Trail Ambassadors are back. Read on and learn what Kaitlin and Bryan are up to on our Dufferin trail this summer.
Why did the Bruce Trail Conservancy start the Trail Ambassador program?
The Trail Ambassador program was started in 2021 as a response to increased trail usership over the course of the pandemic. We help to mitigate the sometimes negative effects having more people on the trails can cause by informing them about best hiking practices, picking up trash and keeping track of the spread of invasive species. In our role, we record data about the amount of trail users, litter, trail etiquette issues and the most frequently asked questions. This helps inform the BTC of changing trends in usership and the needs of actual trail users like you!
What is the most interesting thing that has happened to you so far?
This year on the trail, we’ve seen some pretty interesting creatures like painted turtles, butternut trees and even common snapping turtles! But, one that stuck out to us was the talon of a large bird of prey we found – we spent the rest of the day guessing how it got there and what it came from. When we find traces of animals like that or even animal bones we use iNaturalist to get the opinions of other citizen scientists of what they could be.
Describe a typical day on the trail
Each day on the trail we aim to be ready to hike by 9:30. This typically means we meet at the trailhead anytime between 9:00-9:15 in the morning. This gives us plenty of time to plan out our hike, assess where we’ll be going, strap on our boots, put on some bug spray and sunscreen and hit the trail!
While on the trail, there are a handful of activities you may see us doing throughout the summer. This could include talking to hikers and trail users about the Bruce Trail Conservancy, the trails themselves, the ecology of the area, proper hiking practices, or just having friendly conversations! You may also see us getting up close and personal with some of the local flora and fauna along the trails doing species inventory using species identification apps like Seek, iNaturalist, or Merlin. Additionally, you may occasionally see us removing invasive species like Garlic Mustard from along the trail and reporting any trail maintenance issues like fallen trees or missing Blazes.
Depending on the length of the hike, and the weather conditions on a particular day, we aim to be off the trail anywhere between 2:30-3:00 in the afternoon. This gives us time to pick up any garbage near the trailhead and interact with any trail users heading in for a late afternoon hike!
Do you have specific goals?
The number one goal for us this summer is to continue to interact with trail users and to promote the use of the Bruce Trail and the efforts made by the Bruce Trail Conservancy and its members to conserve and care for land within the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere and to protect its ecosystems for the benefit of all!
As for our other goals this summer, mainly we are aiming to cover the whole Dufferin Hi-Lands section of the Bruce Trail; inventory as many different species as we can along the trail; and keep the trail as natural and preserved as possible!
A few personal goals would be to see and identify some rare or endangered species along the trail. Species like the Bobolink, Hart’s tongue fern, or Butternut trees! It’s important for us at the Bruce Trail Conservancy to know where these species can be found in order to better preserve and protect them. It’s also always nice to interact with species you don’t get to see everyday!
If you had one wish you could plant in people’s heads, what would that look like?
I think the number one wish we would plant in people’s heads would be the want to interact with the Bruce trail more! This could be anything from just getting out hiking and experiencing the trail more often or volunteering with their local clubs. The more people that use the Bruce trail the more connections will be made to it. This will help to ensure the trail continues to be preserved and protected for current and future hikers alike!
How can the trail be used to teach people about biodiversity? 
The Bruce trail is full of a variety of native flora and fauna. From the most common of trees to more rare species, the Bruce trail offers hikers and trail users a plethora of species to learn about.
As you travel along the Bruce trail from Queenston to Tobermory you will begin to see changes in the predominant species that occupy the trail. For example, you may encounter changes in the dominant tree cover along the trail! Depending on aspects like elevation, soil profiles, and region, you can see different deciduous and coniferous forest covers. This may also change the types of wildlife you come across along the trail.
Some areas of the trail offer more opportunities for certain species to grow and populate. For example, a more rare species seen along the trail is Hart’s-tongue fern which often grows in moist soil and damp crevices in more shady areas of the trail. The Bruce Trail Conservancy also provides information about the biodiversity of the trail on its website, the BTC app, and the BTC reference guide.