat to biodiversity

and are very hard to control.

Advice on fightingagainst invasive alienspecies

Donttransportrewoodfromone region to another; it maycontain invasive insects.

Keepyourgardeninbloomwith local species.

Cleanyouroutdoor

equipment regularly to preventdispersal of plant seeds.

Beawareoftheinvasive species foundin your region.

Dontbringbackanyfruits,vegetables, plants or animals

from your trips abroad.

Intrusive Travellers


14/19

The small whiteladys-slipper is at risk in Canada.

Photo: David R. McAdoo, Lady Bird Johnson Wildfower Center

Strength in diversitySpecies diversity allows an ecosystem to better resist disruptions, such as

disease or natural disaster. This is why every species, big or small, is important.

Is there a species at risk in your region? _______________________

I the answer is yes, which one? ______________________________

What happens to you iPartoftheTrailisclosedtobuildhomes?

Agreatmanyofyouarepickedtomakebouquets?

Anewplanttakesupallthespaceandputsyouintheshade?

Contaminatedwatermakesyousick?

Thetemperatureinyourregionbecomestoohighforyou?

IFTHERESAWILL,THERESAWAY!Dierent measures have improved the status o these species at risk in recent years:

Whooping Crane Swift fox Peregrine Falcon Eastern Bluebird

Canada has more than 500 species at

risk. Why? To find out, pretend you are

an imaginary flower, the Transcanadensitrailium, which only grows beside the

Trans Canada Trail!

Main causes of biodiversity loss

Habitatloss

Overharvestingofnatural resources

Pollution

Introductionofinvasive

alien species Climatechange

United We Stand!

A


15/19

0 250 500 750 1000

km

YUKON

Iqaluit

Yellowknife

Whitehorse

Tuktoyaktuk

NEWFOUNDLAND

AND LABRADOR

QUEBEC

ONTARIO

MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

NUNAVUT

ALBERTA

BRITISH COLUMBIA

PRINCE EDWARD

ISLAND

NEW BRUNSWICK

Charlottetown

HalifaxFredericton

St. Johns

Qubec

Montral

Toronto

Winnipeg

Regina

Edmonton

Victoria

Vancouver

Ottawa

NOVA SCOTIA

United States

A

B

C

Photo: Jamie Bastedo

Photo: Jane Murphy

Photo: Bruce Obee

LegendTCT Land route TCT Water route Provincial

boundary

Ecozonesn Arctic Cordillera

n Atlantic Maritime

n Boreal Cordillera

n Boreal Plains

n Boreal Shield

n Hudson Plains

n Mixedwood Plains

n Montane Cordillera

n Northern Arctic

n Pacific Maritime

n Prairies

n Southern Arctic

n Taiga Cordillera

n Taiga Plains

n Taiga Shield

Your adventure is coming

to an end... but many other

wonders await you on the

Trail. What will your next

destination be?

A

B

C

The north end, in Tuktoyaktuk,

Northwest Territories, on the Arctic coast

The west end, in Victoria,

British Columbia, on the Pacifc coast

The east end, in St. Johns,

Newoundland and Labrador,

on the Atlantic coast

Canadas 15 terrestrial ecozones each have

unique eatures with varied wildlie and plant lie.

What ecozone are you in?

____________________________________

Dont Miss It

M Di i


16/19

Biking the Trail, Que. Photo: TCT

Black swallowtail caterpillar

Check the Things

boxes that apply Excellent! Not bad but... must improve!

General impression o the Trail

Diversity o Trail users

Presence o a wildlie corridor

Surrounding sounds

Biodiversity: plants and trees

Biodiversity: animals

Air quality

Presence o water

Invasive species control

Condition o trail surace

Recommendation: Enjoy your environmentand help preserve the

threatened species inyour area.

Choose one thing you

would like to improveand think up a easiblesolution.

Many heads are

better than one!Talk to people aboutyour concerns;

they might join yourimprovement eorts.

Now that you

have gathered

an abundance of

observations, use

them to reach your

own diagnosis about

the health of your

Trail by filling in the

chart opposite

on the Web.

Note: This diagnosis can be printed directly rom the

BioKits website and used or other visits on the Trail.

My Diagnosis

E Bi di it
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFZD99Fhttp://www.ec.gc.ca/biotrousses-biokits/default.asp?lang=En&n=C0269262-1http://www.ec.gc.ca/biotrousses-biokits/default.asp?lang=En&n=C0269262-1http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFZD99F


17/19

Northern Cardinal

Slave River, N.W.T.

Atikokan Trail, Ont.

Fredericton, N.B.

Photo:

TCT

Photo: Kirsten Spence

Photo: Jane Murphy

Common reed

Mackenzie River, N.W.T.

Photo: TCT

Maintain a yard thatwelcomes biodiversity.

Find out aboutthe activities heldon the Trail by thelocal organizationresponsible or it.

Participatein the activitiesorganized on the rstSaturday o June, onInternational Trails Day.

Create a supportiveenvironment or auna

with indigenous plants.

Learn about and practicethe seven principles oLeave No Trace.

It is estimated that millions o birdsall prey to cats each year in Canada.To help make your neighbourhoodmore bird-riendly:

Considerkeepingyourcatindoors,particularly rom dawn until dusk;

Setupsafebirdhousesandeeders that are not easilyaccessible to cats;

Promptlyreportanystray

or eral cats;

Turnoffanyexcesslightingat night.

Remove invasivealien plants.Compost outdoors

or indoors usingvermicomposting.

After your great expedition, its now

your turn to encourage biodiversity!

Whether on the Trail or at home, there

are plenty of actions you can take.

Encourage Biodiversity

Thi k B k
http://www.biodivcanada.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=002D699A-1http://www.tctrail.ca/Events1.phphttp://www.tctrail.ca/blog/?cat=32&language=enhttp://nature.ca/plnt/index_e.cfmhttp://www.leavenotrace.ca/homehttp://www.leavenotrace.ca/homehttp://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=220http://www.ec.gc.ca/education/default.asp?lang=En&n=BAE2878A-1http://www.eco-quartierpm.org/html_en/composting_vermi.htmlhttp://www.tctrail.ca/Events1.phphttp://nature.ca/plnt/index_e.cfmhttp://www.leavenotrace.ca/homehttp://www.eco-quartierpm.org/html_en/composting_vermi.htmlhttp://www.ec.gc.ca/education/default.asp?lang=En&n=BAE2878A-1http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=220http://www.tctrail.ca/blog/?cat=32&language=enhttp://www.biodivcanada.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=002D699A-1


18/19

Draw the route thatyou covered on the Trail.Note your discoveries: a magnicent bridge,

specic bird, unknown fower, etc.

You have explored

a section of the Trail

on the lookout for its

small wonders. As

a reminder of your

experience and in

order to share

it, its time to

create a mapof your outing.

Think Back on Your Outing


19/19

Photo: TCT Slave River, N.W.T.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Production:Trans Canada Trail and Biosphre, Environment CanadaResearch and coordination:Etienne Angers and Jane MurphyWriting:Etienne Angers

Triptych photo on front cover: Jean-Franois Bergeron/Enviro fotoImages with no visible credits are from iStockphoto.

Acknowledgements:Dan Andrews, Yves Bilodeau, Julie Brouard, Bronwen Buck, AndrChampoux, Ann Dacres, Tim Hoskin, Elizabeth Kilvert, Jean Langlais,Chantal Lepire, Margaret Mofford, Wes Moon, John Nisbet, DominiquePelletier, Catherine Pinard, Carolyn Ring-Ade, Charles-Andr Roy, RichardSencal, Andrew Spring and everyone else who contributed discerningsuggestions and comments during the production of this BioKit.

A generous donation fromLoblaw Companies Limited hasbeen provided in support of theTrans Canada Trail BioKit project.

Aussi disponible en franais sous le titre : BioTrousse sentier Transcanadien

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of the Environment, 2011

Catalog No.: En154-64/2011E-PDF ISBN: 978-1-100-18937-6

Legal deposit: Library and Archives Canada, 2011

Documents

Trans Canada Trail Bio Kit Letter