Canadian Wildlife Carving Championship Highlights Fall Activities at Ontario’s Wye Marsh

Midland, Ontario…………….. Fall 2006. The 21st Canadian Wildlife Wood Carving Championships are taking place the weekend of September 16-17. Visitors will see the best Canadian carvers compete for $8,500 worth of carved prizes donated by several partners including a Pair of American Goldfinches w/habitat $700 (The Co-operators), Miniature Green Heron $500 (Wye Marsh), Meadowlark w/habitat $500 (Midland Home Building Centre), Male Bohemian Waxwing w/habitat $700 (Canadian Tire Midland), Pair of Chestnut-sided Warblers w/habitat $1,000 (Mrs. Carol Fazackerley). Visitors will be amazed at the life-like quality of the carvings by many of Canada’s finest wood carvers and will have the opportunity to see carving in progress and talk to the artists about their techniques and favorite species. The event is sponsored by the Wye Marsh Association of Woodcarvers and the Canadian Custom Packaging Company.

Wye Marsh Rhythms Folk Fall Festival 2006 also takes place the weekend of September 16-17, in conjunction with the Canadian Wood Carving Championship. The weekend is an opportunity for families to get out and experience the fall colors in the Wye Valley with some good music, food and many family events for both the kids and adults. The admission price of $10 per person includes fun activities such as free canoe rides through the channels of the Marsh, children's crafts, Birds of Prey show, on site camping (additional fee), scope spotting contest, dip-netting, and geo-caching. Family rates available.

Fall colors in the Wye Valley will be in full splendor within the next 10 days as the sumacs start their transformation into deep reds, followed by maple leaves with their palette of gold, yellows, red and mauves. The Wye Marsh is an excellent starting point with a fall colors guided hike accompanied by a Wye Marsh naturalist. Fall color hikes start on Monday, September 11 at 1 p.m. and run each day through to the middle of October. The hikes are included in the admission price. Fall guided canoe eco-tours will continue on weekends or when a minimum group of five or more is available, however there is an extra charge
The Wye Marsh has many more events taking place this fall including Mothers and Tots programs every Friday, a full moon nature walk, and backyard birding. Click here for the September Events Calendar

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Editors’ Notes:
Media working on travel stories are invited to participate in our special media visitor’s pass as the guest of the Wye Marsh.

Contact Laurie Schutt at 705-526-7809.
The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is located in Midland Ontario on the edge of Georgian Bay just 90 minutes north of Toronto. The Wye River meanders through the beautiful Wye Valley before reaching Georgian Bay and was a major canoe route for the Hurons First Nations and the Voyageurs as they navigated the water transportation routes since the early 1600’s. Wye Marsh is also home to one of the largest staging areas for the Trumpeter Swan in Eastern Canada.