The Kensington Conservancy (TKC) is excited to be able to introduce you to the Burnedover Island Preserve, which was generously donated by Philippa Matheson. It becomes TKC's latest nature preserve that will be protected in its natural state forever.

"For over a century our family has owned, loved, and protected Burnedover - from its appearance in the early 1900s as a forest thick with dead ​trees to its gradual regeneration into one of the most open and beautiful islands in the Desbarats area. Now that I am the last of the Pitkin-Wallaces to summer there, I am grateful to The Kensington Conservancy for being willing to continue to monitor and protect it for the foreseeable future," says Philippa. 

Burnedover Island has been identified as part of the Great Lakes Heritage Coast, which is one of nine signature sites in Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy. To quote the vision for the Great Lakes Heritage Coast, “the coast should be preserved in its wild and pristine state, and its ecological diversity and scenic beauty protected and restored for the benefit of current and future generations.” 

The three-acre island is part of a cluster of islands located east of the St. Joseph Island Bridge in the Wilson Channel area. It is adjacent to Whiskey Rock, which is a well-known boating destination. 

The Kensington Conservancy would also like to thank the community members who made generous financial contributions to our Land Protection Account which helped fund the long-term stewardship endowment for this island. 

The Kensington Conservancy is a charitable land trust that has helped protect over 1,200 acres of ecologically-sensitive land in the St. Joseph Channel area since 2006. Access details for TKC's nature preserves can be found here. If you are a landowner and would like to explore options that ensure your land remains protected in its natural state forever, please contact The Kensington Conservancy at [email protected] or 705-782-2200.

Location Map

​"I am very thankful to have worked at The Kensington Conservancy for a second summer as their Bat Monitoring Technician. I was thrilled to not only teach myself but also educate others on these unique and invaluable species. With last year’s data, I was able to complete my undergraduate thesis answering questions pertaining to bat species presence and habitat preferences in the surrounding area. Data from 2023 amounted to over 150 thousand bat recordings, and we acoustically detected all species known to exist in Ontario. It was exciting to transform TKC’s raw data into a final project and be able to share it with the local school and science communities.

Spending my summers working in the same general area where I spent my summers growing up brings me a sense of gratitude. Field work would often bring out my inner child, especially when I spent hours exploring nature preserves and looking for new flora and fauna. Guided paddles were also one of my favourite activities. Being able to assist in Explorer Summer Day Camp for a second year gave me the opportunity to connect with children and watch their knowledge and passion for nature grow.

TKC is a very positive and welcoming workplace. I think pursuing what you are passionate about as a career is an important component of happiness. That, in combination with a like-minded team, TKC creates the perfect recipe for a great work environment. I had the pleasure of meeting so many kind-hearted people over the summer and will definitely miss the team!"

Amy Carlson
​Bat Monitoring Technician

"My time here at The Kensington Conservancy has been nothing short of amazing. My main task this summer was to visit all of TKC's properties, monitor them and record any significant species and or disturbances to the properties. While doing those tasks, I have been able to see so many amazing things. Being from eight hours south, the landscape of where the TKC properties are located is something that is incredible and new to me. This opportunity has given me the chance to see so much more of the Algoma area, and I know if I didn't love this area before working here, I for sure do now, how could you not! This past summer, I also got to participate in salamander board surveys, as well as tree swallow and bluebird nesting surveys. These were another amazing highlights from my time this past summer at The Kensington Conservancy.​

The St Josephs Channel area and the TKC crew will forever hold a spot in my heart. Seeing the team's dedication day after day to this beautiful area and helping conserve it is incredible and I am so lucky to have been a part of the team. Whether it was listening to community members discuss the TKC at Community Day events, engaging with visitors at the office, or connecting with people on the trails or guided paddles, it was always deeply fulfilling to hear about the impact the TKC has on our community. Participating in the Junior Explorers and Explorers Summer Camps was especially rewarding. Providing children with knowledge, skills, and a passion for the natural world is an experience I will always treasure. In a time when environmental awareness is more crucial than ever, these programs are vital for nurturing young minds.

For me, the most meaningful aspect was the sense that my work was truly making a difference. I chose to pursue a career in the natural environment field because I wanted to contribute to its betterment, and my experience with the TKC was instrumental in fulfilling that goal. Traveling from property to property, immersing myself in the beauty of each location, and knowing that my role was to protect and raise awareness about these precious spaces was an incredibly fulfilling experience. I am deeply grateful for my time at The Kensington Conservancy and for all the valuable knowledge and skills imparted to me by the team."

Rorey Recoskie
Field Technician

"I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work as a Field Technician at The Kensington Conservancy. This position allowed me to gain invaluable hands-on experience in various field activities, including property monitoring, checking bluebird boxes, and exploring bat caves. Each task not only enhanced my understanding of local ecosystems but also fostered a deeper appreciation for conservation efforts. The summer camps were particularly rewarding, as they enabled me to engage with the community and share my passion for nature with others.
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The Kensington Conservancy provided a unique and positive work environment that made every day enjoyable. The team was incredibly welcoming, creating a sense of camaraderie that made collaboration seamless. Whether working alongside experienced professionals or fellow interns, I always felt supported and encouraged to share my ideas. This nurturing atmosphere helped me grow both personally and professionally, reinforcing my commitment to environmental stewardship.

Overall, my time at The Kensington Conservancy has been a transformative experience. The skills and knowledge I gained, coupled with the friendships I formed, have left a lasting impact on my career path. I am grateful for the chance to contribute to such meaningful work in a place that truly values its mission and its people."

Sarah Peplow
​Field Technician

​Hello, my name is Shacynne Anne Sarroza and I am the recipient of the Pam Bent Conservation Award from The Kensington Conservancy. I am a recent graduate of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Sault College. I am from the Philippines and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Fisheries while currently working on my master's thesis for Aquaculture. I am also a registered Fisheries Professional, an international judge of freshwater ornamental fish in Asia, and have a National Certificate for Organic Agriculture Production.

I grew up in Barotac Nuevo, a beautiful town in the province of Iloilo, Philippines whose main industry and capital are in fishing and agriculture. Growing up, my brother and I always received a science workbook as a summer gift from our parents. I believe this is where my passion for science started. My father is a big fan of nature and animal documentaries, which led to my dream of being part of a conservation team while watching an episode of National Geographic. Our dreams are sometimes challenged by the resources we have. Studying fisheries is not my first choice of degree but where am I now in life and career made me believe that redirection can be a blessing in disguise. My fisheries journey started while being part of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and a partnership with a private company for the sex-reversal production of Tilapia. It continued as an Aquaculturist in charge of Tilapia production, selective breeding of freshwater fish species, and fish health management. Then I took on the role of an international judge for ornamental fish shows in Asia and during Aquarama in China. I had the privilege to represent the Philippines in Guppy Fish competitions in the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. I became overly passionate and started holding free training seminars for guppy fish groups that want to learn selective breeding and culture techniques for ornamental fish species.
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When COVID hit, I was locked down in my hometown and decided to take my Master’s after things started to settle down and managed to finish the academic requirements. This is when my urge to pursue conservation was ignited again, and now I am a graduate of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Sault College. During my studies with Sault College, I was sent to Brazil where I finished my internship with the Federal Institute of Minas Gerais Machado. I finished my internship with courses in forest restoration techniques, fish culture, phytopathology, plant biotechnology, coffee quality techniques and farming technology, equine therapy, butchery, and canine handling and drug detection. As a result of this internship opportunity, I published a scientific paper on the micropropagation of Cattleya loddigesii in a temporary immersion bioreactor with the generous help of the people I worked with in the biotechnology department. The focus of the study is to successfully introduce an in vitro-grown threatened species of native Brazilian orchid to the wild.
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Currently, I am looking for job opportunities to enter the fish, wildlife, and natural conservation workforce, and am very excited about what the future holds for me!