KAGAWONG—In early June, the first annual Ontario Trails week was celebrated across the province. 4elements Living Arts has come up with another fun and creative way to get people out on local trails on Manitoulin. “Drawing Boxes” that are also geo-caches have been installed on trails across Manitoulin Island.
Heather Thoma, coordinator of 4elements’ Outside the Box program, says that getting people off the beaten track, and providing an interesting way to attract people to trails who might not otherwise venture out, is what stimulated the idea for the project.
These beautiful wooden Drawing Boxes are the brainchild of 4e, and are handcrafted by Manitoulin Crate Company. They are filled with 4e trail maps, paper, pens, stretching tips by yoga instructor Lise Baronet, and trail info. The invitation at these geocached spots encourages hikers and paddlers finding the box to make a simple drawing along the trail, and then choose a drawing in the box, made by someone else.
“We enthusiastically encourage people to find new places to walk, or paddle, to see new corners of the Island, and learn more about the ecosystems that are here,” Ms. Thoma says. “The learning starts with getting out there, and paying attention to what can be found along the trails and waterways. Stopping and looking and making a drawing is an awesome way to see the landscape more fully and notice new things!”
For those that prefer a guided walk rather than solo visits to the Drawing Boxes, 4elements is offering another series of its excellent creative walks and paddles through the spring, summer and fall.
Mira Jones, 4elements education development facilitator, will be facilitating some of the guided outings, and she has also spearheaded getting the boxes up on the geocaching.com website and highlighted through Instagram.
“People travel far and wide to come to Manitoulin, and many people who travel use geocaching as a way to explore new places,” she adds. “You will see at ceocaching.com that it’s both locals and visitors who come to the caches on the Island.”
A contest has now been launched, to invite people to send photos of themselves at all of the Drawing Boxes and be eligible for a small 4e gift. More about the contest can be found at the Facebook Page for the OTB program: Outside the Box-4elements.
Drawing Boxes can be found from Northeastern Manitoulin to Assiginack, from Silver Water to the south shore, with a few more still to be added. The Drawing Boxes are located on gentle trails, approximately 1-2 kilometres into the trail, so at a reasonable distance which is accessible to many ages and abilities, offering great opportunities for families, school classes, just about anyone, to venture out and engage at the Box. One box is even water access only, so you can dust off your canoe or fishing boat and join in that way too.
You don’t need a GPS or electronic device to find the boxes. Locations of the trailheads (or boat launch sites) for all of the boxes, are listed on the OTB webpage: www.4elementslivingarts.org/programs/outside-the-box/.
The Outside the Box project received support from The Ontario Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport, and also from many local organizations and businesses, and local landowners and trail organizations are hosting the boxes. Manitoulin Nordic Ski Club, Ravenswing Gardens, Manitoulin Physio, Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, and the Island Jar, are current sponsors. If you or your business would like to sponsor a box or the educational outings that will take place on the trails, there are still opportunities available.
Contact heather@4elementslivingarts.org or call the 4elements office in Kagawong for more information. See you on the trails!
