Creativity in Nature Event—Fun on a Cloudy Day!

A stick bug joins in the fun on Jessica Spirak’s arm!

Why we call them red oaks…

The woods were alive with activity on a cloudy, drizzly Saturday, September 20 at Carp Ridge EcoWellness Centre during a collaboration with the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust to provide opportunities to be creative in nature.

Inspired by MMLT’s Creativity Blitz on 200 acres near Pakenham in May, CREWC director Katherine Willow decided to do something similar with them on the Carp Ridge.

Neil Carleton leads people in creative experimentation with leaf and bark rubbings.

Participants registered with a donation to MMLT to continue preserving precious wilderness. Then they were given a map of the trails and activities: drumming, Soundscaping (listening with a dish and electronics…extraordinary), nature journaling (with gorgeous bark and leaf rubbings), meditation at Father Jack’s Sacred Space, visiting beaver ponds, exploring a children’s nature museum (compliments of the Ridgewood Nature Program outdoor preschool) and observing the “Poo Tree” where generations of porcupines have lived.

Healthy, local, organic and gluten-free food was available—and delicious—thanks to volunteer Tanya Spirak. And the general consensus was that this event had infinite potential and will happen again in some form. Thank you to all who contributed.

If you are interested in finding out when the next nature event will happen, please sign up for email newsletters at: mmlt.com and/or ecowellness.com and we look forward to seeing you in the woods!