On August 20-21, the County of Camrose hosted Prairie Fun Days. Many rural communities within the county took advantage of the amazing weather and showcased what makes them unique. I figured I wouldn't be much of a rural intern if I didn't see what Prairie Fun Days was all about. In an attempt to fully take advantage of this family friendly event, I brought my two young cousins along for the ride.
The event was set up so that you could pick and choose which of the eleven attractions you wanted to visit, though I heard many people saying that they were planning to stop at each place. We were able to visit a total of five and really enjoyed them all.
Camrose County Nature Conservation Centre
Our day began with a visit to the Camrose County Nature Conservation Centre which was once a gravel mine. As the pictures below will demonstrate, the reclamation is truly amazing. The county was able to turn the land into an area that can be used for picnics, bird watching, swimming, scuba diving...and the list goes on. We took a walk along one of the paths and simply enjoyed the beauty that surrounded us.
A breathtaking view!
A map showing all the possible activities.
It's obvious why this place is so popular.
Alberta's Littlest Airport
After the peace and quiet at the Conservation Centre, the sights and sounds of the Littlest Airport really energized our senses! The pilots held their audience captivated as they performed absolutely astounding aerial feats. I think we could've happily stayed there all day. It was definitely challenging to convince the girls that we should move on to our next stop.
Preparing for take-off.
A super loud jet entertains the crowd.
It takes a great pilot to pull off this move!
Jojo's Maze Craze
Jojo's Maze Craze and 18-hole mini golf is located close to my parents' farm. I visited it a couple times the summer it first opened and it was neat to see the new additions. The girls loved the bouncy slide and castle (again it was hard to convince them to leave). We got lost once or twice in the corn maze but eventually found our way out.
There is a petting zoo too.
Tons of bouncy fun.
No wonder we got lost.
Look up, way up.
Kingman Museum and Tea House
Kingman is a significant place in our family history. Our grandma was actually one of the people who helped paint the wonderful mural that is on the outside of the Tea House. It was great for the girls and I to learn about the history of the place our grandma calls home. We also enjoyed a special treat of cake, fresh berries, and ice cream compliments of our gracious hosts.
The mural that commemorates Kingman's 100th anniversary.
Pretending to be a one-room school teacher.
Can you picture guys wearing this bathing suit (circa 1930) today?
A glance into the past.
Hay Lakes Telegraph Park
We ended our day with a visit to Hay Lakes. My fellow intern, Shara, played a big roll in organizing the Prairie Fun Days activities at Telegraph Park. Lucky visitors got to tour the area, make crafts, and learn about hobo signs. My cousins had fun on the playground and we all enjoyed finding hobo messages.
An example of a secret message hobos used to communicate.
Hobos beware!
By the end of the day, though I was physically exhausted, my appreciation for the local area was refreshed. We didn't even see half of what Prairie Fun Days had to offer. I know that the event strengthened the solidarity of the county and brought out many interested visitors. For me, it was a prime example of why it is a good idea to be a tourist in your own local area.
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