Weather

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• IceWatch
  Website: www.icewatch.ca
  Meticulously recording the annual ice-in and ice-out dates on your lake doesn’t have to mean you’re just an obsessive cottager. It can also make you a "citizen scientist" if you contribute your observations to a growing body of data being compiled by researchers studying climate change. This site shows you how to consistently gauge accurate freeze and thaw cycles and then submit your notes online. There are also links to similar FrogWatch, PlantWatch, and WormWatch monitoring programs.
• Nordlys Northern Lights
  Website: www.northern-lights.no
  You’d have to have a really remote cabin in the far, far north to get the breathtaking views of the Northern Lights the average Norwegian does. But Ontario cottage country is also home to some stunning views of the aurora borealis. This English-language Website: from Norway helps explain the science behind the greatest light show on earth. Includes hints on when and where to see them, and delves into the history and mythology around the phenomenon.
• Online Conversions
  Website: www.onlineconversion.com
  Have you ever pondered how many metres there are in a 100' shoreline setback or worried if a metric pinch of salt is equal to an imperial dash? We live in a hybrid world. Some of us think of the distance to the cottage in miles, while our kids think in kilometres (and no, we’re not there yet). Which is why we need conversion calculators. With this site you can translate any distance, weight, or even the temperature from one generation’s measure to the other’s.
• Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services
  Website: www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/how/howto_buildings.htm
  Advice for making buildings and spaces accessible.
  
• The Ontario Directory for Accessibility
  Website: www.accessibilitydirectory.ca/English/Default.asp
  Aimed at helping places of business become accessible, this directory features: architects, contractors and consultants who specialize in barrier removal and barrier-free design; assistive technology; communication devices; ergonomic consultation and assessment.
  
• Rondeau Cottagers Association
  Website: www.rondeaucottagers.ca
  Rondeau Provincial Park, on the western shore of Lake Erie, is home to a thriving community of cottagers and an active cottagers’ association. Weather and marine conditions for the area are frequently updated on this site, as are border wait times at crossings across the country. Also includes real estate and trading post sections and a listing of community information and events.
• The Weather Network
  Website: www.weathernetwork.ca
  Rain, rain not going away? Check to see if there’s any sun on the horizon. There’s also a Marine Forecast for boaters. (For official Environment Canada weather and marine forecasts, visit www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca.)
• United States Access Board: Accessible Fishing Piers
  Website: www.access-board.gov/recreation/guides/fishing.htm
  This federal agency committed to accessible design offers info on accessible fishing piers

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