Les Amis du Bois Laurier, a non-profit charity, is organizing the “Louise de Kiriline Lawrence Nature Festival” to be held in the Laurier Wood Conservation Area on Saturday.
The nature festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 20.
The event is organized in conjunction with the Nipissing Naturalists Club and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority, and delivered by community volunteers and businesses; this festival aims to celebrate the natural heritage of North Bay.
“The Laurier Woods Conservation Area comes alive with professional and amateur naturalists who will introduce guests of all ages to the hidden treasures of the forests and wetlands,” organizers said in a statement.
Activities for the day include building a pollinator house with the Conservation, Plants and Berries Authority with Lori Beckerton, a birding hike with Rachel Sturge, a dragonfly and butterflies with Brent Turcotte and Mary Ann Perron, the story of plants on planet Earth in dor plants with Fred Pinto, Tree Bingo and dinosaur eggs for youngsters.
Les Amis du Bois Laurier will also highlight Caisse Alliance and Tourisme North Bay for their generous donations around 10:30 a.m. Festival-goers are invited to bring their empty bottles or cans to help create walks at Bois Laurier.
The festival honors Louise de Kiriline Lawrence, an internationally renowned naturalist, author and nurse, who lived west of Mattawa where she studied wildlife and ornithology.
Lawerence has written over 500 reviews, 17 scientific articles and 5 books on birds and animals. She has also been a regular contributor to Audubon magazine. Lawrence died aged 98 in 1992. Her written work is held at the National Archives in Ottawa.
The festival is free for everyone.
For more information about the festival, visit www.laurierwoods.com.