Sunday, May 20, 2007

Great North American Wilderness Clean-up - A Success

Photo by Lynn Robinson


Algonquin Park Clean up - A Success

On Saturday May 12th the 2nd Great North American Wilderness Clean up was held across North America. Approximately 170 people particiapted in places like Fort Mcmurray Alberta, Kawartha Lakes, Durham, Parry Sound and here in Algonquin Park

"From those who submitted results to me, together we took 92.5 bags of various sizes out of our wilderness, and 12.5 bags of recycling items, 10 of which were large industrial-sized bags. That totals 105 bags. That's a nasty amount, and I'm so very glad it's outta there!

People found lots of other items, too, such as the usual tires, socks (I actually found a matching pair of socks in a fire pit!!), gloves... Also found were some nasties like used diapers, feminine hygiene products, used condoms, those ever-so-popular white flowers around campsites, on portages and around put-ins and access points. Let's see, what else? A tar bucket, toilet seat, a full propane tank, a car battery (who would have a car out there?), a child's play kitchen set, an old & rotting cedar strip canoe, pots & pans (enough to make a complete set), an old half-filled gallon tin of linseed oil, stubby beer bottles (I remember those!!), a broken flute, an outdoor eletrical junction box (huh?), a cigar box, lots of folding patio chairs, plastic pails, a flourescent tube light, an umbrella, rusty grills, a large tent, and a disposable fuel tank in a fire pit...

...So that's how much more beautiful our wilderness is now". Nancy Maddock, Event founder and co-organizer

Here at the Wolf Den we organized a group of 27 of to beautify Algonquin Park
.
Some went via canoe (provided free by Algonquin Outfitters ) up Joe Lake. Some to Guskawaa Lake and Maple Leaf Lake on the Western Uplands backpacking trail. The last group to Provoking Lake on the Highland Backpacking Trail. Very pleased to say for the most part we didn't find a whole lot of garbage. Most of it came from just a few sites and in some parking lots. We also hit the Oxtongue River Picnic area (lots of garbage) and Ragged Falls (dido)


After a full day of cleaning we held a free BBQ provided by M+M meats.

Sunday morning those who were interested were invited to partake in a free ecology hike provided by Ernie Silhanek, a Fleming College Professor, avid natualist and Wolf Den friend. It was amazing to see that all on the hike also continued to collect garbage. Participants received 1/2 price accommodation at The Wolf Den

Total: 10 large industrial sized garbage bags of recycling, 27 small ON park bags of garbage, 2 tires, a kids play kitchen set, a pile of metal and an old rotting cedar strip canoe.

It was a day about Stewardship, care, and respect for the land and water that supports each and everyday.

Special Thanks to :

Algonquin Outfitters for graciously providing free canoe rentals.

Algonquin Park For donating free day passes to the Park

M+M Meats for providing a free BBQ.

The Outing Club of East York for their continued support.

Joey Gill of hi concept productions For generating a lot of media publicity

CBC Radio for interviewing Robin Golloher co-owner of the Wolf Den on Saturday morning

Huntsville Forester and Vitality Magazine for running the story

Last but not least Kevin Callan and Nancy Maddock who dreamed the dream of the Great North American Wilderness Clean-up and made it a reality and all who participated in making our world a bit more beautiful.

Thanks to all for you made this event a success!!!

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Wilderness Clean up Media Release - By Joey Gill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30th
THE GREAT NORTH AMERICAN WILDERNESS CLEAN UP
Algonquin Park Canoe Route Clean Up to Inspire International Event
Toronto: On May 12 and 13th, the first ever Great North American Wilderness Clean Up will take place in Algonquin Provincial Park. World renowned, Algonquin Park is also the victim of one of humanity’s least desirable attributes: littering

"We all do it. We sit around and complain about canoe route maintenance, ramble on and on about how the government should be doing more, question the mentality of those who leave all that garbage and toilet-paper mounds at the campsite, or scratch our heads over why anyone would leave just one sock at the end of the a portage", said Kevin Callan, author and avid canoeist and key participant in the event.

In addition to the dozens of hikers and paddlers scouring the park for litter, there will be a computer link-up at Sir Sandford Fleming School in Lindsay, Ontario for those groups around North America who are not able to attend at the venue so that they may send photos and information about their own particular clean-up accomplishments. There are plans to use this link-up with a projector to show the audience, North America-wide, who's winning the challenge to collect the most garbage.

Although focused initially in Algonguin Park, the scope of the Clean Up is truly North American in scale. "We’re encouraging people across North America anywhere and everywhere there that people go to enjoy green space and wilderness", said Nancy Maddock, event organizer. Last year’s clean up of Algonquin resulted in 125 bags of garbage being collected by a determined group of volunteers.

Visit www.wildernesscleanup.com for sign up details and more information.

"Our goal with this event is to encourage people on Mother’s Day weekend to take better care of Mother Earth", added Callan.

About Kevin Callan
Kevin Callan is the author of eleven books, including the best selling The Happy Camper and the incredibly popular series of paddling guides. On a regular basis he presents across North America and has been a key speaker at all the major canoe events for over 20 years. Callan is also a frequent quest on radio and television, field editor for Explore, and writes on a regular basis for ON Nature, Kanawa and Rapid Magazine. He is a winner of three National Magazine Awards and four film awards’ including "best of" in the prestigious Waterwalker Film Festival. For the last 15 years he has taught Environmental Issues and Sciences at Sir Sanford Fleming College and lives in Peterborough, the birthplace of the modern day canoe.

About Nancy Maddock
Passionately in love with wilderness, Nancy Maddock began to notice more and more garbage in and around the Algonquin Park region, creating the first Algonquin Clean Up event. With over 125 large bags of garbage collected, Nancy was inspired to launch the first Great North American Wilderness Clean Up.

For Further Information, contact event organizer Nancy Maddock
wildernesscleanup@rogers.com
www.wildernesscleanup.com

For Media Inquiries, contact: Publicist, Joey Gill
joeygill@hiconcept.ca
o.416.929.9397 c.416.556.0675.