January 15, 2008 (Midland, ON) – The Wye Marsh is repeating its successful winter eco-tour program to give guests and visitors the opportunity to explore winter in Ontario’s great outdoors. In addition to great snowshoeing there is a new Cross-Country Ski Club.

Snowshoe Eco Tours

Wye Marsh naturalists will guide visitors behind the scenes into the world of woodland and wetland research using snowshoes. Eco-tours will be approximately 3 hours in duration and will include a stop at a warm fire for hot chocolate and snacks. Tours start in January 2008, and continue through March every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Cost is $50.00 per person and includes use of snowshoes. Additional times and dates can be personally arranged for groups of two or more. Scheduled dates and times can be viewed at Wye Marsh Winter Eco Tours here.

One of the Wildlife Centre’s qualified and knowledgeable naturalist guides will lead visitors on an adventure deep into the wooded areas of the 3600 acre Wye Marsh. Visitors may come face to face with forest creatures from beavers to deer, porcupines and chickadees that will eat right out of their hands.

With winter comes a new set of rules for animal survival and new ways to experience the excitement of nature in an ecologically friendly way.

Eco-tours will include:

– A three-hour (3-4km.) snowshoe trek (snowshoes provided-or bring your own)
– Hands-on winter animal tracking and tree identification
– Hands-on winter survival techniques plus fire starting
– Research updates and swan information
– GPS workshop – You get to lead us home!
– Hot chocolate and hotdogs over an open fire in the woods

Visitors will need: Water, snack, binoculars, weather appropriate clothing and good winter boots.

Cross Country Skiing

Winter has arrived and with it the onset of the long anticipated cross-country ski and snowshoe season at Wye Marsh. Wye Marsh Cross Country Ski Trails are rapidly becoming the “not soÅ best kept secret” of the area. This winter ski our beautifully diverse terrain, which meanders through picturesque areas of hardwood forests and cedar groves. Trails are now open with groomed and track-set conditions. We also have snowshoeing on 10 KM of scenic hiking trails. Bring your own equipment or rent ours for a nominal fee! NEW this year! Join a Wye Marsh Ski Club. Click here for more information.

To reach the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre take Highway 400 to Highway 12 west to Midland, or take Highway 400 to Highway 93 to Highway 12 East. The Wye Marsh is located across from the Martyr’s Shrine, and beside Sainte Marie among the Hurons on Highway 12.

Reserve now for the outdoor winter eco-tour by calling 705-526-7809 and ask for extension 207.