Take one small step into nature this summer! Bring the kids and join us at High Lonesome Nature Reserve on August 22 between 10am and 4pm for the Festival of the Wild Child, a day of outdoor exploration, discovery, and fun.
“Our theme this year is ‘One Small Step’,” says volunteer festival organizer Morgan Crampton. “Every journey begins with one small step. In nature, everything grows one step at a time — an acorn sprouts into a seedling and becomes a mighty oak, tadpoles lose their tails and develop legs to become frogs, and caterpillars emerge from their cocoons as beautiful butterflies.”
Each year, families from across the region come to explore the trails at High Lonesome, one of the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust’s (MMLT) most accessible and biodiverse properties.
“We want this year’s festival to help children and their parents understand how this former farmland has gradually become a thriving nature reserve,” adds Andrew Dunbar, MMLT’s Conservation Coordinator. “Today, it’s home to new and old growth forests, a beaver pond, meadows, rocky outcrops, and an incredible diversity of plants, animals, insects and birds.”
Visitors are encouraged to dress for adventure. Pull on your rubber boots and explore the pond, where nets, buckets, and expert helpers will introduce you to some of the tiny creatures living at the water’s edge. And don’t forget to look up — you might spot a porcupine nibbling cedar branches or an Eastern bluebird flitting through the tree tops!
Follow the enchanted fairy trail, where guides will help you discover magical creatures hidden among the trees, or wander along the pollinator path to observe insects buzzing around the grasses and wildflowers.
Around the Welcome Centre, families can enjoy crafts, storytelling, and a comfortable spot to relax and have a picnic. Learn how to make a map, meet researchers studying the plants and animals that call High Lonesome home, and even discover what different animals eat and how that affects the way they poop!
These are just some of the adventures planned for the day. Visit mmlt.ca/events for more information about activities and registration. Admission is free for children under 16, and adults are $10 each. If you’d like to volunteer to get involved, we would love to hear from you.
MMLT would like to thank the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, whose generous Community Impact Grant is helping make this year’s festival possible.
The Festival of the Wild Child will take place at High Lonesome Nature Reserve, located at 867 Carbine Road near Pakenham.