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Uncommon Common Art is great family fun!

July 22, 2018/in Adventure /by ValleyFamilyFun

Uncommon Common Art is Great Family Fun! Since he was about 4 years old, Thomas (10) has been obsessed with the Uncommon Common Art program. He loves it so much, that I decided to write about our experiences in hopes that some others will go out and enjoy it, too! Here’s what the website […]

Hiking Trails at Smileys Provincial Park

July 19, 2018/in Uncategorized /by ValleyFamilyFun

Hiking Trails at Smileys Provincial Park Our family spends a lot of time at Smileys Provincial Park. Although we have never camped there (we have lots of friends who have), we enjoy going there for picnics. We often have a picnic in the open area with the playground. Or, sometimes down by the bride. The […]

Uncommon Common Art is great family fun!

July 22, 2018/in Adventure /by ValleyFamilyFun

Hiking Trails at Smileys Provincial Park

July 19, 2018/in Uncategorized /by ValleyFamilyFun

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Uncommon Common Art is great family fun!

July 22, 2018/in Adventure /by ValleyFamilyFun

Uncommon Common Art is Great Family Fun!

Since he was about 4 years old, Thomas (10) has been obsessed with the Uncommon Common Art program.

He loves it so much, that I decided to write about our experiences in hopes that some others will go out and enjoy it, too!

Here’s what the website says:

Uncommon Common Art (UCA) is a community wide art exhibit that highlights two of Kings County’s greatest assets – the natural beauty of the Minas Basin Valley and the abundance of creative people who live in the area.
his innovative seasonal project brings visual art out of institutions and galleries and shares it directly with the community, making it accessible to everyone. UCA was born out of a simple observation of the sometimes subtle and beautiful impact that humans have on nature. While we are inundated with news and information about mankind’s negative impact on our natural surroundings, this project promotes and recognizes our creative and beautiful touches in nature.
Through this project we hope to engage and educate about art, environment, physical activity, and our rural community. In addition we seek to promote, support, and bring together artists and their work.

How Uncommon Common Art Works

There are usually 17 art installations all over Kings County that are out between June and October.

Pick up your booklet at a visitor information centre, or some of the local cafes may have them, too.

Inside the booklet, there is a map showing where all the installations are located. Each page has more information and directions on how to get to each piece.

Once you get there, there is a sign board explaining the installation.

At the bottom of the sign, there is a raised number. Do a rubbing at the back of your booklet, over top of the corresponding number.

Once you have seen all of the installations, there are instructions as how to send in your ballot for a monthly prize draw!

Why We Love Uncommon Common Art

Thomas loves maps, and he loves numbers. When he was 4, he kept the map for the Uncommon Common Art exhibits in his car seat cup holder. He could tell you every number and what exhibit it was, without looking. He still can from previous years.

To him, it’s like a big scavenger hunt. He loves the joy of finding the art in a public place, and he loves crossing them off his list.

Every year he has his favourites, and sometimes we go back to see them a few times!

We get to drive around the countryside, explore new places, and talk about the meaning of the art.

Uncommon Common Art Events

There are great programs offered through Uncommon Common Art from summer camps, workshops and weekly artists talks.

Check the website for details on these events.

You can also support the program through the Eye Candy Machines. Buy a token and, like a gumball machine, you will receive a piece of art from one of the artists, from the machine!

Whether you are ambitious and try to see them all, or even take in a few near you, please go out and support this great program. It’s free, so take advantage!

You may be inspired to make some of your own art!

Learn more about Uncommon Common Art

Hiking Trails at Smileys Provincial Park

July 19, 2018/in Uncategorized /by ValleyFamilyFun

Hiking Trails at Smileys Provincial Park

Our family spends a lot of time at Smileys Provincial Park. Although we have never camped there (we have lots of friends who have), we enjoy going there for picnics.

We often have a picnic in the open area with the playground. Or, sometimes down by the bride. The river there is shallow and makes a great place for the kids to cool off.

While everyone was cooling off, I decided to go check out the hiking trail. Although I had been here dozens of times, I had never hiked the trail.

Here’s what the website says:

A short hiking trail is tucked away in the far corner of Smiley’s provincial Park.
The trail itself is mostly hard packed gravel and has slight elevation changes as it meanders through an evergreen forest. To get to the start of the trail, you will walk through a towering tunnel of maple trees (near the children’s play park) as well as by a good example of a gypsum outcrop with a gnarly pine growing right over it.

The Route

I like maps, so I made sure I had a screen shot of the map from the website with me all times, since the trail really isn’t labeled.

There are several off-shoots heading to various parts of the campground, so technically, each time you walked it, you could go a slightly different way.

Directions to the Trail

You don’t need to pay admission to go into the park as a day visitor.

Go through the park, past the playground and picnic area. Continue through to the campground.

At the tree, bear right.

At the top of the hill, there is a large field with swings at the back.

Cut through the field to the sign marked HIKING TRAIL at the back.

Throughout the trail there are Orange squares you can follow, to keep you on the right path. Several times, the trail has off-shoot paths that will take you into the campground. Each time, try a different one!

I followed the orange squares and veered to the left.

I went around gypsum ponds, by fields, and through an old-growth forest. It was really beautiful and quiet in the woods!

I came out in another section of the campground, near the public showers.

The loop was about 1km and took about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

It was definitely an added bonus to our trip to Smileys Park!

Directions

Smileys Provincial Park is located past Windsor towards the Rawdon Hills.

The next time you are looking for an outing, check out Smileys Provincial Park for a picnic, swim and a hike!

Learn more about Smileys

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Uncommon Common Art is Great Family Fun!

Since he was about 4 years old, Thomas (10) has been obsessed with the Uncommon Common Art program.

(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Here’s what the website says:

How Uncommon Common Art Works

Why We Love Uncommon Common Art

Uncommon Common Art Events

Hiking Trails at Smileys Provincial Park

The Route

Directions to the Trail

Directions

Categories

Here’s what the website says: