The holiday frenzy is upon us. The rush is on to find the "perfect" gift for everyone on your holiday list. Unfortunately, for many, the last minute dash to the Christmas Eve finish line is guaranteed to end unhappily -- presents that are too big, too small, and too outlandish. Too bad!

By some estimates as many as a third of holiday gift purchases are returned. In fact, up to 40 percent of all clothing purchased as presents will end up back at the stores it came from.

Purchase with a Purpose
The search for meaningful alternatives isn't as challenging as you might think. More and more Canadians are opting for gifts that are as much a delight to give as they are to receive -- gifts with a purpose.

In fact, a new Ipsos Reid poll, conducted on behalf of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), finds more than seven out of ten (74 percent) Canadians agree that knowing someone has made a donation in their name in lieu of a holiday gift makes them feel good.

How do you Wrap a Reindeer?
Many Canadian charities offer alternative gift giving programs during the holiday season, but only one will let you put a piece of Canadian wilderness under the tree. As the country's leading land conservation organization, NCC offers Gifts of Canadian Nature, a wonderful way to help protect the wild places and wildlife that we all treasure.

Starting at $40, Gifts of Canadian Nature can be personalized in honour of the recipient who also receives a full-colour, eco-friendly calendar. You can choose to help protect habitat for some of our most threatened species such as Newfoundland marten, northern saw-whet owl, grizzly bear or Canada lynx. Also on the list this year, caribou -- Santa calls them Reindeer.

It's easy to wrap the beauty of Canada's wilderness this holiday season:

• Order online: http://www.giftsofnature.ca/
• Call toll-free to order: 1-800-465-8005

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the nation's leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962 we have helped to protect more than 2.2 million acres (890,300 hectares) nationwide. NCC is the only environmental charity in Canada given an A rating by MoneySense magazine for its fiscal responsibility.

[For hi-res images please visit: www.natureconservancy.ca/SMR_GCN]