First Annual WILDHOOD Festival A Success!

Over 250 people, including many parents and children, enjoyed a wonderful day of environmental education, music, exhibitors, and a fabulous BBQ lunch prepared and served by the Thornbury Beaver Valley Lion’s Club.

The first WILDHOOD FESTIVAL was held on Saturday September 24th on the beautiful site of the Blue Mountain WILD School at Elephant Thoughts’ Kimbercote Campus overlooking the Beaver Valley. Co-sponsored by the Blue Mountain WILD School, the Escarpment Corridor Alliance (ECA), and Elephant Thoughts, the Festival was held to raise awareness of the many threats which the Niagara Escarpment faces in South Georgian Bay.

Environmental groups in attendance, who are each fighting to protect a special area of the Escarpment, included: Protect Talisman Lands, Friends of Silver Creek, Royal Astronomical Society Canada, Protect Our Winters, and Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy. Support for these environmental groups continues to grow as demonstrated by the turnout at the WILDHOOD FESTIVAL. The Escarpment Corridor Alliance has brought many of these groups together as partners to share resources and demonstrate to politicians and developers the strength of their cause to preserve and protect the Escarpment in South Georgian Bay. Vendors included Bloem Botanicals, Pollinate Collingwood, BeYou Yoga + Wellness, Holly Mac Realty, Beards and the Bees, Elephant Thoughts – Bees, Ashanti Coffee, Elephant Thoughts – Robotics, and Bubble Grove.

The day included many kids’ programs including scavenger hunts, a dash robot coding session, an obstacle course, a soccer game, math games, and more. The children were also entertained with a fun and educational talk about the formation of the escarpment and its geology and fossil “life” by Annette Sandberg a ECA board member. Musical entertainment was provided by local talent Ed St. Moritz, Alan Gardner, and members of Hot Pants.

We look forward to hosting another event soon in support of the preservation and protection of the Niagara Escarpment in South Georgian Bay.

 Escarpment WILDHOOD Festival Sept. 24, 12-5 PM!

MEDIA RELEASE

 ESCARPMENT WILDHOOD FESTIVAL SEPT. 24 ,12 – 5 PM

Protecting the Future of the Escarpment in Southern Georgian Bay and Saluting Science Literary Week

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September 6, 2022, Kimberley, Town of the Blue Mountains…..The first annual Escarpment WILDHOOD Festival, inspired by The WILDHOOD Festival,  the U.K. multi award-winning festival for children and families, will bring together local environmental groups at Blue Mountain Wild School’s campus location on the Kimbercote Farm property.  The objective of the festival is to raise awareness of the many environmental issues threatening the Niagara Escarpment of South Georgian Bay and its catchment area.

Starting at noon on Sat. Sept. 24, the free festival will salute Science Literacy Week and will be a fun, adventurous and educational day that will include a nature scavenger hunt, obstacle course and other fun kids programming; a vendor village featuring many local businesses; food, refreshments and a performance by The Thirsty Boys.  There will be an opportunity to learn about the many environmental challenges currently unfolding in numerous locations throughout South Georgian Bay from the groups in attendance including:  Blue Mountain Watershed Trust, Friends of Silver Creek, Harbour West Residents Group, Protect Talisman Lands, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and Save Georgian Bay.

“We want to bring families, young and older adults together for a fun, educational day, introduce them to our school and engage them in the bigger conversation regarding the importance of the environment. Only by teaching and learning about the gravity of the pending environmental crisis in and around the Escarpment, will we start to illicit change,” said Jeff Barrett, Founder/Executive Director of Blue Mountain Wild School and co-organizer of the Escarpment WILDHOOD Festival.

David Scoon, Member of the Board of Directors of the Escarpment Corridor Alliance and co-organizer of the Escarpment WILDHOOD Festival said, “we continue to be alarmed by oversized, short-sighted and irresponsible development.  Whether it is Castle Glen, Talisman or the Silver Creek Wetland, precious forests and habitats for endangered species will be destroyed if we don’t educate and inform those around us.  We hope that many folks will come out and learn how they can help save these valuable resources.”

Opportunities to offer donations or to volunteer support will be available on-site.  Parking will be available and follow signage to the site which is located at 316362 3rd Line, Kimberley, ON N0C 1G0.

The event page is live on Facebook, click here for more information and to let the organizers know you’re coming!

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For further information:

Katherine Holmes

416-919-6310

kholmes@holmespr.com