Free Guided Tours of Protected Areas

People from all over the province will get the opportunity to visit and enjoy some of Nova Scotia's protected wilderness areas this summer.

The Department of Environment and Labour will offer free, guided tours to participants interested in exploring the province's unique wilderness areas.

The next scheduled tour will take place on Sunday, June 11, at the Abraham Lake Nature Reserve, as part of Environment Week celebrations. Participants, will get the opportunity to see and learn more about the red-spruce forest which is not typically found in Nova Scotia.

"Our province is blessed with pristine beauty and breathtaking wilderness and I am happy that we are able to showcase that to the world," said Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, Minister of Environment and Labour. "We are committed to protecting our wilderness areas to ensure that they are enjoyed for generations to come."

To register and get more information on the Abraham Lake tour, contact David MacKinnon by phone at 902-424-2027, 902-223-1760 or by e-mail at [email protected] .

Other tours taking place throughout Nova Scotia include:

• Saturday, June 24 The Kenomee Canyon Trail at Economy River Wilderness Area, Colchester County

• Saturday, July 8 Family Adventure Treasure Hunt at Cloud Lake Wilderness Area, Annapolis-Kings County

• Saturday, July 22 Paddle the Coast at Gabarus Wilderness Area, Cape Breton County

• Saturday, Aug. 12 Coastal Barrens Interpretive Hike at Duncans Cove Nature Reserve, Halifax County

• Saturday, Aug. 26 Mosses of Eigg Mountain-James River Wilderness Area, Antigonish County

Information and a map showing the guided tour locations are available on the Department of Environment and Labour website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla .