Heartland Forest’s fourth annual Hoedown also broke ground on a new nature centre.
“A year ago we had an important announcement from the federal government announcing that we received $1.65 million from the enabling accessibility fund to build a nature centre,” said executive director Elizabeth Graham.
Graham says the vision for Heartland Forest is to make it “nature accessible for all and having a permanent nature centre will provide us with year round access and we are really celebrating that today.”
The centre will allow the establishment to bring the outdoors inside. Graham says on days when the weather may be inclement they will be able to use the indoor facility where “they’ll be exhibits, a forest discovery classroom, a woodworking shop, an art studio, seminar space, so there will be a lot that will be going on inside the building as well as outside.”
The new building should done next spring.
Heartland Forest is a 93-acre, fully accessible nature experience at 8400 Kalar Road in Niagara Falls.
Although things got off to a rainy and windy start for the family friendly day on Saturday, Mother Nature eventually cooperated making all the outdoor activities even more enjoyable.
All happenings had a western theme to them including pony and hay rides, a petting farm, a fishing pond, archery, mini putt, face painting, kid’s crafts and games, live country music and delicious food including corn on the cob.
One of the things that make events like the hoe Down possible are the efforts of the volunteers who assist with activites.
High school student and volunteer Vanessa McDougall said she had a blast helping out during the day seeing all the smiles on people’s faces, but she also enthused it was a great place to get involved in general and encouraged other kids to come out to upcoming activities like their Oct. 20 Pumpkinfest.
“Just give Heartland Forest a call and tell them you can come out as a volunteer and they will put your name down. You do something for your community and maybe even get a little extra credit for school.”
For more information about Heartland Forest go to their website at: www.heartlandforest.org.
For video coverage of the event please watch Bullet TV this week.
