Editor’s Note: If you missed this morning’s AMAZING nature journal, you’ve got to go check out Jocie’s fantastic post on identifying slugs HERE. It’s fantastic. This afternoon, we’d like to extend an invitation to families of all ages to join Our Big Earth and The Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park for the Family Heritage Experience. Check out all of the details below:

One of the first places we discovered after moving to the Comox Valley was this incredible park in Comox called The Filberg. To me, at that point, it was simply a gorgeous spot that, as we progressed through the seasons, both the tiny person and I realized would always be a place where we felt a bit of quiet solace.

Now, with the history and stories much more familiar to me, The Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park has become a staple of our lives – a place to play and discover nature, learn the stories of the Comox Valley and confidently head out for on a grim day (it is said to anecdotally be the sunniest spot in the Comox Valley).

So, when Our Big Earth was invited to take part in the celebration of Robert Filberg’s arrival in the Comox Valley, I knew we’d jump in.

Filberg came to the Comox Valley in 1909, at the tender age of 17. He fell in love with a lumber baron’s daughter and eventually became one himself. The Filberg Lodge, built in 1929, marked the center stage for their lives and the beginning of a legacy of community giving.

The Filberg Association honors that spirit with three days of celebration this weekend in honor of the 100th anniversary of Robert Filberg’s arrival in the Valley.

Our Big Earth is honored to be the host for The Family Heritage Experience on Sunday, Nov. 8 on the Filberg grounds with the help from our partner Planet Kids.

Ummm, I know what you’re thinking – Yeah, that’s great. But, it’s November and the forecast is for our usual rain. But, we have taken care of that.

We’ve got the Tea House decked out with projects like paper lap quilt making. We’ll be creating lanterns and practicing our construction skills with building mini log cabins.

In the 40×40 heated tent (it’ll be so toasty), the big project of the day is a fantastic non-stitch heritage quilt public art project that kiddos can come and create a piece for (check out the mock up below). All the squares around the outside will be hand prints on felt and the inside will be a mix of fabric and paint done by youth as well.

Kids of all ages are invited to come and create their own quilt square, help paint the landscape in the middle of the quilt or create their own piece of community to paste onto the scene. The gorgeous creation will be hung in the window of Planet Kids Comox location when we’re all done.

More heritage fun including old skool tin punching, jewelry making, apple and potato painting as well as an old skool donut-eating contest will pack this fun day that runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..

This exciting day is free and open to the public. Rain or shine, we’ll have a day of traditional fun celebrating community and giving.

Here’s the schedule:

Main Tent:

- Tin Punching: 10 to 11 a.m. & 1 to 2 p.m.

- Apple and Potato Painting: Noon to 2 p.m.

- Friendship Bracelets: 11 a.m. to Noon and 1 to 2 p.m

- Donut-Eating Contest: 12:30 p.m.

- Heritage No-Stitch Quilt: All Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m

Tea House:

- Paper Quilts: 10 to 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 to 2 p.m.

- Decoupage Lanterns: 10 to 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 to 2 p.m.

- Log Cabin Making:12:30 to 2 p.m..

- Story time: 11:30 a.m. – Beatrix Potter & Noon – Life on the Farm

The Comox Valley Kiwanis will be on hand selling drinks, hotdogs and hamburgers and the Filberg also will be hosting a Heritage Tour, Lodge Tours and cake. Daisy the Cow will even be there.

So, be sure to head on over to The Filberg Lodge and Heritage Park on Sunday to experience the spirit of community fostered through the generosity of the Filberg family.