Quidi Vidi Lake Clean-Up

We are hosting a public clean-up at Quidi Vidi Lake
Sunday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, August 11, 2024!
All members of the public are welcome to help clean up Quidi Vidi Lake!
We will have trash grabbers, garbage bags, and work gloves!
Please come prepared with a reusable water bottle, sun protection, and sturdy footwear.
Meet on the corner of Clancey Drive and Carnell Drive across the road from Dominion parking lot.
 

Fruit Tree Planting With Funders McInnis Cooper Law

We had a great day this week at the Aldershot Community Garden planting Damson Plum and Serviceberry fruit trees with McInnis Cooper Law Firm! Fruit trees were locally purchased from Murray’s Garden Centre from the gracious donations of McInnis Cooper Law Firm.
 
In total, we planted 13 fruit trees that will provide a free local food source to our community! We selected the Aldershot Community Garden due to the garden’s close proximity to our new office space at the Hub on Merrymeeting Road.
 
Both Damson Plum and Serviceberry are hardy fruit trees that can withstand the harsh weather we are dealt during St. John’s winters! Damson Plum are a delicious plum as is, but are most prized for the complex sweet and sour flavour that makes them an excellent hero to your jams and chutneys! Serviceberries also known as Juneberry, Shadbush, Saskatoon berry… (and more), are like a combination between an apple and a blueberry! Serviceberries are also excellent in preserves, but our preferred method is to add a handful to your morning pancakes or muffins!
 
McInnis Cooper Fruit Tree Planting

ENGO Conference 2024

Last week went by fast helping organize the third annual ENGO conference! All was made possible thanks to the dedicated volunteers, ENGO attendees, engaged members of the public, and the Office of Public Engagement at Memorial University!

Thank you to all organizations who attended and built up our network of environmental groups across this beautiful province, inlcuding Nature NL, Birds Canada, Stewardship Associations of Municipalities, Indian Bay Ecosystems Corporation, The Fluvarium, Conservation Corps NL, EcoSchools Canada, Fishing For Success, Ducks Unlimited, CPAWS-NL, Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network, Holdfast NL Seaweed, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation, and more!

Thank you to Hungry Heart Cafe and Catering for the delicious foods! Thank you to First Light NL for building compassion in the environmental sector and sharing the Indigenous cultures from across the land where we graciously live and work! Thank you to the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council for updating us on the latest news on the protected areas plan for the island of Newfoundland!

Events included a career panel, organizational presentations, nocturnal owl learning, fluvarium science education tour, speed dating (networking), lunch and learn pathways for fundraising, world cafe, Indigenous cultural diversity training, updates from the WERAC, and finally an open house!

Newfoundland and Labrador Science Fair

Aquatic Conservation Initiative annually judges the Newfoundland and Labrador Science Fair. We reward a $50.00 reward to a science fair project that incorporates ideas to better conserve our environment, waterways, coastal, and marine ecosystems at the junior, intermediate, and senior levels. Congratulations to the following.

Senior Level: Andersen McGrath – St. Bonaventure’s College – How to Beet Ice

Intermediate Level: Melody Tang and Lucia Chen – St. Paul’s Junior High – The Effect of Masks on Marine Microplastic Pollution

Junior Level: Andersen McGrath – St. Bonaventure’s College – How to Beet Ice

Memorial University Biology & Ocean Sciences Open House

We attended the Biology and Ocean Sciences Open House at Memorial University of Newfoundand and Labrador. At this event we connected with undergraduate and graduate students alike to chat about career goals, current volunteer opportunities, and what conservation work Aquatic Conservation Initative does across the island of Newfoundland.