Over the years, the Friends have been involved in a wide range of projects to benefit Murphys Point Provincial Park. Funds are raised in various ways. We conduct an annual raffle, usually featuring a canoe, which is our major fundraiser. In addition to membership fees, we solicit donations for general and specific projects and apply for grants for some of our major endeavours, as well as to hire students. Some of our ongoing and past projects are listed below. For more information about any of these projects, to make a donation or become involved, please e-mail friendsofmurphyspointpark@yahoo.ca for details, or go to the "Contact Us" page.
Click on some of these projects for more information:
Our progress so far
A number of components of our long-term project have already been completed, thanks to various grants, monetary donations and in-kind contributions, including:
- A Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment was completed. This report, released in January 2001, documents the history and archaeological potential of the site.
- A public surface collection event was held in July 2002. Park visitors documented artifacts on the surface of the site under the guidance of professional archaeologists.
- As a test project, a Grade 6 class was invited to take part in a surface collection event to work on the logistics of bringing school groups to the site. The activity took place in November 2002 and garnered rave reviews.
- An Archaeology Day was held in July 2003. The Ottawa Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society (one of our partners) hosted archaeology displays and demonstrations, and a tour of the site was provided by one of the project’s consulting archaeologists
- The Stage 2/3 Archaeological Assessment was completed over the summer and fall of 2003. The archaeologists opened 365 test pits, each one 50 cm2 and located at 5 m intervals across the 2 ha site. Almost 7,000 artifacts were found and the results documented in a comprehensive report that was released in March 2004. The report concluded there is, without a doubt, ample opportunity for public archaeology at the site.
- In October 2004 the first week-long excavation program for school groups was held at McParlan House. Students from six local schools participated in hands-on archaeology with trained archaeologists, as well as completing a number of related activities with park staff and Friends volunteers. The event was hailed a huge success and we look forward to offering the program every year depending on funding. Click the link below for more details about the school program. The program has been offered each year since 2004.
For more information please call the park at 613.267.5060, Stephanie Gray at 613.264.0447 or email friendsofmurphyspointpark@yahoo.ca
- Click here to see a list of sponsors for the 2005 fall dig.
- Click here to see a list of sponsors for the 2006 fall dig.
- Click here to see a list of sponsors for the 2007 fall dig.
- Click here to see a list of sponsors since 2004 .
- Donate $50 to the project & receive a tax receipt for $40 and receive a day pass to the park!.
- Click here to see the various levels of our donor recognition program for the Hogg Bay Project.
- Click here to make a donation to the Hogg Bay Project
(Donation Form Requires Adobe Acrobat.Note: You can also right-click the link, then click 'Save Target As...' to download the above documents to your computer.
Click
to download it.)
Black Ratsnake Educational Video: Our new video was released in April 2005 and is now available for loan at the park and other local venues. Or call the park at (613) 267-5060 for more information.
Adopt-a-Black Ratsnake: The Black Rat Snake Project is an ongoing fundraising effort to support monitoring of the park's unique Black Rat Snake population and to educate the public about this important threatened species. By "adopting a snake," contributors help to offset the costs of a transponder program, which involves inserting a tiny microchip under a snake's skin to assist with population monitoring. The Friends also sell nifty Black Rat Snake T-shirts to help raise funds for future research and/or public awareness programs. Brochures are available at the park or by contacting a Friends director (see "Contact Us" page). T-shirts are available for sale at the Park Store. You can also adopt a snake by checking the appropriate box on the order form.
Student Employment: We secure funding most years to hire summer students to work in the park's Natural Heritage Education program. The students gain valuable on-the-job experience and help increase the amount of interpretive and educational programming available to the public. Since 1995 we have employed at least two and as many as four students per season! Check your local employment centre for information about student positions at Murphys Point.
Visitor Centre Displays: We funded the cost of mounting birds for the park's Visitor Centre native bird display, and we provided a computer and birding software for the Visitor Centre in order to help educate the public.
Bullfrog Research Project: In 1997 we received funding to conduct a bullfrog research project, which has produced valuable interpretive and educational material about this park species, its habitat and significance as a baseline for future studies.
Silver Queen Mine Trail Guide: The Friends have covered the cost of printing this informative, full-colour trail guide. The guide is available for a small fee at the Silver Queen Mine trailhead and also at the Park Store. Renowned photographers Ted and Cindy Dyke contributed several images for this guide, as well as for the Sylvan Trail Guide published by the park.
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Among Friends: This journal is published annually and includes feature-length articles on natural and cultural history, a kids' page, updates and info on Friends events and projects, updates about the park, columns and more. The journal is delivered to Friends members free of charge and costs $1 for non-members. To view a sample copy, go to the "What's New" page. To contribute to Among Friends, contact the editor:
- By mail at Among Friends, c/o Friends of Murphys Point Park, P.O. Box 2004, 57 Foster Street, Perth, Ontario, K7H 3M9
- By fax at (613) 264-0409
- By e-mail at friendsofmurphyspointpark@yahoo.ca
Ore Wagon Restoration: In 2003, a pair of volunteers, John and Judy Bufton, undertook the complex task of restoring an ore wagon similar to what would have been used while the Silver Queen Mine was in operation. The wagon is on display along the mine trail.
Other Projects: Some other Friends projects have included:
- An osprey nesting platform near the Lally Homestead (which has been inhabited several times)
- A loon nesting platform on loon lake
- Co-hosting a Fall Festival for several years at the park
- An annual display at Perth Festival of the Maples in April
- Participation in various parades in Perth
- Participation in Take-a-Hike Days at the park
- Sylvan Trailhead Sign
- A new home for the Visitor Centre Black Ratsnake