Outdoor inspiration during lockdown

Even though we’re in pandemic lockdown, you can still get outside. Hike Nova Scotia has the ideas and information you need while staying close to home. 

“The Province has specifically told us to get outside, but to do that in our home communities,” says Janet Barlow, Hike NS Executive Director. “It’s crucial to do this to stay healthy – both physically and mentally. Go spend some time at a nearby park, trail or other greenspace.”

If you need inspiration or advice, Hike NS has lined up a slate of outdoor-themed webinars you can access no matter where you live in the province or your level of outdoor experience. They are free for paid Hike NS members or $20 for non-members, who then get a free one-year membership. Upcoming webinars include: 

• Intro to Birding
• Wildlife Encounters & Safety
• Intro to Hiking
• Leave No Trace
• Tick Prevention

“People are just craving this type of outdoor knowledge,” Barlow says. “For example, we just held a wildly successful Tick Prevention webinar with about 100 people registered.”

As long as pandemic restrictions allow them to go forward, there are a number of in-person courses scheduled for later this spring including Field Leader – Hiking (how to be a hike leader), Navigation (how to use a map and compass) and Re-Connecting with Nature (teaching adults how to engage kids with nature).

Webinars and in-person courses are offered with the support of the NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, the Outdoor Council of Canada and other partners. Learn more and register at www.hikenovascotia.ca. 

Hike Nova Scotia encourages and promotes a growing hiking culture throughout our great province. We strive to be the voice for those who hike, walk and snowshoe. With every step we’re building a community of outdoor adventure enthusiasts.

Photos

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Contact

For more information on these events or Hike Nova Scotia contact:

Janet Barlow, Hike Nova Scotia
(902) 932-6902
info@hikenovascotia.ca
www.hikenovascotia.ca

Winter Hiking Courses & Webinars

Registration is open for Hike Nova Scotia’s slate of winter 2021 courses and webinars.

In-person courses include Field Leader – Winter modules (prerequisite is the Field Leader – Hiking course).

Webinars include Intro to Snowshoeing, Happy Hiker Feet How-to, Intro to Hiking and Come Walk With Us (about an epic journey across Canada).

Dates, locations and costs vary, depending upon the course or webinar. COVID-19 public health guidelines will be followed for in-person courses.

Partners include the NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, the Outdoor Council of Canada, The Trail Shop, Arthritis & Injury Care Bracing & Orthotics and Come Walk With Us. Learn more and register at www.hikenovascotia.ca.

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Contact

Hike Nova Scotia
(902) 932-6902
Email 
www.hikenovascotia.ca 

Fall Hiking Courses & Webinars

Hike Nova Scotia’s fall schedule of courses and webinars across the province is now available. They focus on skills for novices all the way up to experienced hikers.

“We’re excited to be able to offer our in-person courses again, while respecting public health pandemic restrictions,” says Janet Barlow, Hike NS Executive Director. “But we’re also offering a suite of online webinars so that most people can learn, no matter where they are.”

In-person courses include: 

• Field Leader – Hiking: Sept. 19-20 or Nov. 14-15
• Navigation Maps & Compass: Sept. 26-27 or Oct. 24-25
• Field Leader – Winter: date to be announced

Webinars include:

• Intro to Hiking: Sept. 23, Oct. 20 or Nov. 18
• Leave No Trace: Oct. 6
• Tick Prevention: Sept. 15
• Wildlife Encounters & Safety: date to be announced

Fast Facts

• Dates, locations and costs vary, depending upon the course or webinar.
• Learn more and register at www.hikenovascotia.ca. 
• COVID-19 public health guidelines will be followed for in-person courses, which include indoor and outdoor sessions. 
• Partners include the NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, the Outdoor Council of Canada, Leave No Trace Canada, the District of Chester, AtlanTick Repellent Products and the NS Department of Lands and Forestry Natural Resources Education Centre.
• Hike Nova Scotia encourages and promotes a growing hiking culture throughout our great province. We strive to be the voice for those who hike, walk and snowshoe. With every step we’re building a community of outdoor adventure enthusiasts.

Social Media

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Contact

Hike Nova Scotia
(902) 932-6902
Email 
www.hikenovascotia.ca 

Webinar teaches Leave No Trace Hiking

Being confined to our houses and neighbourhoods for a few months has spurred a renewed love of hiking. When allowed back onto trails in May, people flocked back in what might be record numbers. Few groups were happier than Hike Nova Scotia at the news, but it was also concerning.

Quotes

“Close behind the elation of being allowed back on the trails was a feeling of concern, a fear that we might love our trails to death after such a long absence,” says Janet Barlow, Executive Director of Hike NS. “Personally, I witnessed hoards of hikers at a popular trail in the Valley area on a beautiful weekend in May. There were reports of similar crowds on trails across the province. Thankfully they did a good job of social distancing.”

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 7 pm
Cost: $20 (free for Hike NS paid members), non-members receive a free one-year individual membership
Registration Deadline: July 6 (webinar spaces are limited)
Registration Link: Learn more and register at www.hikenovascotia.ca

Fast Facts

• Hike NS felt there was no better time to launch education on Leave No Trace principles, hoping it might counteract the negative environmental impact of so many people enjoying our trails.
• The webinar is geared for new and experienced hikers. It covers responsible use of our natural areas and techniques to protect our environment and the hiking experience for one another. 
• It will include an in-depth look at the seven Principles of Leave No Trace and a question and answer session. 
• The presenter is Jody Conrad, certified Leave No Trace Master Educator. 
• Offered in partnership with the Municipality of the District of Chester, it is supported by the NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage. 
• Hike NS encourages and promotes a growing hiking culture throughout the province, striving to be the voice for those who hike, walk and snowshoe.

Photos

Find photos on Facebook  or Instagram or use some of the photos on this page.

Social Media

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Contact

For more information on these events or Hike Nova Scotia contact:

Janet Barlow, Hike Nova Scotia
(902) 932-6902
Email 
www.hikenovascotia.ca 

Hike NS Introduces Hiking Virtually

How do you introduce people to hiking in the middle of a pandemic? In an age where in-person workshops aren’t allowed and group hikes a no-go, Hike Nova Scotia came up with a solution: go virtual with an Intro to Hiking webinar.

Quotes

“Now that Nova Scotians are allowed back into parks and on the trails we figured there would be interest since people were so thirsty to get back outside,” says Janet Barlow, Executive Director of Hike NS and the webinar presenter. “The webinar is our way of engaging people who want to start hiking or hike more but want some basic knowledge to stay safe and have a good experience.”

Event Details

Date: Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 7 pm
Cost: $20 (free for Hike NS paid members), non-members receive a free one-year individual membership
Registration Deadline: May 27 (webinar spaces are limited)
Registration Link: Learn more and register at www.hikenovascotia.ca

Fast Facts

• This “taster” session covers how to prepare for a hike and hiking best practices.
• It includes information you need before you leave, what to bring and wear, self-care and hiking etiquette.
• The one-and-a-half hour webinar also includes a half-hour question and answer session. 
• Hike NS thanks the NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage for its support. 
• Hike NS encourages and promotes a growing hiking culture throughout the province, striving to be the voice for those who hike, walk and snowshoe.

Photos

Find photos on Facebook  or Instagram or use some of the photos on this page.

Social Media

Share on Facebook  
Share on Twitter 
Share on Instagram 

Contact

For more information on these events or Hike Nova Scotia contact:

Janet Barlow, Hike Nova Scotia
(902) 932-6902
Email 
www.hikenovascotia.ca 

Leave No Trace Summer Workshops

Leave No Trace Canada has partnered with Hike Nova Scotia to promote Leave No Trace Principles and host a Summer Educator, who will help raise awareness about Leave No Trace Principles through delivering workshops to groups in Halifax and beyond. Workshops will be offered from mid-July to mid-August, 2015. Tailored for groups of various ages and interests, workshops will cover the seven Leave No Trace Principles that encourage low-impact use of our natural environment. A small fee or honourarium may be required depending upon workshop location and number of participants.
To learn more and book your workshop, please visit: www.hikenovascotia.ca/projects/leave-no-trace.

Leadership Level 1 – Hiking Course Nov. 29-30, Halifax

A Leadership Level 1 – Hiking Course will be offered in Halifax on November 29-30, 2014. It will provide participants with Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) national certification in Leadership Level 1 – Hiking. This includes skills to organize and lead others in a one day, educational or activity based experience in a natural environment. The program is suitable for hiking club leaders, trail groups, recreation department staff, teachers, 4H leaders, Scout leaders, Girl Guide leaders, parents or individuals interested in leading hikes. Courses are taught by OCC certified instructors. The course is two full days in length and will provide successful candidates with the necessary skills to be a confident hiking leader. The cost is $90 ($80 for current Hike NS members). The course is offered through the Nova Scotia Chapter of the OCC in partnership with Hike Nova Scotia and supported by the Province of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Outdoor Leadership Development Program. Click here for more information.

Featured Trail: Caribou-Munroes Island

By Amanda Cashin

We’re tying a different format for our Featured Trails. One of Hike NS’s board members, Amanda Cashin, has a blog of the hikes and adventures she takes. Her blog is called Beachcomber & Trail-Roamer. We’d like to share some of her blog postings with you.

On what may have been the coldest day in October to-date, I had a

beach day. It was a chilly 9 degrees and under overcast skies my partner and I enjoyed a hike at Caribou-Munroes Island Provincial Park. As we set out for our day trip to Pictou County we were hopeful; the sun was shining brightly and fluffy white clouds filled the sky. By the time we arrived along the Northumberland Shore though, it was down-right cold and the sun had started to disappear.

In typical Nova Scotia fashion though, the sun did show itself and warm our walk in short intervals. Cold or not, I’m not going to pass up a day at the beach. Read the full posting here.

Featured Trail: Blue Rocks – Stonehurst Walk

Trail Name: Blue Rocks – Stonehurst Walk

Location: Lunenburg County

Description: The tiny community of Blue Rocks, and its neighbour Stonehurst, are two of the most picturesque areas on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. The area is greatly favoured by artists and photographers. But, it doesn’t get to see the influx of tourists like the famous Peggy’s Cove, despite being every bit as beautiful, and maybe more so. It’s more of a walk than a hike, but it is an ideal route to take in the winter since it’s mostly on pavement. It’s also kept clear of snow (although there is usually very little snow out on that peninsular) and there is almost no traffic.

Map: Find a map and directions here.

Submitted by: John Hutton

Safe Hiker: An Introduction to Hiking Workshop

Hike NS envisions more Nova Scotians and visitors enjoying a broad network of places for hiking, walking and snowshoeing and doing so in a responsible manner. To realize this, we need to give hikers the skills and knowledge to do it safely, with minimal impact and with confidence. Hike Nova Scotia’s Safe Hiker Workshop aims to teach new and inexperienced hikers how to have safe, low-impact and enjoyable hiking experiences. It is supported by Mountain Equipment Co-op. Learn how your organization can host a Safe Hiker one-day workshop.