Do your part for nature for your chance
to WIN* a $1,000 NCC Prize Pack!Join Canadians from coast to coast to help nature with our Small Acts of Conservation challenge. Together, our collective small-scale efforts can provide a positive benefit for wildlife and their habitats across the country.
To get started, click on the challenges below. Each of the small acts within these challenges can help to protect and restore the natural habitats around us.
Making a conscious effort to spend more time outdoors can improve all areas of our lives. By setting aside time daily for nature, and encouraging others to do the same, we can foster a deeper connection to Canada’s wild spaces and species.Challenge: Spend an hour a day in nature.
1. Dedicate one hour a day for time in nature, such as visiting a natural area or park near you.
2. Plan a visit to one of NCC’s Nature Destinations. Learn more about the places to explore by visiting naturedestinations.ca.
3. Inspire others to spend an hour in nature by sharing your experience through a photo or video on social media, using #MySmallAct.
NCC is protecting natural spaces for Canadians to explore — now and well into the future. Our Nature Destinations program invites Canadians to discover some of Canada’s most unique and inspiring landscapes.
Learn more about NCC’s conservation efforts at www.natureconservancy.ca
Native bees, butterflies and other pollinators are the unsung heroes of our environment. They help the plants around us thrive, and there’s plenty we can do to support their important work. From creating habitats to growing native plants that attract pollinators, you can make your yard a sanctuary for these engines of our ecosystem.Challenge: Do your part for our native butterflies, bees and other pollinators by planting native wildflowers, grasses and shrubs in your garden.
1. Learn more about native gardening so you can grow native plants on your own to attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
2. Create spaces in your yard for native bees to nest and overwinter by placing dead tree branches among your garden plants and having open areas of soil in your garden.
3. Build a bee hotel.
4. Inspire others to help pollinators by learning more about them through NCC’s website and Land Lines blog. Share how you’re helping to do your part for Canada’s native pollinators, using #MySmallAct.
With your support, NCC hosts Conservation Volunteer events across the country. At some of these events, volunteers can learn about native butterflies, bees and other pollinators and help restore the habitats they need to survive.
Learn more about NCC’s conservation efforts at www.natureconservancy.ca
The health of Canada’s water is key to our well-being. Helping to prevent water pollution by avoiding chemicals on your lawn and reducing water runoff can greatly benefit nature and improve the quality of our environment.Challenge: Reduce water runoff from your yard or help restore a nearby watershed to improve the health of our lakes, rivers and streams.
1. Volunteer with us as a Conservation Volunteer and get involved in tree planting or other restoration projects that improve water quality.
2. Reduce water runoff from your property by installing rain barrels and directing water into your gardens or using porous surfaces for walkways, patios and driveways.
3. Avoid the use of pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn and pick up pet waste, as it can pollute local waterbodies.
4. Learn about how NCC is protecting watersheds across Canada by visiting our website. Share how you’re helping to do your part on social media using #MySmallAct.
With your support, NCC has protected freshwater habitats across the country for the benefit of wildlife and people for over 55 years. We are also restoring wetlands, forests and grasslands, which help filter and store water.
Learn more about NCC’s conservation efforts at www.natureconservancy.ca
Bats may be most commonly associated with a superhero, but did you know they are also fighting many dangers they can’t beat on their own? These often misunderstood mammals are facing many threats, including habitat loss and a fast-spreading introduced fungal disease called white-nose syndrome. Together we can help Canadian bats.Challenge: Shine the bat signal and do your part to help Canada’s declining bat populations.
1. Build and install a bat box.
2. Become a bat watcher by converting your smartphone into a bat detector.
3. If you have to remove bats from your house, use humane practices and/or keep them from re-entering your home.
4. Learn more about how you can do your part to protect bats, and share your story on social media by using #MySmallAct.
NCC is protecting habitat for bat species across Canada. We are also monitoring bat populations on our properties, and working with the Toronto Zoo on their Native Bat Conservation Program.
Learn more about NCC’s conservation efforts at www.natureconservancy.ca
Understanding our environment is key to loving and protecting it. Today, technology makes learning about plants and animals easier than ever. By uploading photos and connecting with a network of Canadian scientists and naturalists online, you can learn more about wildlife.Challenge: Use the power of technology to learn more about wildlife near you.
1. Use iNaturalist.ca (website or app), and upload photos of the plants and animals in your yard or nearby natural areas to learn more about these species.
2. Use iNaturalist.ca to identify invasive plants in your yard, then use NCC’s native species gardening guide to learn what species to replace them with.
Across Canada, NCC staff and volunteers inventory the plants and animals on our properties and remove any invasive species. By doing so, we’re improving habitats for native plants and animals.
Learn more about NCC’s conservation efforts at www.natureconservancy.ca
Interested in volunteering with us? We invite people of all ages to get involved with fun, hands-on volunteer projects that will benefit Canada’s natural spaces for years. Join our Conservation Volunteers program, a growing team dedicated to caring for Canada's natural places.