Spring Newletter

Spring is well underway and signs are more visible everyday out here in Algonquin Park. The sun has been keeping us in good company these days as we have been tapping maple trees and boiling down the sap for syrup. We have seen fresh moose tracks across the road and some guests even caught a glimpse of them trotting along highway 60. Many of the birds are returning from their holidays down south and are busy making nests. We expect the wild flowers to start popping up any day now.
Aside from all the natural beauties that are unfolding around us, we have a few things happening here at the Wolf Den too.
Easter Weekend still has space available for anyone wanting to join us for a weekend to enjoy the excitement of spring with temperatures near the end of the week predicted to hit around 20 degrees!

The Great Wilderness Clean-Up - May 8-10
The Wolf Den, in partnership with Algonquin Outfitters will once again be forming The Wolf Pack to beautify interior sites in Algonquin Park. Participants will receive free day passes from Algonquin Park, free canoe rentals from Algonquin Outfitters, and ½ price accommodation from the Wolf Den. The event will begin on Friday night with organizing into groups and the distribution of gloves and bags. We will clean up all day Saturday, returning to the Wolf Den for a potluck supper and prizes provided by Algonquin Outfitters. This event is fun, social and extremely successful.
Read more: http://wolfdenbunkhouse.blogspot.com/2010/03/great-wilderness-clean-up.html
Groups across North & South America and the UK will be taking part in their own Park Systems. If you would like to set up a group in your own area follow this link: http://www.wildernesscleanup.com/

Edible Wilds and Medicinal Plants Class - June 10th - 13th
Presented by Earth Tracks
The plant world provides many gifts for us; Nutrition, Medicine, Utilitarian Uses, Natural Beauty & Guidance among others. It can be hard to know where to start when first learning how to work with the plants that surround us. In this class the student will learn how to penetrate the ‘wall of green’ and begin their own journey with the plants that surround us.
Read more: http://www.wolfdenbunkhouse.com/education-centre/index.html

Wishing you great adventures,
The Wolf Den team

Great Wilderness Clean up

The Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat is proud to announce that once again we will be participating in the Great Wilderness Clean up. On Saturday May 8th groups from North and South America, and the UK will be going out into nature and cleaning up garbage! To join a group in your area or to form your own group please visit Great Wilderness Clean Up

The Wolf Den, in partnership with Algonquin Outfitters will once again be forming The Wolf Pack to beautify interior sites in Algonquin Park. Participants will receive free day passes from Algonquin Park, free canoe rentals from Algonquin Outfitters, and ½ price accommodation from the Wolf Den. The event will begin on Friday night with organizing into groups and the distribution of gloves and bags. We will clean up all day Saturday, returning to the Wolf Den for a potluck supper and prizes provided by Algonquin Outfitters. This event is fun, social and extremely successful.

We will be keeping The Wolf Den group to a 30 person maximum for simplicity and effectiveness. Please contact The Wolf Den for further details.

Great North American Wilderness Clean-up - A Success

Photo by Lynn Robinson

Algonquin Park Clean up - A Success

On Saturday May 12th the 2nd Great North American Wilderness Clean up was held across North America. Approximately 170 people particiapted in places like Fort Mcmurray Alberta, Kawartha Lakes, Durham, Parry Sound and here in Algonquin Park

"From those who submitted results to me, together we took 92.5 bags of various sizes out of our wilderness, and 12.5 bags of recycling items, 10 of which were large industrial-sized bags. That totals 105 bags. That's a nasty amount, and I'm so very glad it's outta there!

People found lots of other items, too, such as the usual tires, socks (I actually found a matching pair of socks in a fire pit!!), gloves... Also found were some nasties like used diapers, feminine hygiene products, used condoms, those ever-so-popular white flowers around campsites, on portages and around put-ins and access points. Let's see, what else? A tar bucket, toilet seat, a full propane tank, a car battery (who would have a car out there?), a child's play kitchen set, an old & rotting cedar strip canoe, pots & pans (enough to make a complete set), an old half-filled gallon tin of linseed oil, stubby beer bottles (I remember those!!), a broken flute, an outdoor eletrical junction box (huh?), a cigar box, lots of folding patio chairs, plastic pails, a flourescent tube light, an umbrella, rusty grills, a large tent, and a disposable fuel tank in a fire pit...

...So that's how much more beautiful our wilderness is now". Nancy Maddock, Event founder and co-organizer

Here at the Wolf Den we organized a group of 27 of to beautify Algonquin Park
.
Some went via canoe (provided free by Algonquin Outfitters ) up Joe Lake. Some to Guskawaa Lake and Maple Leaf Lake on the Western Uplands backpacking trail. The last group to Provoking Lake on the Highland Backpacking Trail. Very pleased to say for the most part we didn't find a whole lot of garbage. Most of it came from just a few sites and in some parking lots. We also hit the Oxtongue River Picnic area (lots of garbage) and Ragged Falls (dido)


After a full day of cleaning we held a free BBQ provided by M+M meats.

Sunday morning those who were interested were invited to partake in a free ecology hike provided by Ernie Silhanek, a Fleming College Professor, avid natualist and Wolf Den friend. It was amazing to see that all on the hike also continued to collect garbage. Participants received 1/2 price accommodation at The Wolf Den

Total: 10 large industrial sized garbage bags of recycling, 27 small ON park bags of garbage, 2 tires, a kids play kitchen set, a pile of metal and an old rotting cedar strip canoe.

It was a day about Stewardship, care, and respect for the land and water that supports each and everyday.

Special Thanks to :

Algonquin Outfitters for graciously providing free canoe rentals.

Algonquin Park For donating free day passes to the Park

M+M Meats for providing a free BBQ.

The Outing Club of East York for their continued support.

Joey Gill of hi concept productions For generating a lot of media publicity

CBC Radio for interviewing Robin Golloher co-owner of the Wolf Den on Saturday morning

Huntsville Forester and Vitality Magazine for running the story

Last but not least Kevin Callan and Nancy Maddock who dreamed the dream of the Great North American Wilderness Clean-up and made it a reality and all who participated in making our world a bit more beautiful.

Thanks to all for you made this event a success!!!

Great North American Wilderness Clean-up Update

Saturday May 12th wherever you are, whatever you are doing I invite you to pick up a bit of garbage/recycling in support of the Great North American Wilderness Clean-up. I know that many of you already do this whenever you can and that is great. Actually that is the bigger picture of clean up events like this one. By helping on May 12th you will not only be helping to beautify the earth but you will be contributing to the bit of noise needed to promote the idea of stewardship. This can make a few more folks think twice about tossing that wrapper on the ground and value the idea of taking out somebody else’s wrapper (or what not).

So please, on May 12th, whether you are in Algonquin Park or the Wilderness of downtown Toronto, go outside and pick up a grocery bag or 2 of garbage (better yet – separate recycling) and email the number to Nancy at wildernesscleanup@rogers.com

Alternatively you can join an existing group or form one on your own. Check out http://www.wildernesscleanup.com for more info.

Our group the Wolf Pack will be cleaning in Algonquin Park. Some will hike, some will paddle. We will hit interior campsites accessible from Hwy 60 (and some not for public roads and short cuts) such as Joe Lake, Maple Leaf Lake, and Provoking Lake. Day hike parking lots and if time allows Ragged Falls and the Oxtongue River Picnic area will also be targeted. Additionally we will be raking firepits and scattering ash when we can.

Algonquin Park http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca is providing Free Day passes. Algonquin Outfitters http://www.algonquinoutfitters.com is sponsoring and providing free canoes to the members staying at the Wolf Den. The Great Artist Olaf will on hand helping out with the cleaning and taking pictures of the event. M+Ms is sponsoring a free BBQ on Saturday to volunteers. The Wolf Den is offering ½ price accommodation to all participants for the nights of Friday May 11th and Saturday May 12th. A free guided hike will also take place on the Sunday Morning featuring local ecology and the impacts of logging. Space is limited as we only have dorm beds and a few private rooms for 4 left. Please contact me at wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com if you are interested.

If you are in the Park that weekend and need a place to drop off garbage feel free to leave it at the Wolf Den and we will deal with it.

Cheers, Ben From the Wolf Den

Great North American Wilderness Clean-up

May 12 & 13, 2007

For 365 days a year your mother nurtures you. She provides you with clean water to drink, clean air to breathe, good nourishing food to eat, protects you from intense UV rays, and presents you with renewing recreational opportunities.
This mother’s day is your chance to give just a little bit back. Join us in the Great North American Wilderness Clean-up. Hike, bike, or paddle, pick-up a bit of garbage and have a fun day out with great people. Show Mother Earth that you are grateful for all she does for you.


Join an existing group in your area or form your own. Ask Ben from the Wolf Den wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com for details or visit www.wildernesscleanup.com

Wolf Den’s Group "The Wolf Pack" will be cleaning in Algonquin. Participants will receive ½ price accommodation for the 2 nights.