I am excited to give you a preview of the Centre for Continuing and Distance Education’s upcoming trip to Eastern Newfoundland in July 2011. This 10 day tour has delighted previous clients and promises to show you the best of Eastern Newfoundland. Excellent viewing, learning and photographic opportunities abound as we travel the Avalon Peninsula, the Bonavista Peninsula and Terra Nova National Park. We will see that the geography of Newfoundland is as diverse as its wildlife. Ocean shorelines, forests, barrens, farming communities and fishing villages all abound with natural and human history. Hiking and boat tours have been chosen to enhance your learning experience.
An information and slide presentation will be held:
January 16, 2011
Room 224/225 William’s Building
221 Cumberland Avenue N, Saskatoon
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Highlights of this ecological tour include:
- Cape Spear: The oldest surviving lighthouse; located at the most easterly point of land in North America.
- Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve: a hike to the rugged sea cliffs to view the impressions of marine creatures that lived more than 565 million years ago. These are the oldest multi celled fossils in North America and the only deepwater marine fossils of this age found anywhere in the world. This site one of the most important fossil sites of any kind in Canada.
- Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve: one of the largest, most accessible and spectacular seabird rookeries in the world, protecting hundreds of thousands of birds (including the beautiful Northern Gannet) who breed and nest on the sea stack and surrounding cliffs.
- The Colony of Avalon at Ferryland: is a working archaeological dig of a 17th century colony.
- Skerwink Trail: Hike one of North America’s most scenic hiking trails with spectacular ocean views, sea stacks and meadows.
- Bell Island Mine Museum and Underground Tour: Experience the history of Bell Island in the museum and embark on a walking tour of the underground shafts. Here you will experience what it was like to work underground.
And, of course, my favourites: Signal Hill, Petty Harbour, the Bonavista Lighthouse, St. John’s Botanical Garden, and a unique tour of the Centre for Marine Simulation at Memorial University.
Four exciting boat tours give us an intimate ocean awareness through the knowledge of expert local guides.
- Terra Nova National Park: a marine biology learning experience, this boat tour of scenic Newman Sound also studies the majestic bald eagle in its natural habitat and the natural and cultural history of the area.
- O’Brien’s Boat Tour: Sailing the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve provides excellent opportunities to view and photograph whales (Fin, Minke and Humpback) and pelagic birds. Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is North America's largest Atlantic puffin colony. Imagine 260,000 pairs nesting here. Also Murres, Razor-billed Auks, Guillemots, Leach’s Storm-petrels and Kittiwakes are present in the thousands.
- O’Brien’s Coastal Zodiac Tour: This zodiac tour of Witless Bay gives us time to experience breathtaking sea stacks and waterfalls. View a unique, natural wave-powered geyser.
- Witless Bay Zodiac Tour: a more customized tour of Witless Bay. Danny will provide a close encounter with the whales and birds of Witless Bay.
Lupines grow abundantly in Newfoundland but the ditches, bogs and fields are also alive with Columbine, wild orchids, pitcher plants and hundreds of other wildflowers giving the landscape a splash of colour and opportunities for us to explore!
Tour dates: July 26-August 6, 2011
Included in the tour fee:
- Lodging at Memorial University, St. John (single accommodation unless otherwise requested)
- Continental breakfast and lunches
- 4 boat tours and admission to scheduled activities
- Local transportation in a private chartered bus.
Deposit: $275.00 will hold your spot. Balance of payment to be made April 30, 2011. The tour size is limited to 15 participants so act quickly!
Registration deadline: April 30, 2011
Tour Guide: Leslie Tuchek - a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan Certificate in Ecological Education course and an award winning photographer.
Tour Guide: Leslie Tuchek - a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan Certificate in Ecological Education course and an award winning photographer.
Our tour is based out of St. John’s so, with the exception of one night, we will return to our base at Memorial University each evening.
A ‘Welcome Reception’ will be held for participants the evening of July 26th.
To register: (306) 966-5539
For more information: call (306) 982-2466 or check our website at www.ccde.usask.ca/go/ecoed
(If you have a particular interest in this tour, please, drop Leslie an email).
