Festival 2011
Welcome to the 8th Annual Outdoor Festival! UNESCO has declared 2011 “Year of the Forest” and we plan to celebrate here on the Bruce Peninsula. Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore the natural and cultural heritage of southern Ontario’s largest stretch of unbroken forest. We welcome you to join in the exploration and hope you continue to discover all that the Bruce Peninsula and Bruce Trail have to offer!
Set amidst Southern Ontario's largest unbroken forest, this year's festival offers you unique perspectives on all things forest and trees, and a few other goodies besides! Walk with experts and learn fascinating facts about the habitats, threats, resources, trsditional uses, identification and more while enjoying some of the best of the trails on the Bruce Peninsula.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THE FESTIVAL - see below
To help us reduce our impact on the environment during the festival, please bring your own reusable drink container for the weekend for use during our Saturday night wine and cheese and for hot & cold drinks throughout the weekend. Mugs will also be for sale at the door.
Please note where your events begin and arrive 15 minutes prior to your event to arrange car pooling. We suggest you carry water and your lunch/snacks as you move from morning to afternoon events.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, September 30, 2011
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Information and Registration; Parks Canada Visitor Centre
Pick up your registration information and Festival Pass. Festival volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions regarding the weekend events. Pre-registration is required for all weekend events.
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Historical Aspects of Forestry with Clarke Birchard; Visitor Centre
We will begin the festival with a presentation by Clark Birchard exploring historical aspects of forestry on the Peninsula and the future of logging in the area. Clarke is a well known local naturalist, On Nature and Bruce Trail member and historian.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
SATURDAY MORNING ACTIVITIES
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Festival Headquarters, Information and Registration; Parks Canada
Visitor Centre
Pick up your registration information and Festival Pass. Festival volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions regarding the weekend events. Pre-registration is required for all weekend events.
9:00 am -12:00 pm
Tree Identification Along the Bruce Trail
Join Bruce Trail Conservancy ecologist Brian Popelier to learn how to identify forest trees. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Limit 20 people.
9:00 am -12:00 pm
A Walk Through Time
Holly Dunham will lead an historical walk through Tobermory and discuss stories from the newly re-published book “Heroes of the Forest, Fishers of the Lakes”. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Limit 20 people.
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Medicinal and Edible Plants
Come out and discover the bounty of medicinal and edible plants found in our local forests with Barbara Bobo. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Limit 20 people.
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Look, See, Paint- Seeing Nature through Artistic Eyes
Come try your hand at painting and capture the natural beauty of the forest with local artist Julie Heinrichs. No prior artistic experience is required to enjoy this event- beginners are highly encouraged to register! Materials provided. Adults only. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Class size limited to 15 people.
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Forests as Habitat- Look Up, Look Down
Join Parks Canada naturalist Jenna McGuire for an interesting look into the many ways forests provide homes for wildlife. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Limit 20 people.
SATURDAY LUNCH BREAK 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch is not provided.
There are a number of restaurants in the area. You may wish to pack a lunch.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Threats to our Forests and Sustainable Logging
Adam Brylowski of the BTC and Ken Goldsmith from Bruce County will guide you through the Lindsay tract trails while exploring the two subjects and their interrelationship. Meet at the Bruce County Lindsay Tract parking lot on west side of Hwy #6. Limit 20 people.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Fabulous Views – Just a Hike!
A hike through the National Park along our newly routed Grotto trail led by Grant Erhardt. This is an easy-moderate hike over some rugged terrain so wear sturdy footwear. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Limit 20 people.
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Forests Rock!
Join BTC executive director and geologist Beth Kummling for a very informative hike to learn about the many ways bedrock and forest are interconnected. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Limit 20 people.
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Traditional Uses of Forest Resources (workshop)
Parks Canada naturalist Lenore Keeshig-Tobias will show you traditional uses of forest plants and teach you how to make your own basket. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Limit 20 people.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
GPS Scavenger Hunt/Geocache
Join Ted Spieker of ElectroQTed) and learn the basics of GPS, then find a few nearby caches after the presentation. Come find out more about the game where YOU are the search engine. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Limit 20 people.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Ancient Cedars Hike
Join us for an informative hike along the escarpment to find some of the oldest trees around! Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Limit 20 people.
SATURDAY EVENING ACTIVITIES
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm FEATURE PRESENTATION
Forest Values … a matter of perspective?
Be engaged on Saturday night as we explore forest values through the eyes of three speakers; Frank Burrows, Parks Canada Superintendant and Forest Ecologist, Tony Chegahno, National Park interpreter, story teller and naturalist and Dave Taylor, president of Lands and Forests consulting.
Wine & Cheese at 7:00 pm in the beautiful lobby of the Parks Canada Visitor Centre – Presentation at 7:30 pm in the theatre.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Come out and join Peninsula Bruce Trail Hike Leaders in exploring our trails! As for all events, remember to wear sturdy hiking boots, dress in layers, and bring snacks, lunch and water.
10:00 am - 1:00 pm > Dyer’s Bay Hikes on Bruce Trail Day
Meet at the Municipal parking lot at Dyer’s Bay where we will guide you along spectacular trails in the Dyer’s Bay area for stunning look-outs over Georgian Bay and beautiful forest views! Dyer's Bay parking area, Dyer's Bay Road, Dyers Bay.
Approximate lat./long. = 45.161596,-81.340006 > Google Maps | Google Maps duirections from Hwy 6.
OTHER "FRINGE EVENTS" THIS WEEKEND
>>> Download Fringe Events PDF <<<
Other suggested activities
- Visit our local lighthouses in Tobermory, Cabot Head or Lion’s Head. View the Lighthouses of the Bruce Peninsula website.
- Hike to the ‘Grotto’ (see pictures by Edward in Toronto + Google Maps approximate location of Grotto)
- Hike to the Devil’s Monument (Cape Chin North website - Devil's Monument + Google Maps approximate location of Devil's Monument + Reference Bruce Trail Map 40 Edition 25.0, km 112.1 - Roadside parking 50 m north of the Trail, alongside the Minhinnick Side Trail)
- Climb the Visitor Centre tower picture
- explore local gardens: site one or site two & artisan shops
- See Interactive map of Tobermory & area
Festival Passes & Pre-registration
Pre-registration is required for all events so book early (see contact information on last page of schedule).
- $50/person if paid registration received by September 16th >>> The weekend pass donation is $50 per person and includes Friday night presentation, Saturday night social and presentation, all Saturday and Sunday hikes and events as well as entry to the Parks Canada Visitor Centre and National Park sites for Saturday.
- $60/person if paying for registration after September 16th >>> The weekend pass donation is $60 per person and includes Friday night presentation, Saturday night social and presentation, all Saturday and Sunday hikes and events as well as entry to the Parks Canada Visitor Centre and National Park sites for Saturday.
DOWNLOAD 2011 REGISTRATION FORM - PDF FILE
Festival Headquarters:
Parks Canada Visitor Centre, Tobermory
- Visitor Centre Website, Bruce Peninsula National Park of Canada
- Google Maps location of entrance to Visitor Centre from Highway 6
- Google Maps location of the Visitor Centre [45.257045,-81.656990]
- If you are travelling north on Highway 6 into Tobermory: Turn right (east) onto Chi-Sintub’dik Road, across from the Royal Bank of Canada. Follow the road approximately 1 km to the visitor centre.
- Tobermory Community Centre approximate location via Google Maps
RAFFLE - Where Do the Proceeds Go?
Festival proceeds support the Bruce Trail Conservancy. Don’t forget to get your tickets for our raffle, available by calling Jane at 519-596-2081. Winning tickets will be drawn on Saturday night prior to the feature presentation.
First Prize is this Quilt
Bring a Drink Container
We are pleased to continue our efforts to help reduce our impact on the environment during the festival. Please bring your own reusable drink container for the weekend for use during our Saturday night wine and cheese and for hot & cold drinks throughout the weekend. Mugs will also be for sale at the door.
Special Notes
- Please note where your events begin and arrive 15 minutes prior to your event to arrange car pooling.
- We suggest you carry water and your lunch/snacks as you move from morning to afternoon events.
Contact Information
Registration questions: or call Case at 519-596-8038
General information: email or or call Sheila 519-596-8337
DOWNLOAD 2011 REGISTRATION FORM - PDF FILE
Please check all start times/locations carefully & arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the event.
Special thanks to Parks Canada, our festival partner, for their tremendous support.
