On December 16, students from Delhi District Secondary School took part in a hands-on conservation workday at Trout Creek Nature Reserve, supporting habitat restoration efforts alongside Long Point Basin Land Trust staff and volunteer team know as the Tree Amigos.
The volunteer day focused on restoring 3.5 hectares of Trout Creek’s oak savanna corridor—a rare and increasingly threatened ecosystem in southern Ontario. Historically, sections of the property were planted with pine plantations. While once common practice, these plantings now limit native biodiversity. Current restoration work involves thinning and removing non-native and invasive trees to create space for native species and more resilient habitats.
After an on-site orientation, students learned how to identify and remove exotic and invasive conifers such as Red Pine, Scots Pine, and Norway Spruce which are not native to this area, along with other invasive species encountered during the day, including black locust and burning bush. Working in six small teams of approximately four students, participants removed invasive pine seedlings by hand and with manual tools. Two teams worked head-to-head in a friendly competition, adding energy and motivation to the day’s work.
By the end of the day, students had removed approximately 1,600 invasive seedlings, directly improving habitat conditions across the restoration area. In addition, 60 mature trees were identified and marked for future treatment or removal as part of the ongoing, phased restoration of the site.
Beyond the physical work, the day served as an outdoor classroom. Students gained practical experience in land stewardship, learned why certain species are removed as part of restoration, and saw firsthand how conservation actions today support healthier ecosystems over the long term.
Volunteer workdays like this highlight the power of community-based conservation. By engaging students directly in habitat restoration, we’re not only restoring land—we’re helping foster the next generation of environmental stewards. Here’s what some of the students shared about their experience in the field:
“I liked many parts about the trip including meeting the one and only Tree Amigos. They taught us how to cut trees . We had a really fun time and hope that future classes will too.” – Josh and Jayden
“I loved this trip! It was super fun and was even better with my friends. I had heard of a burning bush before but had never seen one so I though that was cool too. But overall, it was a great experience and I’d definitely go again.” – Mackenzie
“I really enjoyed this trip. I learned how much a species can impact an ecosystem and why it is important to get rid of them [invasives].” – Anonymous
We extend our sincere thanks to the students and educators from Delhi District Secondary School, the Tree Amigos, and everyone who contributed to a successful and impactful day at Trout Creek Nature Reserve.
The success of the workday was made possible in part through funding that helped cover transportation and personal protective equipment (PPE). We gratefully acknowledge support from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) through the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) – Forest and Tree Swamp (F&TS) program.
