Our first show was a rousing success.
The second was bursting at the seams...
And our third show drew 360 campers from tents far and wide to get up close and personal with some of Ontario's coolest reptiles.
The team, Jeff, Amanda, Adam and Katrina, coasted back home on a real high tonight, after an awesome 3 days in Georgian Bay region.
Our first presentation of the summer started off at MacTier Library, a small town famous for its railway heritage. This was not the first time seeing the show for many in our audience, and they welcomed us back with open arms. Next we drove east to Port Carling in the Muskoka Lakes, where we had so many families come that they couldn't even all fit in the room! We were happy to arrive early enough that evening at Killbear Provincial Park to take a walk around the beautiful Nature Centre and have a quick swim at the beach. The show that night was a great one, thanks to the wonderful Parks staff and an energetic crowd filling the amphitheatre. Such a fun time!
We had a cozy sleep that night in our trailer, with the snakes each being put to bed in their own large plastic sweaterbox homes, and the turtles in the bathtub.
Day 2 was an easy start at Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park, where after our small presentation on the beach we were lucky to spot a 5-lined skink (Ontario's only lizard) darting across the sand! Onwards to the Alban community centre in French River. The librarian there went out of her way to promote our visit, and we had a terrific turnout for such a small community. With our shows going so well, Jeff treated the team to some delicious fish n' chips for dinner in the the small fishing village of Killarney, before camping out at Killarney Provincial Park. The scenery there was stunning- blue lakes and rocky shore, we can see why the Group of Seven loved this place so much! We enjoyed our swims at George Lake that evening and a short hike on La Cloche trail the next morning before our show. Little 3 year old Mari loved the snakes so much that she gave each of us a hug before she left. Talk about great :)
Our last stop was Grundy Lake Provincial Park- a keen crowd and a gorgeous setting, there was nothing left to do but swim before we had to leave our lovely Canadian Shield and head home to Orillia.
One thing we can all agree on... this is going to be a fabulous summer!
Until next time....
- Amanda