Celebrating Ten Years of Service!

Spring 2008

• Eco Echo hosted a welcome ceremony for over 100 community members that inspired programming contacts and began local partnerships.

Summer 2008

• A week-long day camp with Earth Lore Wilderness educators Pierre Blin and Heather Burrill, introduced 5-10 year-olds to nature’s abundance.

Fall 2008

• Weekend workshops with the Mycologues amateurs de l’Outaouais, permaculture expert Brad Peterson (Environmental Design) and organic farmer Ken Taylor (Windmill Point Farms) introduced 40 community members to permaculture practices.

Winter 2008

• Resident artist, farmer and host Pierrot began weekly drumming workshops.

Spring 2009

• A day-long fruit tree and grafting workshop with Ken Taylor inspired 60 participants from as far away as the Niagara Escarpment and Lanark, Ontario. The La Pêche Organic Community Orchard (POCO) took root at this workshop!

Fall 2009

• Second annual “hands-on survey” with the Mycologues amateurs de l’Outaouais for over 50 participants identified 50 mushroom species on the property.

Winter 2009

• Eco Echo supported the first steps as members of La Pêche Organic Community Orchard made plans to develop a new source for locally grown fruit on the pesticide-free farmland and preparation began on a one acre plot.

Spring 2010

• An Earth Day Festival on April 24 hosted neighbors, families and visitors who explored the land, enjoyed tractor rides, visited the Quarry amphitheatre, played on haybales, walked the labyrinth, co-created an environmental artwork, Le Cri, with Marc Walter, listened to music, and celebrated the planting of the first cherry tree in the Community Orchard.

Summer 2010

• Members of the La Pêche Organic Community Orchard tended and cared for a variety of 35 fruit trees as they established roots in their new soil.
• Two weeklong programs in August 2010 presented by Isabel Diaz and ARTerres Eco-Art Camp engaged 27 youngsters between age 6-13 in a variety of interactive and creative outdoor learning activities.

Fall 2010

• Les Mycologues amateurs de l'Outaouais joined us in September for its third annual program and discovered 117 delicious and unusual mushroom varieties.
• A Homa Therapy Workshop presented by Sahaj Kaur Durnin, ayurvedic nutritionist, shared the ancient knowledge of Agnihotra with community members.
• Land artist Marc Walter's "outdoor studio" in the fields and woods at Eco Echo welcomed hundreds of visitors over two weekends in October during the 22nd Annual Artists in their Environment Studio Tour.
• The La Pêche Organic Community Orchard (POCO) planted an additional 40 bare-root fruit and nut trees, bushes and vines for hibernation throughout the winter. It is now the most diverse orchard in the Gatineau!
• Organic farmer Ryan Wilson led an ecological property design workshop in November and inspired 20 community members to take a "hands-on" approach to managing their own property using the principles of permaculture.

Spring 2011

• Eco Echo partnered with Ottawa's Hummingbird House Healing Centre to host author and Pachamama Alliance co-founder Lynne Twist (www.soulofmoney.org) in presenting The Pachamama Alliance's Awakening the Dreamer/Changing the Dream Symposium for 35 thought leaders.
• The Second Annual Earth Day Festivalon April 23rd, with sponsorship from the Caisse populaire Desjardins de Masham-Luskville, focused on readying the orchard for spring and featured popular rides on two ponies from Captiva Farms. We're grateful to the many volunteers and families who generously participated in welcoming Spring to the Gatineau.

Fall 2011

• Members and friends of Les Mycologues amateurs de l'Outaouais joined us for their annual discovery and identification workshop and found over 100 mushroom varieties.
• Community leaders participated in the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream workshop with Pachamama foundee Lynne Twist.

Spring 2012

• Eco Echo sponsored a screening for 200 people at the Black Sheep of Land Awakening by Raúl Alvarez.
• Owen Tuf and Pierre Bisson planted a half acre of indigenous plants from The Wildflower Farm. Sylvia Spring and Christopher Minnes planted organic sunflowers at the main entrance donated by Eric Corneau and Maude Bertrand.

Summer 2012

• Master R.D. Chin, Feng Shui architect offered an inspiring two-day workshop to heal and transform relationships with the land and community by enriching the knowledge and practice of this ancient art.

Fall 2012

• During the last two weekends in September, Eco Echo hosted land artist Marc Walter during the 24th Artists in Their Environment Studio Tour. Over 200 people walked the pathways to enjoy sculpture and artwork around and inside the historic barn. Marc's sculpture "Le Souffle" graces the main entrance to Eco Echo from the highway.
  

• The Winter Solstice on December 21 was celebrated with a Sacred Fire Ceremony by Joe Hiscott, honouring all those working to ensure a vibrant future for our community!

Spring 2013

• Eco Echo celebrated April 22, Earth Day, with Wakefield Ensemble by hosting two workshops at the Wakefield/La Pêche Community Centre. These highlighted the NCC's proposed ecological corridors to connect to the Gatineau Park and a presentation by ACRE Chelsea on the role land trusts can play in preserving natural habitat. The program included Raúl Alvarez' film Land Awakening and a community supper catered by Au Coeur de Saule.
• Environmental educators Corinne & Bryarly McEachern's EARTH PATH Nature Program over four weekends in May and June shared the wonders of nature with youngsters who experienced our forests and fields as their classroom.

Fall 2013

• October's Deepening Our Relationship with Nature workshop with Hilary Samuel from Catalyst Mind introduced participants to the Natural Systems Thinking Process, a practical and accessible means to access our natural inherent state of well-being.
• EARTH PATH Nature Program returned with eight enriching programs in October and November.

Spring 2014

• Eco Echo again celebrated Earth Day in April in partnership with Wakefield Ensemble at the Wakefield/La Pêche Community Centre, sponsoring the Rooney's new film titled Precautionary Principle: The Nicole Bruinsma Story.
• EARTH PATH: Nature Connections offered thirteen day programs from February through June.The program provided nine children from 6-11 years old with an opportunity to build community and connect with nature through creative play and exploration, while strengthening their naturalist skills and wilderness awareness. The long cold, snowy winter tested participants’ fortitude and adaptability!

Summer 2014

• EARTH PATH Summer Camp returned in July with a one-week summer camp serving eight children that balanced the development of naturalist skills with community building. Campers had the opportunity to do crafts with natural materials.

Fall 2014

• Eco Echo supported the workshop titled: Climate Change Challenges and Community Solutions in the Gatineau Hills October 26 at the Wakefield/La Pêche Community Centre.
• EARTH PATH Nature Program offered eight enriching programs in October and November.
• On September 17, the Ferme Minnes Farm introduced its sustainable development project at the Community Centre. Visit: FermeMinnesFarm
• Our Winter Solstice Celebration on December 21 with Joanna McMillan invited friends and neighbours to honour the turning of the seasons and the New Year!

Winter 2014-15

• Architect Stan Britton's "Moody Manitoba Morning" sculpture attracted visitors and community members from November to April 2015.

• EARTH PATH Nature Program offered sixteen weekly programs from February through June 2015 for young people from 6-12 years old with educators Bryarly & Corinne McEachern.

Summer 2015

• In late May Claudia Hehr offered How to Communicate with your Animals for sixteen guests in the tipi during the Voice of the Animals' Canada Tour.
• EARTH PATH Nature Program provided two dynamic summer camp programs in late June and early July with Bryarly & Corinne McEachern.
• In August, the Mycologues amateurs de l’Outaouais welcomed fifteen partcipants for their annual mushroom collecting and identification workshop.

Fall 2015

• EARTH PATH Nature Program offered eight Friday sessions engaging twelve young people.
• In November, Nikos Kavanya brought her Dreaming the Seeds program to the Wakefield Community Centre and inspired twenty four participants with the importance of planting and nurturing seeds in gardens and communities.

Spring 2016

• Aboriginal Architect Douglas Cardinal presented his plans for the Ferme Minnes Farm conservation development to over 120 people on April 22 at the Community Centre. His clusters of sustainable and healthy "small footprint" homes will enhance the Eco Echo learning community.
• Eco Echo sponsored Wakefield's Earth Day 2016 opening night film, THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, based on Naomi Klein's inspiring book, for an estimated 100 attendees.
• EARTH PATH Nature Program continued its programming with Friday sessions serving eight young people.

Summer 2016

• EARTH PATH Nature Program offered its annual summer camp in June engaging ten young people in outdoor activities.

• In August, Gardens that Seed Living Communities featured permaculture expert Jane Hayes (gardenjane.com) in a vibrant session on designing & growing gardens to strengthen the spirit of community. Over twenty participants with members of Cohabitat Wakefield, discovered "hands on" techniques to engage others in the fun of gardening together.

Fall 2016

• EARTH PATH Nature Program offered eleven classes from September through November serving 8 children, ages 6-11

  
  

  Our fall session included explorations in the forests and meadows, harvesting wild apples and making applesauce, plant and seed identification, a study of owls in our region, a geology study where we tested pH levels in soils, harvesting medicinal plants, and shelter building. Interspersed throughout was time for crafts (milkweed pod mice, painted pods, pinecone owls, painted acorns, plant posters, leather armbands, walking sticks, landscape cutouts), fire keeping, sharing circles, wildcrafted tea parties, games, music, and stories.

Spring 2017

• Earth Day Celebration-Saturday April 22 in Wakefield

  Eco Echo was a proud sponsor of Wakefield’s unique Earth Day Market–family fun, local craft and food vendors–enhanced by a new Environmental Fair, featuring informational exhibitors who educate and inspire.

• EARTH PATH Nature Camp hosted 15 children, ages 6-11, from March through June

This year we took advantage of the snow and did quite a bit of sledding and animal tracking through the forest. We have also focused on shelter building, fire making (including starting fires with a bow drill), conifer studies, stories, songs, games and crafting (most recently, we constructed wood and birchbark boats which we sailed down the streams, and we have begun some projects making arrows and cordage). Recently, we introduced spring plant studies, harvested medicinal plants and made salves, undertook local bird and frog studies and learned to identify their calls.

• Two Community Workshops welcomed volunteers on June 1

Members of POCO joined Rob Grace to plan the management of our organic orchard with strategies to care for and enhance the existing fruit trees using a low-maintenance approach to mulching and natural care.

Representatives of RESTCo shared innovative ideas and approaches to water and waste management and energy solutions for co-housing communities on sites like the Minnes Farm. Established in 2010, this groups works together with remote (off-grid) communities, notably in the Canadian Arctic and Boreal regions, to reduce the vulnerability of their energy systems.

Spring 2018

• Wakefield’s Annual Earth Day Celebration-Sunday April 22

  

  Eco Echo sponsored a unique film Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees about the pioneering discoveries of botanist Diana Beresford-Kroeger. The event celebrated the public launch of the La Pêche Global Forest Initiative.

• EARTH PATH programs ran Fridays from Feb. 23 to June 1
  
  We had 13 participants between the ages of 6-12 yrs. supported by mentors: Corinne & Bryarly McEachern and Pierre Blin.

Summer 2018

• EARTH PATH offered two week-long camps:
  
  June 26-30 for 11 young people between the ages of 6-12 yrs. and July 16-20 with 9 participants.
  
  Activities revolved around plant and animal studies, nature-based crafts and games, pond life investigations, skills in enhancing our forest awareness, fire-keeping, and fort and shelter-building.

Fall 2018

• EARTH PATH programs ran Fridays from Sept. 7 to Dec.7
  
  We welcomed 12 participants, a mix of girls and boys between the ages of 7-12 yrs. with mentors Corinne, Pierre, and Amber, an herbalist.
  
  Our core activities included sharing and gratitude circles; stories and teachings from First Nation’s lore; fire-keeping; exploring; and nature crafts and games.
  
  Interwoven with our core routines were plant, bird, and animal studies, harvesting and processing medicinal herbs and wild edibles, wildcrafting and salve-making, orienteering, and tracking. 

Spring 2019

• EARTH PATH programs ran Fridays from Feb. 22 to June 14.
  
  We welcomed 7 full-time and 1 half-time participant.

Summer 2019

• EARTH PATH summer camps served 27 young people
  
  June 24-28, July 8-12 and August 12-16 between the ages of 6-12 yrs.
  
  Activities revolved around plant and animal studies, nature-based crafts and games, pond life investigations, skills in enhancing our forest awareness, and fort and shelter-building. Interwoven with our core routines were plant, bird, and animal studies, harvesting and processing medicinal herbs and wild edibles, wildcrafting, tracking, and sensory awareness activities.

Fall 2019

• EARTH PATH programs ran Fridays from Sept. 20 to Dec. 6
  
  We welcomed 11 participants, a mix of girls and boys between the ages of 7-12 yrs. with mentors Corinne and Leiko. Activities included sharing and gratitude circles; stories and teachings from First Nation’s lore; fire-keeping; exploring; nature crafts and games and plant, bird, and animal studies. 

Spring 2020

• Tree-planting with Tree Canada, l'Agence des forêts privées de l'Outaouais and Les Conseillers forestiers de l’Outaouais
  

  Supporting reforestation to capture carbon and beautify the community, we teamed up with Tree Canada to plant 20,000 trees and create a 20-acre forest. Species include Burr and Red Oak, Black Walnut, Black Cherry, Red and Black Maple, Red Pine, Tamarack, Trembling Aspen, Yellow Birch, and White Spruce.



• ACRE Chelsea hosted a bird walk on June 13 
  

  Naturalists Rachel Vallender, Geof Burbidge, and Stephen Woodley led three small-group tours to discover and identify over 30 bird species in the forests and fields of Eco Echo. These included:American Crow, American Goldfinch, American Robin, Baltimore Oriole, Black-and-white Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue Jay, Bobolink, Cedar Waxwing, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Catbird, Hermit Thrush, Indigo Bunting, Northern Cardinal, Northern Parula, Ovenbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-wing Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ruffed Grouse, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrow, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Summer 2020

• Gatineau-based Cobra du Mandingue presented two drumming and dance workshops with 15 musicians and dancers in May and June.


• Propeller Dance co-founder Shara Weaver taught three outdoor dance classes in July, each attracting 10-15 participants.


• EARTH PATH youth programs ran 3 week-long camps from July 6-10, 13-17, and August 17-21

Educators Corinne, Bryarly, and Erika provided an in-depth mix of outdoor engagement activities, serving 27 girls and boys from 6-12 years old with Pierrot's able assistance.

Fall 2020

• EARTH PATH nature programs ran Fridays from September 18 to November 27

Educators Corinne and Erika hosted 10 girls and boys, aged 6-12 with Pierrot's ongoing support. Activities included sharing and gratitude circles; stories and teachings from First Nation's lore; drumming and music-making, fire-keeping; exploring; nature crafts and games and plant, bird, and animal studies. 

Spring 2021

• EARTH PATH continued Fridays from March 12 to June 4

We welcomed 10 girls and boys aged 7-12 with mentors Corinne, Erika, and Pierrot. Activities included sharing and gratitude circles; stories and teachings from First Nation's lore; fire-keeping; journaling and group sharing; nature crafts and games and plant, bird, and animal studies.