As the ice melts and days grow longer, conservation work shifts into high gear.
Spring is when planning turns into action and your support shows up in classrooms, on shorelines, and in communities throughout the province.
This year, the Foundation will be piloting Fishing in Schools, a program designed to introduce students to safe, ethical angling through hands-on outdoor learning opportunities in May and June.
The OFAH | Mario Cortellucci Hunting & Fishing Heritage Centre (HFHC) in Peterborough, welcomes classrooms for immersive field trips focused on bringing conservation lessons to life.
Students are also stepping up as virtual volunteers through HFHC programming, completing conservation projects, and building leadership skills in their own communities.
As boat launches reopen and cottage season begins, the Invading Species Awareness Program (ISAP) Hotline will resume after-hours service on the May long weekend and continue through the end of August. The Hit Squad, ISAP’s province-wide summer student program, returns to the field to address priority infestations across the province. Public outreach ramps up with simple reminders that protect ecosystems, from proper bait disposal to never dumping unwanted plants or materials into natural areas. Prevention starts with awareness.
Meanwhile, the Bring Back the Salmon (BBTS) program prepares for one of its most powerful series of moments of the year: community events, habitat clean-ups, and salmon releases.
After months of classroom learning and hatchery care, students release their salmon fry into local waterways, seeing firsthand how stewardship supports healthy habitats. On April 22, BBTS will roll up their sleeves for Earth Day with a habitat clean-up event, ensuring the path is clean and clear for the newly released salmon fry.
Spring sets the tone for the year ahead. It is when conservation becomes visible, when education turns into experience and awareness leads to action.
The Foundation invites you to be part of this season of momentum. Your support helps ensure these programs continue to grow, connect, and conserve the outdoors for generations to come.
Discover more about the OFAH Foundation’s impact and donate: www.ofahfoundation.org
Originally published in Walleye 2026 issue of Ontario Out of Doors Magazine
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