The Friends of Laurier Woods is again hosting the Annual Louise de Kiriline Lawrence Nature Festival to be held at the Laurier Woods Conservation Area on Saturday, August 17, 10 am – 3 pm.
See: Nature Festival's roots date back to 2014
Organized in conjunction with the Nipissing Naturalists and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority, and delivered by community volunteers and businesses, this festival celebrates North Bay's beautiful natural heritage.
Laurier Woods Conservation Area comes alive with professional and amateur naturalists who will introduce guests of all ages to the hidden treasures of forests and wetlands according to a news release.
Included in the day's activities are guided hikes, a forest bathing walk, SOUNDwalk, a tree identification walk, kid’s activities, crafts, and vendors.
The festival is free for all to attend.
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence, an internationally renowned naturalist, author and nurse, lived west of Mattawa where she studied wildlife and ornithology. She wrote over 500 reviews, 17 scientific papers, and 5 books on birds and animals and contributed regularly to Audubon Magazine. Lawrence passed away at the age of 98 in 1992. Her written work is stored in the National Archives in Ottawa.
The Friends of Laurier Woods was established as a volunteer body to manage the area as a nature preserve; to develop an interpretive trail system, boardwalks, viewing platforms, and rest areas; and to promote the area for low-impact, day-use recreation.