Thank You!
From all of us at the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, thank you to our 2019 donors, partners, and volunteers!
Another year has flown by at the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area. We hosted our first-ever Wildlife Conflict Solutions workshop in the spring, partnering with Margo Supplies, the Government of Alberta and other local conservation groups. There was a wonderful turnout and amazing speakers and it was a great opportunity to connect with our neighbours. Into the summer we continued to keep busy with day camps and added five summer students to our small team. One of our talented summer students painted a new mural which can be seen in our education building, as well as new soap dispensers with stellar designs which highlight the area as a Nocturnal Preserve. Another enthusiastic summer student started vermicomposting at the ASCCA, to the delight of many students who could name their own personal worm (the worms are still alive and wiggling). We were proud of both students as they were both past volunteers and participants in our Nature Safari Day Camp.
Our volunteers continued their work on weeding, maintaining fencing, and various other projects. Our habitat management summer students assisted with the conception of a weed management plan, which we hope to expand upon in the future. Motion-capture cameras showed us wildlife such as deer and black bears still thriving, illustrating the importance of preserving the area. With a concern over the number of visitors in the area and their impact on trails and habitat, we made the decision this fall to require paid parking in our visitor lot in 2020. We understand that this policy may lead to fewer people visiting the area, however we anticipate that it will lead to car-pooling and reduce the number of hikers who do not register. Each year we see our numbers increase, while donations decrease. We are concerned over the impact that this will have on the area, as we rely on donations to maintain the ASCCA.
We would like to thank the Alberta Conservation Association, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, A & W Shawnessy, Calgary Foundation, Canyon Meadows Cinemas, Chevron Canada Resources, Community Natural Foods, Fluor Canada, Foothills County, Glamorgan Bakery, Government of Alberta Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program, Government of Alberta STEP Program, Government of Canada Enabling Accessibility Fund, Government of Canada CSJ Program, Heritage Save on Foods, Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Shawnessy Safeway, Sobey’s Bridlewood, TD Canada, TD Friends of the Environment, and UNAC Green Spaces for their support in 2019. We would also like to acknowledge and thank each of our individual donors. Thank you for making Ann and Sandy’s legacy possible.
The Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area (ASCCA) is a 4800 acre day use natural area southwest of Calgary. It began as a land donation from A. R. ‘Sandy’ Cross and his wife Ann. The ASCCA was founded with the hope that it would be remain a protected piece of paradise and unique outdoor classroom.
Learn more at crossconservation.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook at @ ASCConservation.
