June 1 - Weekly Volunteer Email
Aaniin Everyone,
Nesting season officially started on Saturday! We received a call on the Hotline about a Painted Turtle nesting around 7:00 pm in Taylor Creek Park.
We have more than 270 volunteers this year. More than 160 are new volunteers! Volunteer Mentors will begin following up with volunteers to ensure everyone remembers to honour their three-hour-a-week commitment. Miigwetch!
SCHEDULE
Please sign up for shifts two weeks in advance. The schedule will change next week. It will include specific shift times. Please note that more than one person can sign up for the same shift. In fact, during peak nesting season, having multiple volunteers signed up for the same shift is helpful. Also, when adding your name, indicate if you plan to start at 7 a.m. next to your name.
6am to 9am
9am to 12pm
12pm to 3pm
3pm to 6pm
6pm to 9pm
We still need coverage for shifts in HP, Rennie, Smythe, Sam Smith and Humber this week and next. Miigwetch!
NEW 2026 VOLUNTEERS
When signing up for shifts, please use red font for your name
Please text the hotline to be added to Signal as soon as possible
If you haven't received your t-shirt yet please let us know; T-shirts/tank tops will be handed out after tomorrow's Indigenous Ways of Knowing training
INDIGENOUS WAYS OF KNOWING TRAINING
June 2nd - meet in front of the Grenadier Cafe in High Park
6:30pm to 8:30pm
MENTOR MEETING
June 4th 7pm to 8:30pm on Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81191000150?pwd=wv4aI0B8OOiwDzTllckZw39S1BrTPa.1
Meeting ID: 811 9100 0150
Passcode: 222823
MANUAL
Reminder to review the manual on the volunteer portal. Password is miigwetch.
NESTING TIMES:
Snapping turtles usually nest early in the morning. If you have a bike it would be great to have volunteers riding in the parks scouting roads and parks for nesting turtles. See the manual for more info!
WELCOME CANADA SUMMER JOBS NEW HIRES
We are thrilled to welcome Turtle Protectors Mentors, Pravar and Alex to our crew and new hires, Macie and Claudia.
TURTLE POPULATION STUDY UPDATE
Ethan and Dave caught 60 turtles at Brick Works (some of them were recaptures). In their first 2 days at High Park they caught 20 turtles (14 Snapping, 3 Painted and 2 RES).
They will be in High Park for the rest of the week. On Friday, they will share the plan for the following week. This is a great opportunity to learn more about turtles and to practice picking them up by helping release them back to water after their health checks.
HATCHLING RELEASE WEDNESDAY JUNE 3rd
Hatchlings that have spent time at Toronto Wildlife Centre will be released on June 3. Stay tuned for more details! A message will be posted in the General Communications group chat and specific park group chats.
FIRST ROAD INJURY
Sadly, a Snapping Turtle was hit on a road near Centennial Park. They had surgery and are recovering at TWC.
Miigwetch everyone for all of your support! With everyone's help we can protect more turtles this year!
We hope you all have a lovely week ahead!
Carolynne and Jenny
