December 30, 2007 - 12:00

By Kristen Calis

PICKERING -- Retirement hasn’t slowed down long-time Pickering resident Larry Noonan.

The retired teacher and principal has continued to pursue his two greatest passions: science and sports. In fact, he’s volunteered so much of his time sharing his knowledge of the environment that he was given the Pickering Naturalists’ Conservation Award at the club’s Annual Members’ Night, although he’s not even a member.

“I greatly appreciate that,” he said.

Mr. Noonan taught Grades 3 to 8 for more than 30 years at schools in the Toronto District School Board (where he was also principal), and St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School in Pickering. He’s also taught night courses at York University. At St. Elizabeth Seton, he took his students on a number of trips to local trails and parks, and now does the same for numerous Pickering schools as a volunteer. He believes environmental issues are critical for kids to learn about, and appreciates Pickering’s vast green space.

“In Altona Forest, we’ve got a herd of deer, we’ve got coyote, fox, we’ve got hawks, we’ve got 126 different species of birds, we’ve got frogs, and I can take them in to study any of those things,” he said. He also volunteers at St. Elizabeth Seton by coaching junior and senior girls’ volleyball, and previously coached boys’ volleyball and basketball.

“It allows you to communicate and make a connection with them in a totally different way,” he said.

He also teaches watercolour painting to seventh-graders at the school, even inviting students to paint in Altona Forest itself (with parents’ permission), and the finished piece goes online at www.altonaforest.org.

“I basically take over in four different classes for almost a week - four days normally - and the teacher becomes a student,” he said.

Mr. Noonan also helped organize tree rescues when Strouds Lane was being extended to Altona Forest. The first involved students from St. Elizabeth Seton, where hundreds attended; the second was for the same site, but through the Pickering Naturalists.

“We dug up trees and brought them to two sites in Altona Forest and replanted them,” he said.    

He helped the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the Altona Forest Stewardship Committee (of which he’s chairman) establish the adopt-a-trail program in Altona Forest about three years ago. He explained families become responsible for 50 to 100 kilometres of trail, and if they see a tree fall down, for example, they contact Mr. Noonan, and he’ll contact the TRCA to take care of it. Volunteers tend to their areas about once every two weeks, and Mr. Noonan noted cleanliness seems to deter litter.

“Since I’ve been doing that, there seems to be a lot less garbage,” he said.

He also volunteers with the Ontario Forestry Association as organizer of Tree Bee, an annual conservation and environmental test of knowledge for elementary school students. He’s coached Our Lady of the Bay Catholic School, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School, Highbush Public School, St. Bernadette Catholic School and Brother Andre Catholic School to either top-four finishes or honourable mentions. Mr. Noonan explained Tree Bee gives kids who didn’t typically join sports teams an opportunity to represent their school.

“I wanted to give them an out to do that type of activity as well,” he said.

For more information on Pickering Naturalists, visit www.pickeringnaturalists.org.

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