Celebrating Natural Connections event at Fanshawe Conservation Area 

On Family Day, February 20th, the Upper Thames River Conservation Area (UTRCA) hosted the final Celebrating Natural Connections (CNC) event at Fanshawe Conservation Area. It was a bright, sunny day, perfect for an outdoor winter event. The turnout was incredible, with an estimated 3,000 people in attendance. 

Event visitors were kept busy, with over 20 activities to participate in, including: 

  • Horse-drawn wagon rides with A Universal Carriage  
  • Clean-up game with Antler River Rally
  • Bird feeder making and hikes with Bird Friendly London   
  • Tree and leaf craft activities with Carolinian Canada 
  • Leaf print art activity with artist Christine Gagné and Amsa Yaro Studio   
  • Drumming Circles 
  • Mystery artifacts with Fanshawe Pioneer Village 
  • Multi-seat bike demos with London Bicycle Café  
  • Scavenger hunts with Let’s Talk Science, Fanshawe College 
  • Butterfly crafts with London Children’s Museum  
  • Popup library, scavenger hunts, and button making with the London Public Library   
  • Excavation digs with the Museum of Ontario Archaeology 
  • Guided hikes with the Thames Valley Trail Association  
  • Land-skiing and campfires lead by the Thames Valley District School Board H3ELP Program students 
  • A series of birds of prey shows from the Raptor Conservancy 
  • A series of reptile shows from Sciensational Sssnakes
  • Nature School and flood modelling activities from the UTRCA   

Attendees also participated in an activity to commemorate and thank frontline workers by writing a message on a ribbon and tying it to the commemorative trellis.  

With an attendance over three times larger than anticipated, volunteers and staff rose to the challenge without hesitation! Thank you to everyone who helped out and ensured visitors had a fun and educational family outing.  

Many thanks to the Government of Canada’s department of Canadian Heritage, for providing funding for these events. 

To view more photos from the event, click here. 

For more information, contact Linda Smith, Community Partnership Specialist.