WACF Earth Day Festival draws many visitors
Text and Photos
By Keith Knepp
Staff Writer
IN THE DIRT — Martha Stoelting, left, and Joyce Arleen Corson were busy making seed balls to give away at the WACF Earth Day Festival. The duo were representing the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club.
READY TO FLY — Danielle Schley of Soarin’ Hawk Raptor Rehab holds Ruby during the WACF Earth Day Festival.
Outdoors and nature lovers enjoyed a gorgeous day Saturday at the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s Earth Day Festival, which was held on the WACF grounds south of Syracuse.
More than 200 visitors came to the festival, featuring 19 activities sponsored by community groups, organizations and members. Everyone who came was treated to a blue drawstring bag, hot dog lunch and entered into a door prize drawing for WACF-branded merchandise.
Visitors to the free event had the opportunity to stop by the numerous white tents and talk with the various groups about different aspects of nature and the great outdoors.
“We had the best turn out for Earth Day Festival that I can remember,” said Pam Schumm, WACF’s education officer. “(The) 19 vendors were absolutely thrilled with the participation and engagement of the children and parents. We had several new community members join us this year- Chautauqua Wawasee, Kosciusko Soul and Water, Kosciusko Water and Woodland Invasive Species Partnership and Tippecanoe Audubon Society. A favorite attraction was the raptor birds from Soarin’ Hawk rehabilitation Center in Fort Wayne sponsored by the Audubon Society. And, the free hotdogs were also a big hit. We are so thankful that we had a great day for a change! We look forward to having this event again next year about the same time- hopefully even bigger!