Explore the Outdoors (ETO) is a program of Long Point Basin Land Trust (LPBLT), offering free—hands-on and virtual—nature exploration experiences to inspire appreciation, understanding, and protection of the Long Point watershed region’s unique habitats and species.
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Why is the Long Point Basin so special?
The Long Point Basin—spanning Norfolk County and parts of Oxford, Elgin, Haldimand, and Brant—is at the heart of Carolinian Canada, the country’s smallest yet most biodiverse ecoregion. Though it covers less than 0.25% of Canada’s landmass, it supports over 25% of the nation’s Species at Risk.
We invite you to discover and learn about the species and wild spaces of this special region:
Stretching across more than 300,000 hectares along the north shore of Lake Erie, this unique region is home to Carolinian forests, wetlands, and tallgrass prairies. Recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the Long Point Basin area shelters rare species, vital habitats, and wild spaces found nowhere else in Canada.
Over the past century, many of these natural ecosystems have been lost or fragmented. Today, ongoing habitat loss and environmental pressures threaten its ecological integrity. Long Point Basin Land Trust works to protect what remains—and restore areas that expand and connect key habitats—so this irreplaceable landscape can thrive for generations to come.
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Long Point Basin
watershed catchment area
Encompassing a number of watersheds—land areas where rainfall and snowmelt drain into a shared water body—the Long Point Basin plays a vital role in sustaining biodiversity, clean water, and climate resilience. Protecting these lands benefits both nature and people, now and in the future.
Help make an impact—support the work of Long Point Basin Land Trust:
Make a one-time gift, support a campaign, or become a monthly donor.
Learn & Share
Explore our conservation work and spread the word about protecting wild spaces.
Volunteer
Give your time and skills to support local land conservation efforts.