Volunteers asked to sign up early for Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival
MMRG and Branch Hill Farm are gearing up for the16th Annual Woods, Water & Wildlife (WWW) Festival to be held on Saturday, August 11 at Branch Hill Farm in Milton Mills. The Festival is a favorite of many families with young children and kids of all ages, who have fun together outdoors while learning about the natural world. MMRG Education Coordinator Kari Lygren is already looking for volunteers, whose energy and enthusiasm are the backbone of the Festival.Kari elaborates “We like to arrange it so people can choose which volunteer tasks they prefer and have some free time to go to their favorite Festival activities. We need volunteers to sign up soon so we can organize the best possible event and provide you with a volunteer experience that is both rewarding and fun. In fact, you help us out even more if you sign up by July 1st!”The WWW Festival offers a wide range of tasks for willing helpers. Volunteers can set up hay bales, tents, and tables, assist with parking cars, sell food and raffle tickets, help kids have fun with crafts and other activities, or help clean up at the end of the day. Lygren emphasizes the choices available, especially for those who sign up early: “There’s something for everyone. Do you love being around kids? Or would you rather help park cars? We need separate set-up and clean-up crews. We also have unique jobs such as role playing the ‘Mountain Man’! Just tell me which you prefer and I will try to make that happen.” In addition to the multitude of jobs on Festival Day, August 11, volunteers are needed for preparations on Friday, August 10.Kari also underscores the importance of Festival volunteers. “We couldn’t do it without all our wonderful helpers and we want you to know how important you are to us!” Festival volunteers receive free Festival admission, a Festival food coupon for a free homemade salad or dessert, and an invitation to MMRG’s Volunteer Appreciation Day on Sunday afternoon, September 9.Farmington resident Dottie Bean is one of many faithful Festival volunteers. In the past several years, she has helped kids do crafts, sold T-shirts, and helped with the raffle. She plans to return again this year because she believes the WWW Festival fulfills a need. She explains, “It gets the kids involved, gets them outdoors having fun, interacting with animals, learning about growing food and educating them about nature,” and summarizes, “It’s a great thing, that festival!”To sign up to help, call Kari Lygren at (603) 978-7125 or email info@mmrgnh.org. For more information about the WWW Festival, see www.mmrgnh.org/festival. Thank You!Donations and festival proceeds support our land conservation and educational outreach work. MMRG also seeks business sponsors of Festival events; go to https://mmrgnh.org/mmrg-in-action/festival/festival-sponsors/ or contact Amy Gardner at amy.mmrg@gmail.com or 603-473-2020. We'd like to extend thanks to our early major sponsors: the Hays-Dombrower Family and Norman Vetter Poured Foundations. The Siemon Company and Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust generously underwrite the festival by matching sponsorship donations up to $20,000.