Recreation

Phragmites - Quiet Invasion

8/31/2016

Sensationalized and hyped stories come at us at such a rapid-fire rate that it’s sometimes easy to neglect giving appropriate attention to quieter but nonetheless insidious threats to our well-being. One significant menace which is growing, under the radar for most people, is the invasive Phragmites weed.

Fun - And Free - For Kids

6/30/2016

Schools out! Looking for some free things to do with kids? Here are a few suggestions, with more to follow as we find them.

"Get Your Move On" with the Active Elgin Physical Activity Challenge

3/1/2016

The Active Elgin Physical Activity Challenge is on! January and February have flown by and if your New Year’s resolution to get more active didn’t quite pan out, taking part in The Challenge may be the perfect way for you to 'March' into a more active lifestyle for 2016. And even if you are just looking for some fresh inspiration, it might help you 'get your move on' with renewed purpose.

Leo's Tree Farm

11/1/2015

After hiking through the woods, sipping hot chocolate and roasting chestnuts on an open fire, many visitors to Leo’s Tree Farm develop a warm holiday glow, in spite of the cold. Some of them don’t even purchase a tree. And that suits Leo just fine.

Read the entire article below or in Relish Elgin Holiday 2015

Flora & Fauna - Fabulous & Fragile

9/1/2015

Elgin County's outdoor enthusiasts and naturalists, finding themselves right in the centre of the Carolinian Life zone, have long appreciated the vast diversity of flora and fauna to be discovered in the exploration of habitat from woodlands to wetlands, tallgrass prairie, lakes, streams and shoreline. Both long-standing and newer nature and conservation groups have have played varying roles in getting us out into nature, helping us appreciate it and ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Read about some of the groups who have led the way – naturally in Relish Elgin Fall 2015 Edition.

Suggested Reading - "Run!"

5/23/2015

Suggested by Robin Fleming

I saw “Run!” at the library and thought, "Why not?". Then two or three days later I still hadn’t read it and planned to return it to the library unread. Waste of time I thought. Maybe I wasn’t so enthused about reading a book about another runner.

Being a runner myself and preparing for my first 1/2 marathon run, I didn’t feel like getting first hand tips on how to run. But when I got to the library they didn’t have the book I wanted readily available. So … guess what? I took the book back home and actually began reading it. Glad I did!

It was amazing! This guy, Dean Karnazes, runs ultra-marathons. Not 26 miles but more ... all night running. I was comparing his all night running to my two hour runs – a joke I know! He not only runs all night but he has completed four dessert runs in one year and over seven continents twice.

I ended up thinking, “This guys is amazing. If he can run 100 miles for 12 hours I guess I can run for two hours. Even if you’re not a runner, the stories he tells about all his running adventures are interesting to read. He adds wit to some of his ultra- storytelling – it makes for a good read.

And I'm Going to ... Strawberry Fields Kite Festival

5/1/2015

Anne Sloboda and Eric Curtis brought their print design studio to Sparta in 1980 and, soon after, narrowed their production to functional but beautiful kites. When Anne started a second job at the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital, it just happened to be located on grounds with a field which looked to be kite-flying perfect. Anne and Eric’s gathering of a few flyers in 1996 grew to become the Strawberry Fields Kite Festival, which now draws hundreds and will celebrate its 24th anniversary this year. Anne chatted recently about their business and the festival’s beginnings and future.

Read the entire article in the Relish Elgin Spring 2015 Edition

The People Power Diaries - Robin Fleming

3/13/2015

The first in an on-going series devoted to People Power stories from around Elgin County and St. Thomas, in which local residents share a bit about the ways they are getting out and enjoying the benefits of fun and active transportation. First up, C4AT member, Robin Fleming tells about her adventures last year on the 3-Port Cycle Tour and the Tom Zombie Run.

New Rail Corridor Trail & A Group on the Move

12/1/2014

The L&PS Rail Corridor Trail has been getting lots of attention since its opening. It has already prompted rave reviews from many individuals and families who have gotten out to walk, run and cycle the path. The project was also enthusiastically applauded by a local group, Citizens for Active Transportation (C4AT) as a giant positive contribution to getting people moving.

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