Our first TEDxAlgonquinPark Adventure!

Twenty-four adventurous souls joined us last Saturday for our first TEDxAlgonquinPark Adventure on a secret trail in Algonquin Park and it was amazing! In true TED fashion, we had a diverse crowd of both young and old from across Ontario and the world (Huntsville, Trenton, Toronto, Israel and New Zealand).

Musician and 2012 TEDxAlgonquinPark speaker Adam Ruzzo led us to a lookout high above two sparkling lakes and sang a selection of original songs and covers including Gordon Lightfoot's Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Don Charbonneau's Northland (My Algonquin Home), Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline and an Ontario classic, The Black Fly Song by Wade Hemsworth. We also tried an impromptu wolf howl and even howled the chorus of Sweet Caroline but all of the wolves must have been sleeping in the shade.

Many thanks to Adam for the fabulous music and to everyone who came to see what our first Adventure was all about! If you weren't able to join us, check out the photos below to get a taste of a TEDxAlgonquinPark Adventure. (And join us for our next Adventure on September 4, a Behind the Scenes Tour of Algonquin Park Forest Management! http://tedxalgonquinpark.blogspot.ca/2013/08/join-us-for-tedxalgonquinpark-adventure.html)

Thanks also to TEDxBeaconStreet who pioneered TEDx Adventures. What a great idea!

[P.S. We were on an unofficial, unmarked trail and we think it needs a name. Ruzzo Ridge? TEDx Adventure Trail? What do you think?]

Lacey and Adam welcome TEDxAlgonquinPark Adventurers

The Adventure begins!

Heading up the 'secret' trail

Keep going...you're almost there! 

Ahhh...look at that view!

Co-chair Courtney Sinclair welcomes everyone
to our very first Adventure.

Several young percussionists helped Adam...

...keep the beat. They all...

...did a fabulous job!

We were treated to both covers (like "Sweet Caroline"
and "Canadian Railroad Trilogy")...

...and Adam Ruzzo originals...

...that kept the Adventurers spellbound.

Thanks to everyone who joined us...

...from Adam & the TEDxAlgonquinPark committee
(L-to-R Dawn, Courtney, Lindsey, Adam, and Lacey.
Missing: Laura.)
We hope to see you all again!

Join us for a TEDxAlgonquinPark Adventure: Wilderness Coffee House Open Mic

What is a TEDx Adventure? Adventures extend the TEDx phenomenon beyond the single day of the conference, enabling many more people to participate as we extend the possibilities for both speakers and audiences. By holding adventures many more people can become involved in presenting, learning, and advancing ideas into action. By offering an alternative format to the standard TED talk, concepts that are not easily communicated in a brief presentation can be explored and discussed. Adventures can include hands-on or on-site experiences, deepening understanding and accelerating the spread of ideas.

Adam Ruzzo

Join guitarist Adam Ruzzo for a Wilderness Coffee House Open Mic event on a scenic lookout in Algonquin Park. The afternoon will include a short hike, followed by performances by Adam and yourself! Music based on nature or Canadian folk traditions is encouraged. Hearing the stories of the land through music is a powerful and unique way to experience Algonquin Park’s spirit, and this open mic aims to leave the attendees with a renewed sense of appreciation for our home away from home.

Start time: Saturday, August 24, 2:00 pm at the Lookout Trail parking lot at km 39.7 on the Highway 60 corridor. (Please be there on time and don’t leave without us – secret trail to be hiked!) Bring your favourite instrument and join in!

Cost: Free! (But see the note below.)

Trail details: We'll be hiking a secret, unmarked trail (about 2 km long) which leads to a beautiful vista. This is an intermediate trail with rocks, roots and some mucky spots. There are a few steep sections. Please wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather.

Note: This Adventure is free, but you must have a valid Ontario Parks pass displayed in your vehicle to leave it at the parking lot.

The secret trail is...

...a beautiful start...

...to an Adventure!

And look at that view! :)

You can get to know a bit about Adam from his TEDxAlgonquinPark 2012 Talk:

Our next Adventure is a Behind the Scenes Tour of Algonquin Park Forest Management on Wednesday, September 4. Space is limited, so sign up soon (deadline is August 27).

Listen Differently: Adam Ruzzo at TEDxAlgonquin Park 2012

There are many benefits to exploring nature. Perhaps one of the most profound is its transformational effect: it forces us to see the world differently.

At TEDxAlgonquinPark 2012, guitarist Adam Ruzzo made us listen to nature differently. In his TEDx Talk, Adam created a living musical landscape by imitating sounds from Algonquin Park on guitar. "After being so taken by this amazing place, I decided to express its beauty through music," says Adam. "I figure if painters and photographers can do it visually, why can’t I do it through sound?”

Watch Adam's TEDxAlgonquinPark Talk:

TEDxAlgonquinPark will be back in the Fall of 2013. Get ready for more amazing speakers who will challenge you to think differently about Algonquin Park, nature and your place in the world. Details coming soon. If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, don't miss out on the announcement of this year's theme and date! Sign up here.