In 1984, 12 women sat around a table to plan a new project following a successful fundraising campaign.
What they came up with – the Senior League Endowment Society of Collingwood Inc. – was a mouthful to say, however their intent was to turn their focus to the preservation of natural heritage features. Forty years later, the group still stands – now as the Nature League – celebrating 40 years of advocacy and education.
“It was 12 women focusing on the environment,” said Douglas Lynch, current president of Nature League.
Lynch has been a member of the group for two years, himself moving to the area three years ago.
“The initial focus was on education...about what’s in this area in terms of natural resources and what we need to preserve,” he said.
One key early initiative of the club was to raise funds for the purchase and protection of the Feversham Gorge, which cost more than $110,000 back in 1987. Once the league raised the funds to purchase the land, it was placed under the stewardship of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority.
“If you go to the Gorge, you’ll see a plaque there that mentions the society. It was a big project,” said Lynch.
After that, the group focused a lot of their time on the Silver Creek Wetlands and the need to protect it from development. In the 1990s, some Senior League members formed off-shoot group the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust, to take a more active role in environmental issues.
In 2004, the club officially changed its name to Nature League.
“The new name aligned with our goals: to conserve the environment that’s there and to protect it,” said Lynch. “In this day and age, it’s becoming more difficult because growth and climate change are impacting us.”
The logo for the league, designed by member John Capon, was inspired by the group’s fight to save the Silver Creek Wetlands and shows a Great White Egret, which nests in the area.
Today, the organization pursues environmental change in three key ways: through fundraising, education and outdoor activities. Regional meetings are held in the spring and fall.
Through fundraising, the group doles out Environmental Awards to the four high schools in South Georgian Bay estimating they’ve handed out $16,000, they’ve donated $3,000 for the maintenance of Beautiful Joe Park in Meaford and the ECO Park in Stayner, and they’ve sponsored 24 local students to attend the Ontario Nature Youth Summit over the years.
In education, the club offers talks on a variety of environment issues such as sustainable agriculture, recycling and endangered species. The group organizes prevention activities such as garlic mustard pulls, phragmites removal and garbage cleanup.
Outdoor activities hosted by the group include nature walks, hikes, snowshoeing, potlucks, barbecues, excursions and picnics.
“It should also be fun. If it’s fun, hopefully we’ll get more people,” said Lynch.
During COVID-19, Lynch said the group’s membership took a bit of a dive, but these days the group boasts about 100 members. He said he’d like to increase that number, and get more young people involved in the work of the non-profit.
“We’re in a time now where people should be more environmentally aware,” he said. “With the amount of development taking place, you’d think there would be more.”
When asked which environmental issues he’d like to see the towns take more action on, Lynch said flooding and drainage is a major one.
“We continue to move forward. We’re not going to give up,” said Lynch.
For more information on Nature League, click here.
