Written by Denise Deby. Thanks to Jacqueline Littlewood for the information.
Hopewell Avenue Public School has big plans for its yard: to create a vibrant space for kids to play, with shaded green space and welcoming play structures. Unfortunately, right now the yard is mostly asphalt. A number of large trees were cut down last summer due to damage from the emerald ash borer. The aging play structures have to be replaced. As is the case with most schools, there’s no budget for these changes. The school community has launched a campaign, Every Leaf Counts, to raise funds for new trees and new play spaces. One of the fundraising events is a screening of the documentary Project Wild Thing. The film is about a dad in the UK who, frustrated by his kids’ focus on screens and consumer products, creates a national marketing campaign to get kids outside.
Project Wild Thing is the hilarious, real-life story of one man’s determination to get children out and into the ultimate, free wonder-product: Nature.” http://projectwildthing.com/press
Project Wild Thing will screen as a benefit for Every Leaf Counts at the Mayfair Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. You can buy tickets here. Find out more about the film here: www.projectwildthing.com/film For more information on the Hopewell campaign and how to help, see www.facebook.com/hopewellyard. They’re hoping to raise $200,000, the estimated cost of yard renewal, by March 1, 2015. http://vimeo.com/68072823
Green Living Ottawa 