Great Outdoor Adventure - a refuge for all creatures great and small

Jun 07, 2012

Photo: Daylia and Ayden Peterson, and Natalie and Hailey Coutts at the petting zoo at the Sharbot Lake Great Outdoor Adventure

A steady stream of outdoor adventure seekers gathered for the fourth annual Sharbot Lake Outdoor Adventure at the Sharbot Lake High School on June 2 .

The event is put on by the Child Centre of Northern Frontenac Community Services NFCS, as an opportunity for the community to get out and enjoy some outdoor fun together at a limited cost.

Organizers offered up numerous activities, including: crafts, games, horse-drawn wagon rides, mini golf, a karate demonstration by members of Sharbot Lake Karate, a BBQ, vehicle displays by the OPP and the Central Frontenac Fire Department, and an obstacle course. Back again this year was the always popular petting zoo by Kim and Victor Peterson of Mountain Grove who were helped by their two children Daylia (12) and Ayden (4). The Petersons had on display a number of their rescued charges, just a few of the over 100 animals at their farm that they have rescued.

All of the activities were free, with the only cost being a $1 charge for food items.

Rain all day and night on Friday threatened to turn the event into an indoor adventure, but the rain stopped in time for the pavement to dry. At one point about half way through the two-hour event, the skies darkened, but just then drummers Donna Hollywood, Pam Giroux, and Marcie and Amber Asselstine came outside and started to sing and drum, and the sun peeked out through the clouds.

As an added feature, a yard sale was held in conjunction with the event, raising $272 for the United Way. Northern Frontenac Community Services is a United Way agency. The United Way helps to fund the NFCS family counseling program as well as other services.

The Child Centre will be offering a number of events and programs for youth this summer, including a summer camp on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for children aged 6-10.