There are about eight kilometers of hiking trail on the Elbow Lake property, traversing a variety of habitats: lakeshore, forest, wetland and rock barren. While the trained eye may recognize some of the Frontenac Arch’s significant species, even the most common and abundant species have a story to tell about their ecological role.

Thanks to generous funding from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, visitors will soon be able to learn more about the ecosystem dynamics around them as we develop smartphone apps for biodiversity and conservation education. The objective of this project is to transform our trails into interactive educational tools that provide learning opportunities in combination with an enjoyable outdoor activity for all ages of users. The TD FEF funds will cover staff salary for app development and trail maintenance, as well as interpretive signage and construction materials for a new boardwalk on our main loop (Red) trail. While these apps will initially be geared toward supporting the learning objectives of intermediate and high school science curricula, eventually we hope to expand this program to provide apps geared at adults and other casual day use visitors seeking self-use educational activities at ELEEC.

Summer 2014 will be an exciting one at the Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre! As trail management and app development moves ahead, check our website frequently for updates — and schedule in a visit to learn about the local ecology of this biodiversity hotspot.