Friends of Ellenwood Park

Wintertime… and the skiin’ is easy… Our friends at the Park say that the track conditions are good to go today!  Drop by the cabin between noon and 4:00 this afternoon and say, “Hi!”  Borrow some skis or just walk through the beautiful Ellenwood trails – all groomed for skiers, snowshoers and walkers too!  We just have a few easy requests… PLEASE don’t walk on the ski tracks!  Stephen will thank you. Be sure to bring a leash and a ‘baggie’ or two for your dogs;-)  EVERYONE will thank you!  More snow on the way tomorrow so stay tuned for further updates. See you on the trails!

Ski season has arrived and folks are already out there enjoying the trails. The Friends of Ellenwood have purchased brand new Nordic Style skis and boots to add to last year’s 3 pin models and now can offer 30 pairs in a wide variety of sizes.  Skis are FREE to borrow from the cabin whenever it’s open. So when is it open, you ask? Ellenwood’s ski cabin is open every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm, weather permitting. Additional cabin availability on weekdays will be posted on our website and on Facebook along with trail conditions, event updates and cancellations.  Ski equipment can also be borrowed Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from Yarmouth Recreation. 902-742-8868   www.yarmouthrecreation.ca/leisure/   Skis from the Rec. Department can be borrowed for a few days at a time. That means that you can enjoy great skiing at Ellenwood 7 days a week!  As long as Mother Nature cooperates, our trails will be groomed and ready for you… along with a hot wood stove and hot drinks. What more could you ask for? Come and see for yourself! Check in often to see what’s happening.

Brian’s favourite winter past time.

Cabin is open!

The joy of a perfect ski day!

Come on out to Ellenwood and take advantage of the great ski conditions!  Whether you’re cross country skiing, snowshoeing or just out for a hike, the trails are all ready for you. Why not bring a friend or the entire family out today for a fun day in the snow?  ‘Tis the season to be active. Don’t let all that turkey and stuffing get the better of you;-)  There’s snow enough for all at Ellenwood right now and throughout the winter months. When the ground is white the time is right!  Check back frequently for trail conditions or check us out on Facebook.  See you on the trails!

Winter in Ellenwood…

Ideal ski conditions!

Just a short drive away…

We regretfully had to cancel our Geminids Meteor Shower and Chilli Dinner because of overcast conditions and inclement weather.  There’s a price to pay for these unseasonably mild temperatures we’ve been enjoying so far this month.  And on that note, we would like to extend to each and every one of our Friends and Supporters our ‘warmest‘ wishes for a happy and joyful holiday season!  Check back with us soon for a fresh list of events for 2016. When the snow flies, as it surely will, remember that cross-country skiing is a great way to kick off the New Year!  Make plans to hike down to the cabin… Check out our new ski sets and enjoy a day on the trails!  We’ll look forward to see you.

Beautiful winter scenery!

Groomed trails!

Just a short drive away…

A reminder to mark your calendars!                                                                                       MONDAY, DECEMBER 14th – from 4 to 8 pm 2015 Geminids Meteor Shower and Chilli Fundraising Dinner Join the Friends of Ellenwood, to view the 2015 Geminids Meteor Showers. Ellenwood Park has very minimal light pollution, so it is the perfect place to view the Geminid meteor showers. We will be serving chilli, buns and hot drinks in the cabin. By donation. For assistance for those with mobility difficulties, contact Stephen at 902-742-6252 in advance. There will be more information about this event on our Facebook page.

In 2015, the Geminids will peak between December 13 and 14. A waxing crescent Moon (Moon’s phase after a New Moon) will create good conditions for viewing the shower. The Geminids are one of two meteor showers that occur in December. Northern Hemisphere observers should try their luck right after sunset. The Geminids can be annually observed between December 4 and December 17, with its peak activity being around December 14. The shower owes its name to the constellation Gemini from where the meteors seem to emerge from in the sky. Unlike most other meteor showers, the Geminids are associated not with a comet but with an asteroid – the 3200 Phaethon. The asteroid takes about 1.4 years to orbit around the Sun. The Geminids are considered to be one of the more spectacular meteor showers during a year, with the possibility of sighting around 120 meteors per hour at its peak

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH from 2 to 4 pm at the ski cabin Winter Bird Feeding Workshop Join our members at the ski cabin for a talk on what birds we can expect to see at our feeders and in our yards in the winter. We will discuss, our favourite type of birdfeeders and what to feed the different species of birds in the winter. Members of the FOEP will demonstrate different types of suet bird feeders you can make at home to attract and help our feathered friends in the winter. Great for any interested adults or kids! For assistance for those with mobility difficulties, contact Chris at 902-881-2658 in advance. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and goodies will be served. Donations to FOEP, most welcome. (Rain date: Sunday, November 22nd)

Marcie’s finished product!

Why not make your own?

What’s for dinner?

Hallowe’en faces!

Families who joined us at the 5th Annual FOEP Pumpkin Carving Event on the 18th prepared themselves for a spooky Hallowe’en by magically turning pumpkins into Jack o’Lanterns! We learned a little bit of the lore behind Jack and

Hands-on fun!

his All Souls Eve pranks and then carved faces scary enough to keep away the most determined ghosts and goblins. Everyone had a ‘gourd’ time… You should have been there!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18TH – FROM 2 to 4 PM (Rain date – Sunday, October 25th) Pumpkin Carving- This will be our 5th Annual Pumpkin Carving. We hope you will join us and create the perfect Jack ‘o Lantern for Hallowe’en. Pumpkins and cutting tools will be supplied. This activity is suitable for all ages, adult supervision is required. For those with mobility difficulties, we are able to assist you from the gate to the cabin. Please let us know! Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cookies will be available in the cabin. Donations to FOEP, welcome.

…preparing for some Hallowe’en fun!

…fully focused;-)

Our photography workshop on Sept. 27^th with Sue Hutchins was a huge success. Everyone left with useful tips, fresh perspectives, and feeling motivated to get to know their camera better! We learned 5 key questions to ask ourselves when selecting a subject and how to arrange and focus on the elements within the frame. Sue used creative props to demonstrate how the camera’s aperture works and gave us a handy way to remember depth of field rules with a catchy verse! Sue’s a great photographer and an effective teacher too! There was truly something for everyone. Finally, we went outside the cabin to practice what we learned. You should have been there;-)

…depth of field at work

…leading the eye

…restful horizon

…deliberate diagonal

Attached is a sample of how our participants applied their new skills. Not bad, eh?

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 – FROM 2 to 4 PM Nature Photography Workshop – with Sue Hutchins – well known local photographer Taking impressive images of nature, doesn’t depend on your camera; it depends on your vision. Take a walk with Sue Hutchins, through Ellenwood Park and learn some techniques that are sure to give your photography a boost. She’ll talk about light, shapes, focusing techniques and much more. Group size: 10 Call 902-881-2658 to register. Meet at the ski cabin at 2 PM – 20 minute walk from the gate. Equipment: An open mind and a functioning camera. (Spare batteries are a good idea!) A tripod is optional. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Donations to FOEP, welcome.

BLOOD MOON ALSO HAPPENING ON SEPTEMBER 27TH – There will be a total lunar eclipse beginning at 9:10 pm on Sunday, possibly the largest in 18 years. It will be a rare supermoon that night and there’s no better place to see it than at Ellenwood where open spaces and minimal light pollution make for ideal viewing! A supermoon looks unusually big because it’s a time when the moon is closest to the earth. As the Earth’s shadow passes over the moon, it will appear red. This is referred to as a Blood Moon and it will be a sight to behold in the night sky over Yarmouth County! It will be at its peak by 11:47 pm and it will all be over by 2:22 am, Monday. Keep your eyes on the skies! There won’t be another like it until the year 2033!  What a perfect time to try out those photography skills!