What we’re about
We'll be exploring remote and less remote nature/wildlife locations in an effort to develop a better understanding of what makes them so special and what kind of conservation issues they face. We'll also provide a few travel tips for those considering a trip there (this is not a budget travel group). Please join us - no obligations / no cost.
WHO?
You're looking for a deeper understanding of the world's most iconic nature / wildlife areas as you consider visiting them one day. You may be recently retired (or close to it); a solo traveller; a keen amateur naturalist. You may have dreamed about going to a particular place for years and keen on learning as much as possible about it before you go. And when you go, you don't tend to cut corners - you want to be sure you're exposed to what really makes these places special. You're expecting good presentations from people who really know their stuff.
HOW?
We'll host occasional meetings (virtual and when possible in person) designed to provide insider information on a range of nature/wildlife travel destinations around the world.
We'll try to answer questions such as:
- What makes this place special?
- What kinds of conservation challenges does it deal with?
- How does one get there / travel there / get the most out of a visit?
We'll bring in conservation experts, travel experts and destination experts who have insider knowledge on the places we'll be highlighting. We'll be sure to have a lively Q&A / discussion along the way.
ARE YOU A DESTINATION EXPERT?
We are always looking for experts to tell about their favourite nature/wildlife place. Contact us to discuss a possible presentation.
WHO IS THE GROUP ORGANIZER?
Marc Patry spent a lot of time over a 4 year period in Mexico's Yucatan on community forestry projects before moving to Galapagos for 4 years, where he kickstarted the largest ever conservation project there. He then moved to Paris, working for UNESCO's World Heritage Centre for 11 years, in charge of natural heritage sites in Latin America and the Caribbean. While there, he also managed several natural heritage conservation projects throughout the world. He spent 1.5 years in Kenya with UNESCO before moving back to Ottawa, where, with his wife, he now runs a small travel company (CNH Tours) focused on iconic nature/wildlife destinations of the world.
OUR NEWSLETTER
We are keen to fully disclose that by signing up to our events, you'll be added to our newsletter distribution list (we won't share your info with anyone else). We send one out every month or two. You'll be free to easily unsubscribe from it the moment your receive the first one. Thank you for your understanding.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- From Iceland to Newfoundland - via Greenland, Baffin Island and the Torngat MounLink visible for attendees
TIME: 7:30PM - 8:30PM Eastern / 4:30PM - 5:30PM Pacific
This event is held on zoom - register on zoom now to book your spot.
This 14 day journey (Sept 2026) has you experiencing a wide diversity of ecosystems, landscapes and cultures. It takes you to three rarely visited UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Polar Destination Expert, Danna Walker, will showcase the trip, providing details on itinerary highlights and trip logistics.
- Galapagos: An Ocean SafariLink visible for attendees
TIME: 7:30PM - 8:30PM Eastern / 4:30PM - 5:30PM Pacific
This event is held on zoom - register on zoom now to book your spot.
Galapagos is the subject of a never-ending stream of documentaries. For good reason!
There are few places on Earth that insert the visitor so intimately into the local ecosystems, among its wild inhabitants, both above and below the sea. We'll take a few moments to highlight why Galapagos is so special. We'll go over different modalities for visiting the islands. We'll end the presentation with an overview of our three custom designed "ocean safaris" - trips you cannot book anywhere but with us. Of course, we'll make sure to leave plenty of time for questions and (we hope) good answers.
- Easter Island: A tiny island with a big impactNeeds location
15 May, 4:30-5:30PM (Pacific time); 7:30-8:30PM (Eastern Time)
This is a zoom talk. Register on zoom now to book your spot.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) - it conjures up images of massive and mysterious statues (Moai), of trans-Pacific human migrations, of ecological catastrophe, of human resilience and cultural renewal. Our speaker, Easter Island native Josie Nahoe, will give us an overview of that fascinating history.
We're organizing a small group trip there for February 2026 - timed to coincide with the local Tapati festival - an exotic and uniquely Polynesian / Rapa Nui event like no other, celebrating Polynesian customs through song, dance, typical dress, arts, and ancient traditions (like "rock-rolling" competitions).
Josie has organized and will lead this trip. You'll learn about the island, its history, its people and enjoy the festival, but you'll have enough free time to feel like you're also having a nice tropical island holiday.
While not generally considered a wilderness destination, Easter Island offers very good opportunities for birders - with many species of shore and seabirds present. Its waters also are high in endemic species - possible to see while out snorkeling.
