‘Fin, Fire and Feather’ event becomes ‘Wild Fest’

On Tuesday, the annual ‘Fin, Fire, and Feather’ event returns to Ochoco Creek Park in downtown Prineville, only this year it’s called “Wild Fest.”

Forest Service employees changed the name this year to be more representative of the diverse groups and curriculum taught at the annual learning event.

Every year, a consortium of partners gathers for a full day in May to engage local school kids and educate them about the natural world. The event grew out of Forest Service wildfire and wildlife education events in previous years, but it’s grown to include a much broader message for kids about experiencing wild places and public lands.

Students from grades 1-3 will participate in this year’s Wild Fest, which runs from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. More than 800 kids are expected to take part.

Students will engage in hands-on activities at numerous learning stations, each aimed at teaching kids a different aspect of how natural processes work, or learning about the plants, animals, and fish that inhabit the forests and streams here in Central Oregon.

‘Wild Fest’ is an annual educational event sponsored by the Ochoco National Forest in conjunction with many local partners.

Partners include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State Parks and Recreation, Crook County Parks and Recreation, the Crook County School District, Crook County Soil and Water Conservation District, Crook County Search and Rescue, Crooked River Weed Management Area, Crooked River Watershed Council, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, K.D. Payne, Central Oregon Fire Management Service, Discover Your Forest, Deschutes Children’s Forest, and numerous volunteers.