It may not feel much like spring right now, but before we know it, the birds will be singing, and the greenery we miss so much will return, bringing our thoughts to the great outdoors. Few places in The Valley celebrate nature more than Shaw Woods—and few know it better than Fred Blackstein.
Blackstein is the longtime Chair of the Site Committee at Shaw Woods and one of its founding members, along with the Shaw family themselves.
The property has been in the Shaw family as far back as 1847, when it was a working farm with a water-powered sawmill and gristmill. It consists of 50 hectares of old-growth forest and 160 hectares of wetlands and mixed forest, with over 14 kilometers of trails. Blackstein notes that the Shaw family is now in its seventh generation and remains very much involved in the enterprise.
Anyone who knows Fred Blackstein—and there are few in The Valley who do not—knows that he is the very embodiment of volunteerism. He is calling on anyone and everyone who loves the outdoors to join the Shaw Woods team this season and help maintain this beautiful property.
With over 4,000 students having made the property an integral part of their education last year, Blackstein estimates that there will be at least as many this year. Keeping up the property is therefore essential to maintaining its longevity.
Anyone interested in this wonderful volunteer opportunity—or simply looking for a place to take the family and get away from it all—can visit their website.
(Written By: Richard Evans)
