Pride Hikes

Pride Hikes

by | May 30, 2024 | Bayfield branch, LGBTQ2S+

The ParticipACTION Community Challenge is a national initiative encouraging all Canadians to get active in June to find Canada’s Most Active Community. The Huron County Library’s Bayfield Branch saw an opportunity to integrate the Community Challenge with June’s Pride Month celebrations. 

Alongside Huron County Pride and Bayfield Trails, the Bayfield Branch is pleased to provide a number of offerings this June. By participating in any of these events, community members will help the Municipality of Bluewater in the chance to win $100,000 and become recognized as Canada’s Most Active Community! 

Pride Hike: Celebrating Diverse Voices Scavenger Hunt 

Pride Hike: Celebrating Diverse Voices Scavenger Hunt takes place during the Second Annual Bayfield Pride Walk on Sunday, June 9, at 11 a.m. The first 30 attendees to this event will receive a “Hiking Helper” bag, which includes a pedometer, a Huron County Hiking Guide, Pride-related swag, and more. During the walk, participants are encouraged to discover books written by LGBTQ2S+ authors while collecting the “secret” word on each sign for a chance to win a Pride-themed prize pack! After the walk, attendees will meet in Clangregor Park for a picnic, with the Bayfield Branch providing rainbow cupcakes from Pink Flamingo Bakery.   

For those unable to attend the Second Annual Bayfield Pride Walk, they are still able to complete the Scavenger Hunt for the remainder of the month (June 10-30). The Bayfield Branch will have a limited number of the “Hiking Helper” bags on hand to encourage community members to participate in this fun and lively event (one bag per family). Community members are able to pick up an entry sheet from the branch or access one online.  

Pride Hike: Huron County Hiking Trails Edition

The last offering is the Pride Hike: Huron County Hiking Trails Edition where community members are encouraged to explore the breathtaking hiking trails across Huron County. Every hike they embark on earns them an entry to win a Pride-themed prize pack! Participants can easily find all of Huron County’s hiking trails in the Huron County Hiking Guide, which is also available at the Bayfield Branch. Community members are able to pick up an entry sheet from the branch or access one online.  

Microscopes coming to the Object Library thanks to the efforts of a local youth

Microscopes coming to the Object Library thanks to the efforts of a local youth

by | Mar 5, 2024 | Collection Materials, News, Object Library

The Huron County Library’s Object Library is growing, adding not one, not two, but THREE different microscopes to the collection in the spring of 2024 thanks to the efforts one young Huron County man.

As a homeschooled high school student, Sam Robinson noticed a gap that many other homeschoolers faced when compared to their traditionally school peers. While most schools are well stocked with microscopes, many homeschool families do not have access to these learning tools. Additionally, the exorbitant cost of school-quality microscopes also make them fairly unattainable for the average family, with many microscopes costing over $500 each. To help, Sam applied for a United Way Perth-Huron Youth in Action Grant, which he was fortunate enough to receive!

Three microscopes will be added to the Huron County Library collection later this spring, along with a collection of 100 specimen slides, making them accessible to all library patrons. The microscopes include:

  • Digital Desktop Microscope: This microscope is perfect introductory microscope for young people before they segue into the larger Student Full-Sized Microscope. It is compact in size, lightweight, and doesn’t take up a lot of room and has the ability to magnify things up to 4x.
  • Student Full-Sized Microscope: This is the microscope that most people think of when they think of a microscope. While it may seem intimidating to use at first, we have some handy instructions for you to utilize as you explore the microscopic world around you. Best of all, it can magnify things up to 40x.
  • A Portable Pocket Microscope: This easy-to-use microscope is perfect for your next outdoor adventure (perhaps while using one of our Ontario Parks Passes?). Easily magnify items all around you, especially those that are too difficult for you to move, like your couch, your carpet, or the bark of the tree in your backyard. This has the ability to magnify things up to 5x.

The Huron County Library wishes to extend a huge thanks to both Sam and United Way Perth-Huron for making the addition of these microscopes possible. While you wait for the microscopes to be added to our collection, you can join Sam and his mother, Heather, for some upcoming Microscope 101 sessions at a number of Huron County Library branches! The program invites young participants to discover the magic of the unseen with the Microscopes 101 program. Designed for curious minds, this interactive adventure introduces kids to the wonders of microscopy through easy-to-follow lessons and exciting activities, making science fun and accessible for budding young scientists.

Registration is open for the following programs:   

In Your Backyard winner announced!

In Your Backyard winner announced!

by | Oct 18, 2022 | Programming

With the end of summer came the end of our In Your Backyard Summer Giveaway, where one lucky winner took home a $1,400 weekend get-away prize pack! A huge congratulations goes out to Lauren Hayward – we hope that you not only enjoy your prizes, but also got to learn more about Huron County’s many hidden gems!

Looking to learn more about Huron County? It has never been easier, thanks to Ontario’s West Coast – which features everything and anything across the county from family friendly activities, to art galleries, to our many farmers markets! Don’t forget! You can pick up a copy of the Ontario’s West Coast at your local Huron County Library branch!

Without further adieu, we present the answers for our In Your Backyard Summer Giveaway! Don’t forget to check out the last question, to find even more hidden gems! Did you have a favourite? Share it with us at #HuronCountyLibrary or #OntariosWestCoast!

McNaughton Park, Exeter

  • Q: What famous Exeter critter might you find roaming in the park? White Squirrel

Fairy Door Trail, Brussels

  • Q: What was your favourite fairy door along the trail? Your choice!

Heritage Trail, Vanastra

  • Q: What year did the Air Force Base RCAF No. 5 Clinton close? 1971

Huron Historic Gaol, Goderich

  • Q: What is the hashtag found at the bottom of the Gaol selfie station? #HuronHistoricGaol

Lions Harbour Park, Goderich

  • Q: What category of tornado struck Goderich? F3

Light Tunnel, Clinton

  • Q: What was the message at the end of the tunnel? A sun and three waves!

Naftel’s Creek, Central Huron

  • Q: What is the trail surface a combination of? Boardwalk and natural surface

St. Joseph Heritage Park, St. Joseph

  • Q: Who was the founder of St. Joseph? Narcisse M Canton

Reading Garden, Bayfield

  • Q: What permanent board game can you play in the Reading Garden? Chess/Checkers

Gairbraid, Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township

  • Q: Dr. William ‘Tiger’ Dunlop was an army surgeon during what war? War of 1812

Alice Munro Literary Garden, Wingham

  • Q: What book is the statue of the young girl in the garden reading? Fairytales

Blyth Festival Art Gallery, Blyth

150th Celebration Garden, Gorrie

  • Q: What is one native plant found in this garden? Crab apple, Sphaeralcea, milkweed and more!

Stevenson Tract, Brussels

  • Q: How many trees were planted on the Stevenson Tract from 1952 to 1966? 140,000

Your pick! Share your favourite spot from anywhere in Huron County

Fall Craft Swap

Fall Craft Swap

by | Aug 22, 2022 | Programming

Calling all crafters – young and young at heart! Love crafting and love seeing others enjoy what you make? Join the Fall Craft Swap where you will be partnered with another age-appropriate crafter in Huron
County (child or adult)!

Make your partner a custom craft, while they do the same for you! All crafting types welcome – knitting, crocheting, sewing, candle making, pottery, scrapbooking, needlefelting, etc. The sky is the limit!

Guidelines:

We ask that you craft TWO small items or ONE medium sized item.

  • Medium = A scarf, a wallet, a set of notecards (4), a reusable shopping bag
  • Small = A piece of jewelry, a bookmark, a washcloth, a facemask, a small candle

Please note that a library staff person will be in touch with you Sept. 13-18 to assign your partner. You will have from Sept. 19-Oct. 19 to craft. Please drop your completed craft off to your local Huron County Library branch between Oct. 20-25 (or earlier). You will receive the craft from your partner between Nov. 1-5. A library staff person will send email reminders along the way. Please ensure that crafts do not exceed the size of a standard tote box (28” x 17” x 15″).

*Should a partner not complete a craft, an alternate partner will be arranged. Should multiple partners not complete a craft, individuals may be paired with one another. Pre-completed crafts will be used in reassignments (no need to make an entirely new craft!).

Important dates:

Registration: Aug. 22-Sept. 12
Partner Assigned: Sept. 13-18
Crafting: Sept.19-Oct. 19
Craft Due: Oct. 20-25

Register online: https://connectedcountyofhuron.ca/craftswap

Spice Club – Basil

Spice Club – Basil

by | Jun 22, 2022 | Programming

Minestrone was popularized in Italy among the poorest farmers, who scraped together hearty beans and vegetables to create this simple soup. In addition to its comforting warmth, one of the biggest benefits of this soup is that it can be altered according to personal preference and to varying seasonal vegetables. 

Basil is native to tropical regions from Central Africa to Southeast Asia – though it is used in cuisines worldwide. It is often added last when cooking, as too long cooking can destroy its flavor. Fresh basil can be kept for a short time in the refrigerator, or for a longer period in the freezer, after being blanched quickly in boiling water.

Show off what you made this month by sharing photos on the Huron County Library Spice Club Facebook events page or by emailing them to askalibrarian@huroncounty.ca. Photos emailed will be publicly shared by staff to the Facebook page on your behalf.

FUN FACT: Basil is an herb in the mint family! 

Minestrone*

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil 
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 stick celery, chopped
  • 1/2 onion, minced
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 200 grams crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 1/4 cup green beans
  • 1/2 cup pasta, preferably elbow macaroni
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 400 g cooked kidney beans
  • 1 Tbsp chopped parsley
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • Parmesan cheese, grated, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat and sauté garlic, celery, and onion for about 5 minutes.

2. Add chopped carrot and crushed tomatoes to pot. Season with oregano and basil. Pour in vegetable broth and water and bring mixture to a boil. Cover pot and cook soup for 10 minutes.

3. Add elbow macaroni, green beans, and chopped zucchini. Stir to combine and boil until noodles are tender.

4. Finish soup with fresh spinach and cooked beans.

5. Garnish with parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

6. Serve hot, garnished with freshly grated parmesan.

*Recipe from Global Road Warrior™️ by World Trade Press. Access this online database for free with a Huron County Library card to get information about holidays, festivals, culture, travel essentials, and other beneficial travel knowledge.