Kitchener's Natural Areas Program (KNAP)

Upcoming Events

• Kitchener Natural Areas Program Earth Day Celebration
  Saturday, April 25 from 1 to 4 pm - Huron Natural Area, 801 Trillium Drive

  This family celebration includes building a KNAP Bird Box (available to the first 100 families), Kids KNAP Bird Silhouettes, Planting a  tree, nature walks and displays.

  Featuring the Canadian Raptor Conservancy with live birds of prey shows at 1, 2 & 3 pm.
  • Directions and more information
    
    
• Watch for KNAP to grow, starting in the fall of 2009
  Working with its partners the City is developing several new projects. Planning is now underway and the first projects will be launched in the fall of 2009. If you would like to be notified when these new projects come on board, send us an email (knap@kitchener.ca) or check back to this website in early September.

Introduction
Kitchener’s Natural Areas Program (KNAP) is about building relationships between people and natural areas. The goals of KNAP are to:

• engage the community in environmental stewardship projects
• educate people about Kitchener’s natural areas and
• create opportunities for people to experience nature in the city

In its first year (2006) KNAP held 15 stewardship activities with 225 community volunteers for a total of 770 hours. Activities included tree planting, invasive species control, ecological restoration, natural area cleanups and nature walks.

Kitchener’s Natural Areas
Kitchener has more than 850 hectares of natural area, ranging in size from 1 hectare to areas greater than 50 hectares. There are more than 75 natural areas in the city that make up 65% of the City’s park system. In our natural areas you can find; old growth trees, rare and endangered species, wetlands and cold water streams. They are valuable and important places providing social, economic and environmental benefits to the community. Dominated by native vegetation these areas include meadows, waterways, wetlands and woodlands.

• Map of Kitchener’s natural areas
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• More about Huron Natural Area

Stewardship

Stewardship Work Days
These are days for people to get active and get their hands dirty. Activities include tree planting, invasive species control, ecological restoration and monitoring, and natural area/stream clean ups. These project can vary from 2 hours, to projects that continue year after year.

Natural Area Stewards
Is a program that we are currently developing. It will be launched in the fall of 2007. This activity is for people who visit natural areas regularly. Volunteers act as second set of eyes for us while at the same time, carrying out some basic stewardship activities during the year (e.g litter pick-up, monitoring).

If you would like to learn more about these opportunities and how you can get involved contact the Stewardship and Education Coordinator.

Education

KNAP Factsheets provide information about our natural areas, human impacts and their management. Factsheets provide information and may deal with problems and issues affecting natural areas in Kitchener. Factsheets are being continuously added, so be sure to check back for new ones. See our current factsheets

KNAP’s Newsletter, the White Pine, is published in the spring and fall. It provides information on upcoming events, our achievements, and interesting facts about natural areas. See our current newsletters

Natural Area Park Series are brief information sheets on specific natural areas. Each sheet has a map, shows you how to get there, and provides interesting information about the natural area. See our first information sheet on Breithaupt Park

Getting Involved
Individuals \ Groups
There are several ways to get involved. Individuals and groups can participate in our public events, nature walks, volunteer as a natural area steward, or sign up for a Stewardship Work Day.  If you would like to find out more contact our Stewardship and Education Coordinator.

Schools
Through the year KNAP offers a number of opportunities for schools to participate in stewardship workdays. These workdays run from 2 to 6 hours in length. Activities include: tree planting, invasive species control, ecological restoration/monitoring, and natural area \stream clean ups.

Sponsorship/Donations
Individuals, organizations and businesses can support the development of KNAP. If you have an interest in learning how you can help us please contact us.

Resources
KNAP Factsheets

• Kitchener’s Natural Areas Program
• Natural Areas
• Spring Wildflowers
• Invasive Species

The White Pine (KNAP Newsletter)

• Spring 2008
• Spring 2006
• Fall 2006
• Spring 2007

KNAP Park Series

• Huron Natural Area
• Bird Watching in Homer Watson Park
• Cressman's Wood Trail - Homer Watson Park

Scientific Research

• Have Norway Maples Invaded Breithaupt Park?
• Managing an urban forest: Have street tree populations of Acer platanoides invaded local forested parks?

Other Helpful Links

• Kitchener Waterloo Field Naturalists
• Waterloo Stewardship Network
• Ontario Trillium Foundation
• Evergreen Foundation

FAQ
(coming soon)

More Inforamtion about KNAP
KNAP was created in 2006 by Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists, Waterloo Stewardship Network, and the City of Kitchener. The Ontario Trillium Foundation has provided two years of funding which supports the hiring of a Stewardship and Education Coordinator. This position is held by University co-op students. Funding from the City of Kitchener provides support for the stewardship and educational projects.

The Kitchener Waterloo Field Naturalists(KWFN) was founded in 1934. It goals are to: acquire and disseminate knowledge of natural history, protect and preserve wildlife, acquire lands for conservation, support public interest in nature, and encourage the wise management of natural areas. KWFN holds free meetings from September to May on the fourth Monday of each month, and holds informative outing to natural areas.

The Waterloo Stewardship Network is an independent organization that promotes and supports natural area stewardship within the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. It’s goal is to work with landowners, associations and agencies within the community to promote environmental stewardship of natural resources.
 
Other organizations involved in this project include: the University of Waterloo-Faculty of Environmental Studies, Grand River Conservation Authority, and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

Contact Us
Stewardship and Education Coordinator
Tel: 519-741-3400 ext. 3349
Email: knap@kitchener.ca