The Friends Major Event - the Annual Orchid Festival, May 30th & 31st, 2008 in Tobermory.  This is a weekend to celebrate the wonderful wildflowers of the Bruce Peninsula - with great hikes and even better interpreters!

Pre-registration for Orchid Festival Events is recommended. Please contact Janet at ournest@amtelecom.net after April 1st, 2008 or write to us c/o Box 66, Tobermory, Ontario, N0H 2R0.. See full details on packages available at the bottom on this page.

Special Events at the Orchid Festival
Friday Night

Orchid Festival Headquarters & Naturalist Station - 4 to 9 pm
The new National Park Visitor Centre is Festival Headquarters. Drop by to pick up or purchase your Festival passes, ask questions, talk to a park naturalist, browse the Gift Shop, or check our the dynamic exhibit gallery and park video "Life on the Edge"

"Best of the Bruce" with Ethan Meleg 7 to 9 pm

Join the Friends at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre on Friday May 30th, 2008 to explore the "Best of the Bruce" a virtual tour of the outstanding natural ecosystems of the Bruce Peninsula, through the photos of Ethan Meleg. Seating is limited so please book early. Admission $5.00. Admission is included in the Full Orchid Festival Package listed below.

To book for a seat at the Friday Evening "Best of the Bruce", contact Janet at ournest@amtelecom.net after April lst or drop into the Friends' Ship Shop at the Visitor Centre

For up to date information on the Orchid Festival for 2008, please check out http://www.orchidfest.ca

Saturday Morning

Breakfast
No time for that all important coffee or breakfast before you head out on your Festival excursion? Drop by the Visitor Centre - the Friends will have coffee ready and muffins available. Take a coffee along with you. There will be a nominal fee charged.

Orchid Festival Headquarters - 7 am to 4 pm
* pick up or purchase your Festival passes before setting out on your first excursion of the day
* talk to a Park Naturalist - they'll be on hand to answer your questions
* Check out the features of the Visitor Centre, including"
    high-definition theatre show "Life on The Edge" for a virtual adventure in the park.
    Exhibit gallery, with everything from a full-size lighthouse, flowerpot and cliff to black bear, rattlesnakes and shipwreck exhibits
    The world famous Bruce Trail runs past the centre, to scenic Georgian Bay.
Entrance to the Visitor Centre is included with a Festival Pass

Saturday's Day of Hikes

1. 7:30 to 10 - Wildflower Photo Workshop. Learn the basics of wildflower photography with orchid-friendly techniques that minimize impact on species in the area. Join our expert photographers at the Singing Sands Parking Lot. Limit 15 persons.
2. 8 to 11 am - Birds and Blooms on the Bruce. Late May signals the tail end of spring migration and the beginning of breeding season for birds of the Bruce Peninsula. This is one of the best times to see the bird diversity of the Bruce at its finest. Join this carpool and hike with our expert to visit special birding places. Meet at the Visitor Centre. Limit 20 persons.
3. 8:30 to 11:30 am Car Caravan Orchid & Wildflower Tour. Join local Naturalists on this tour to see a diverse array of orchids and wildflower species at several prime locations. Meet at the Visitor Centre. Limit 25 persons.
4. 9 am to 12 noon Flowerpot Island Tour #1. Photographing Calypso Orchids and Island Tour. Cruise over to Flowerpot Island for a hike to see the delicate beauty of the calypso orchid and other spring flowers. Take a guided tour of the island shoreline to view the two flowerpots plus other geological features.
   Please note that this activity is weather dependent. An alternative hike will be available if tour boats are not able to run. Participants are responsible for their own boat fares. When you book this tour you will be given the information to contact the Blue Heron Company.
5. 12:30 to 3:30 pm Flowerpot Island Tour #2. Photographing Calypso Orchids and Island Tour. Cruise over to Flowerpot Island for a hike to see the delicate beauty of the calypso orchid and other spring flowers. Take a guided tour of the island shoreline to view the two flowerpots plus other geological features.
   Please note that this activity is weather dependent. An alternative hike will be available if tour boats are not able to run. Participants are responsible for their own boat fares. When you book this tour you will be given the information to contact the Blue Heron Company.
6. 1:30 to 3 pm. Explore the Bruce Alvar - A Globally Rare Habitat. Join a park naturalist for this easy hike to learn about the "Bruce Alvar Reserve" a botanical hotspot and globally rare habitat owned by Ontario Nature. Meet at the Visitor Centre. Limit - 20 persons.
7. 1:30 to 3 pm. The Aboriginal Perspective. Learn about the Aboriginal relationship to and their use of plants for practical purposes, food, medicine and ceremony. Meet at South Cameron Lake Road. Park on the northbound side of the highway across from the Dorcas Bay Road.
8. 1:30 to 4 pm. Geology of the Escarpment. Hike in Bruce Peninsula National Park. Join a Parks Canada Naturalist and trek to the edge of the Escarpment and discover how and why this great rocky peninsula came into being. Meet at Head of Trails at Cyprus Lake. Limit 25 persons.

Ask the Expert!

Throughout the afternoon at the Visitor Centre there will be several experts on hand to answer your questions.

* Native Gardening

Expert gardeners will be on hand Saturday to answer your gardening questions and offer tips.

* Wildflower Photography

Photography experts from FotoArt Camera Shop (Owen Sound) will be on hand to give practical advice on gear and technique for wildflower photography.

* Dark Skies (Astronomy)

Learn why the Bruce Peninsula was recently proclaimed a Dark Sky Reserve.

Saturday Evening Feature Presentation

Wine and Cheese Reception, Visitor Centre - Join the Friends for wine and cheese before our great Feature Presentation.

TBA

Our Saturday Evening Feature Presentation will be held at the New Parks Canada Visitor Centre Theatre. Seating is limited. Reservations are strongly recommended. Admission $15.00. 

The Saturday evening Wine and Cheese and Feature Presentation admission is included in any of the three package prices listed below.

To reserve a seat for the Saturday Evening Wine & Cheese and TBA, please contact Janet at ournest@amtelecom.net  or drop into the Friends' Ship Shop at the Visitor Centre - after April 1st

Tour the Visitor Centre and Climb the Tower

A tour of the Parks Canada Visitor Centre and the opportunity to climb the observation tower to see a wonderful view of both national parks is included in all 2008 Orchid Festival Packages.

Shop at The Friends' Ship - Gifts with Purpose

Check out the Friends' gift shop for the latest in orchid and wildflower guides - check out Orchid Festival Specials!

Prices

Full Package $45.00 includes Friday night with Ethan Meleg, two hikes of your choice on Saturday, the Saturday Evening Wine & Cheese Reception, the Saturday Evening Presentation and a pass to the Visitor Centre, Burnt Point Loop Trail and the Observation Tower  

Middle Package $40.00 includes Two hikes on Saturday, the Saturday Evening Wine & Cheese Reception, the Saturday Evening Presentation and a pass to the Visitor Centre, Burnt Point Loop Trail and the Observation Tower  

Mini Package  $30.00 includes one hike on Saturday the Saturday Evening Wine & Cheese Reception, the Saturday Evening Presentation and a pass to the Visitor Centre, Burnt Point Loop Trail and the Observation Tower 

Individual Events

• Friday Evening with Ethan Meleg $5.00
• Saturday Hikes $12.00 each
• Saturday Evening Reception and Presentation $15.00
• Visitor Centre and Observation Tower Tour $5.50

Seating in the theatre is limited!  Please book your package early. Passes and tickets to individual events may be purchased at The Friends' Ship in the Visitor Centre and by regular mail or email (ournest@amtelecom.net)- after April 1st, 2008.

All prices include GST