June 27: Dinner Reception and Poster Session
The poster session will take place from 18:00-19:30 at the atrium of the Biosciences Complex (116 Barrie St.)
There will be a cash bar available and dinner will be served afterward at the same place.
June 28: Activities and Dinner at the Queen's University Biological Station (QUBS)
QUBS (280 Queen's University Rd, Elgin, ON) is about 50 minutes away.
A bus will depart from the David C. Smith House at 1pm and from the Residence Inn at 1:15pm to bring workshop participants to QUBS.
We have hikes and other activities arranged for the participants during the afternoon (see options below).
Dinner will be served at QUBS.
The bus will leave QUBS at 9pm to return to campus.
- Option 1: Guided Walk of the Natural History of QUBS and its Land
The tour will start at QUBS Opinicon Campus and take you by foot to Cow Island. While on the walk you will learn about the history of the station, the biodiversity of the area and the research conducted over the years on our properties. Meeting point will be on the lawn outside of the Main Lodge. The terrain is easy to navigate, but please wear comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots.
- Option 2: Guided Boat Tour of Lake Opinicon
The tour starts at QUBS and takes you to different arms of the lake. You will hear about the history of the Rideau Canal system (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the biology of Lake Opinicon, and some of the fisheries science that's been conducted at the station over time. (Limit of 11 people per boat)
- Option 3: Tree Swallow Tour
We will visit QUBS's network of over 200 tree swallow nest boxes. Watch tree swallows show off their incredible flying skills as they forage for flying insects and peek into their nests to see both eggs and nestlings. Tree swallows, along with other birds that forage on flying insects, are declining and it is long term nest box grids like this that are providing the answers. Bring rubber boots or closed toe shoes. Not recommended for people allergic to grasses. (Limit of 10 people)
- Option 4: Aquatic Invasive Species Tour
We will take a short canoe paddle along the shore of Lake Opinicon to look at some of the invasive aquatic species that are commonly found in lakes around QUBS and will discuss ways to prevent their spread. We will also visit sites where experiments have been set up to 1) test decontamination strategies and 2) investigate the interactive effects of invasive species and contaminants on aquatic communities. (Limit of 10 people)
