Save Our Old Forests

SOOF @ WELL-ROOTED - Plant Market & Garden Gathering
2025-06-01 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Halifax) | Beaver Creek Vineyard, 496 Carleton Road, Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia, B0S 1M0, Canada
Save Our Old Forests is excited to be part of the first WELL-ROOTED event which celebrates plants, sustainability and community!
WELL-ROOTED is more than just a market—it’s a gathering of plant lovers, artisans, and community members coming together to cultivate connections and plant inspiration.
Plant and artisan marketplace, live entertainment, lawn games, door prizes, local treats and more! Plus SOOF will have a table – stop by and say hi to our volunteers, come chat with us about Goldsmith Lake, check out our SOOFSTOCK 2025 shirts!

Owl Prowl with Donna Crossland
2025-05-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
NOTE: The registration for the Owl Prowl is now full – but we are accepting names for the waitlist! Please send an email to soof@saveouroldforests.ca and ask to be added. If a spot opens up we will contact the waiting list on a “first come first serve” basis.
Join Donna Crossland and Save Our Old Forests for a nighttime Owl Prowl adventure at the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area! Hear owl stories, learn their calls, consider a nest box owl home. Possibly see barred owls up close from the old forest habitat that surrounds us.
Registration required.
RAIN DATE: Saturday, May 10
Informed Consent & Release Of Liability: Our workshops are a wonderful way to connect to nature, learn more about our forests and interact with the community, but it is not without certain risks, dangers, hazards, and liabilities to participants. We require all participants (or their legal guardians) to complete, sign and date the waiver before they can participate in the workshop. Click here to download the waiver and please ensure that you bring it with you to the workshop. Extra copies will be available at check-in if you forget!

iNaturalist Workshop - with Lisa Proulx & Karen Achenbach
2025-04-26 10:00 - 15:30 | West Dalhousie Community Hall, 4868 West Dalhousie Road, West Dalhousie, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0
NOTE: The registration for the iNaturalist Workshop with Lisa Proulx and Karen Achenbach is now full – but we are accepting names for the waitlist! Please send an email to soof@saveouroldforests.ca and ask to be added. If a spot opens up we will contact the waiting list on a “first come first serve” basis.
Join SOOF and Citizen Scientists Lisa Proulx and Karen Achenbach for a fun day of learning how to use the iNaturalist app. We will start the day at the West Dalhousie Community Hall to learn the basics of the app, navigation and tips, and after lunch head over to the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area for some hands on practice!
All participants are asked to download and install the iNaturalist app on their smart phone or table BEFORE coming to the workshop. You can find links for the Apple and Android versions here: https://inaturalist.ca/
Maximum 12 participants.
RAIN DATE: Sunday, April 27
Informed Consent & Release Of Liability: Our workshops are a wonderful way to connect to nature, learn more about our forests and interact with the community, but it is not without certain risks, dangers, hazards, and liabilities to participants. We require all participants (or their legal guardians) to complete, sign and date the waiver before they can participate in the workshop. Click here to download the waiver and please ensure that you bring it with you to the workshop. Extra copies will be available at check-in if you forget!

2025 Annual General Meeting - SOOF Association
2025-04-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Centrelea Community Hall, 3495 Highway 201, Centrelea, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
Save the Date for the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Save Our Old Forests (SOOF) Association. The meeting is open to all but only registered Voting Members can vote at the meeting. If you would like to become a Voting Member please see our Get Involved page for more information.
AGM 2025 – Agenda and Materials to be sent separately. The meeting will be a hybrid of in-person and video (Microsoft Teams) call. Details to follow.

SOOF Soup Saturday & Earth Day Celebration
2025-04-19 12:00 - 16:00 | Centrelea Community Hall, 3495 Highway 201, Centrelea, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
SOOF is souper excited for our last SOOF Soup event of 2025! Plus we’re celebrating Earth Day with our good friends at the Centrelea Community Hall and volunteers from the Valley Credit Union!
Join us for a day family friendly fun, food, discovery, crafting, and more! Plant a tree from Floreren Farm, check out the lichen samples through a microscope with the Citizen Scientists, stop by and say hi to our friends from the Clean Annapolis River Project and Soft Pine Wellness. Then head on over to the outdoor stage for some live music featuring The Possimibilities!

Date: Saturday April 19
Location: Centrelea Community Hall (3495 Hwy 201)
Hike: 9:30 – 11:30am (Registration required*)
Lunch: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Activities at the Hall: 1:30pm – 4:00pm

*Pre-register for the hike by emailing centerleacommunityhall@gmail.com

SOOF Presentation - Town of Middleton
2025-03-17 18:45 - 19:30 | Middleton Town Hall, 131 Commercial Street, Middleton, Nova Scotia, B0S 1P0, Canada
Save Our Old Forests will be presenting to the Mayor and Council of the Town of Middleton about the Canada-Nova Scotia Nature Agreement and how in return for $28.5M to be spent on conservation in Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia agreed to meet an interim target of protection 15% by March 2026. That means moving 72,000 hectares into protection by next year.
SOOF will be asking Council to write a letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in support of including the proposed Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area (3,900 ha) in the tranche of lands that must be protected by that March 2026 deadline.
If you live in town or in the surrounding area we would love for you to join us and show your support for SOOF! Please drop us a line to let us know if you can be there! The presentation will start promptly at 7pm so guests are asked to arrive by 6:45pm.

SOOF Soup Sunday – Featuring Dr. Cindy Staicer
2025-03-16 12:00 - 14:30 | Centrelea Community Hall, 3495 Highway 201, Centrelea, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
Wear some green and come celebrate St. Patty’s Day with SOOF!

Will the world’s tallest leprechaun make another appearance at SOOF Soup Sunday?

The only one way to find out is to join Save Our Old Forests for our 3rd SOOF Soup Sunday at Centrelea Community Hall on Sunday March 16 (12pm – 2:30pm) for a free lunch and presentation! This month we are featuring special guest Dr. Cindy Staicer who will talk about her project focusing on Forest Bird Species at Risk and their Habitats.

Lunch features homemade soups by SOOF Chefs Chantelle and Rob (with a vegan/gluten free option!) and bread donated by our good friends at Bee’s Knees General Store and Bakery . Send us a note or comment below to let us know you plan to attend – just so we get a sense of numbers for the soup makers and the bread bakers! If you would like to contribute, please bring a sweet treat for the for the dessert table and a label of ingredients.

ps. If you’re coming bring a mason jar or reusable container to take home some leftovers – first come first serve!!

SOOF Presentation - Town of Annapolis Royal
2025-03-05 17:50 - 18:30 | Annapolis Royal Town Hall, 285 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, B0S 1A0, Canada
Save Our Old Forests will be presenting to the Mayor and Council of the Town of Annapolis Royal about the Canada-Nova Scotia Nature Agreement and how in return for $28.5M to be spent on conservation in Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia agreed to meet an interim target of protection 15% by March 2026. That means moving 72,000 hectares into protection by next year.
SOOF will be asking Council to write a letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in support of including the proposed Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area (3,900 ha) in the tranche of lands that must be protected by that March 2026 deadline.
If you live in town or in the surrounding area we would love for you to join us and show your support for SOOF! Please drop us a line to let us know if you can be there! The presentation will start promptly at 6pm so guests are asked to arrive by 5:50pm.

Winter Adventure at Four Mile Stillwater Trail
2025-03-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Four Mile Stillwater Trail, 2032 Nova Scotia Trunk 8, Bear River
Join SOOF, Medway Community Forests and Annapolis County Recreation for a guided walk/snowshoe at the Four Mile Stillwater Trail. Angelika and Ashlea will be leading a walk through the beautiful mixed forest to learn about work being done to protect hemlock trees in Kespukwitk. This trail is managed through a partnership with the Medway Community Forest Coop and the Friends of the Medway Lakes Wilderness Area. Snowshoes will be available to try out… if there’s snow!
Informed Consent & Release Of Liability: Our workshops are a wonderful way to connect to nature, learn more about our forests and interact with the community, but it is not without certain risks, dangers, hazards, and liabilities to participants. We require all participants (or their legal guardians) to complete, sign and date the waiver before they can participate in the workshop. Click here to download the waiver and please ensure that you bring it with you to the workshop. Extra copies will be available at check-in if you forget!
Click HERE to Register

SOOF Soup Saturday - Featuring Lisa Proulx
2025-02-22 12:00 - 14:30 | Centrelea Community Hall, 3495 Highway 201, Centrelea, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
Join Save Our Old Forests for a free lunch of delicious soup and bread, followed by a conversation with Citizen Scientist Lisa Proulx!
We would appreciate if you could send an email to soof@saveouroldforests.ca so we get a sense of numbers. Also let us know if you’ll bring something for the dessert table!

SOOF Soup Sunday - Featuring Nina Newington
2025-01-19 12:00 - 14:30 | Centrelea Community Hall, 3495 Highway 201, Centrelea, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
Join Save Our Old Forests for a free lunch of delicious soup and bread, followed by a conversation with Nina Newington talking about the difference between OLD and OLD GROWTH forests! This is a free event, but a free will donation to the Hall is appreciated.
We would appreciate if you could send an email to soof@saveouroldforests.ca so we get a sense of numbers. Also let us know if you’ll bring something for the dessert table!

SOOF @ Christmas at the Brewery
2024-12-15 10:00 - 14:00 | Halifax Brewery Market, 1496 Lower Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Kjipuktuk/Halifax Save Our Old Forests (SOOF) team has a table at the Patagonia Store! Stop by and say hello, sign a petition and pick up a sticker before heading into the Christmas at the Brewery Market on Sunday December 15! It’s going to be a fun day with 40+ local vendors, coffee & treats and live music!

SOOF Craft Night - Live Wreath Workshop
2024-11-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Centrelea Community Hall, 3495 Highway 201, Centrelea, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
Join SOOF and Anne from Awkward Acres for a fun evening of crafting at the Centrelea Community Hall! Anne will provide all the materials and instructions, and we’ll spend a few hours creating fresh mini wreaths featuring a pillar candle, rescued saucer, natural materials and a few bits and pieces of finery. Each wreath will be unique and all will be beautiful! Click HERE TO REGISTER

Forests and Health: Forest Bathing and Nature-based Wellness Workshop
2024-11-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
Join SOOF and Wil Brunner (Certified Forest Therapy Guide) of Soft Pine Wellness for a forest bathing experience at Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area. The Forest Bathing and Nature-based Wellness Workshop features forest bathing and other nature-based health practices to demonstrate how old, thriving forests boost our well-being and are essential to our local communities.
Registration required. To register visit www.softpinewellness.ca/forest-bathing
Free event, but donations are very much appreciated. Suggested amount is $10. Please send e-transfer to Wil Brunner at softpinewellness@gmail.com or email to discuss other options.

SOOF Letter Writing Cafe - POSTPONED
2024-11-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Centrelea Community Hall, 3495 Highway 201, Centrelea, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
POSTPONED!
We will be postponing our first “SOOF Letter Writing Café” until some time after the upcoming election (November 26th). SOOF will reschedule once we know who is in power and how to address all the letters.

We’re going to gather together in-person for a few hours and sit down and write some letters to the Premier and Minister Rushton (DNRR) and Minister Halman (Environment).
People often say they aren’t sure what to write, or what to include in a letter. This will be a great place to learn some tips and write a letter (or two) to show your support for SOOF! Feel free to bring your laptop, or use the paper and pens provided to craft your own handwritten letter.
The SOOF Cafe will be serving tea, coffee and sweet treats to keep everyone going! Please drop us a line to let us know you are coming and if you’d like to contribute something to the sweets table.

Old Time Country Music & Dance
2024-11-02 19:00 - 22:00 | Round Hill Community Hall, 1689 Hwy 201, Round Hill, Nova Scotia, B0S 1A0, Canada
Get your dancing shoes on and two-step your way to the Round Hill Community Hall on Saturday, November 2 for an Old Time Music & Country Dance in support of Save Our Old Forests (SOOF)! Live fiddle music by The North Mountain Islanders, instructions in two steps, waltzes and maybe a contra or two!
$10 at the door – kids are free

Annapolis Royal Climate Fair
2024-11-02 10:00 - 16:00 | The Academy, 590 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Town of Annapolis Royal is hosting a Climate Fair on November 2 at The Academy and Save Our Old Forests (SOOF) will be there. There will be lots of exhibits, workshops and presentations, so be sure to stop by and say hello to the SOOF volunteers. We’d love to chat with you about Goldsmith Lake and Beals Brook Wilderness Areas, or how you can get involved with SOOF, and why we want to protect old forests!
Nina Newington will be giving a presentation about Goldsmith Lake and all things SOOF (Time TBD).

SOOF @ Nocturne
2024-10-19 18:00 | Nova Scotia
Save Our Old Forests will be taking part in Nocturne’s Art-At-Night festival on Saturday October 19!
Nocturne Art at Night Society (Nocturne) is a non-profit organization based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) that gives voice and agency to the local arts community by facilitating collaborations and exhibition opportunities.
https://nocturnehalifax.ca/projects/soof-save-our-old-forests/

Fungi, Lichens & Citizen Scientists - A film by Haeweon Yi
2024-10-18 10:00 - 2024-10-27 19:00 | Nova Scotia
Limited Online Screening: Friday October 18 (10am) to Sunday October 27 (7pm)
Available: youtube.com/@saveouroldforests
For a limited time only Save Our Old Forests will be streaming Fungi, Lichens & Citizen Scientists on our YouTube Channel! This short film by Haeweon Yi captures the work Citizen Scientists have been doing to protect the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area.
You can use the link to get to our YouTube channel and check out some of our other videos in the meantime. Haeweon’s film will not be available for viewing until 10am on Friday October 18!

Nova Scotia Forest Festival
2024-10-05 11:00 - 16:00 | Memory Lane Heritage Village, 5435 Clam Harbour Road, Lake Charlotte, Nova Scotia, Canada
Grab Your Plaid and Head for the Woods!
The Nova Scotia Forest Festival is a showcase of the many ways Nova Scotians connect to our forests for their livelihood, housing, recreation, food, and heritage. Featuring live horse logging demonstrations with Ruby and Dan, a matched pair of Clydesdale-crosses. Enjoy axe throwing, hands-on activities & heritage demonstrations for all ages. The event culminates in the Golden Axe-throwing Tournament where local businesses will be going axe-head to axe-head to see who has the chops.
Citizen Scientists Lisa Proulx and Ashlea Viola will be joining the SOOF table to share their knowledge of lichens – and they are bringing a microscope! Stop by to say hi, take a peek through the microscope and sign a petition to protect forests over 80 years old on Crown land in Halifax County!

Seniors for Climate - Day of Action
2024-10-02 12:00 - 16:00 | St. Andrew’s United Church Hall, 6036 Coburg Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Join Seniors for Climate Halifax for a day of learning, action, and connection as we come together to address climate change. Hear from experts on the critical impacts of fossil fuels on our environment, health, and future. Learn how climate change is affecting your quality of life right now and what can be done to make a difference. From rising health concerns to extreme weather events, the effects of global heating are real—and seniors, like all of us, are feeling the impact.
Be sure to drop by the Save Our Old Forests (SOOF) table to sign a petition and pick up a sticker!

Celebrate Lichen Camp
2024-09-28 15:00 - 19:00 | Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
We are inviting all of our SOOF supporters, Citizen Scientists, campers, and friends to join us for a celebration of Lichen Camp!
Potluck celebration starts at 3pm on Saturday, September 28 at Lichen Camp in the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area.
Please email soof@saveouroldforests.ca if you plan to attend so we can keep track of numbers and pass along directions.

Mycology Workshop with Keith Egger
2024-09-28 10:00 - 14:00 | Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
The Mycology Workshop with special guest Keith Egger is now full. Please contact soof@saveouroldforests.ca to be added to the wait list. If a spot opens up folks on the wait list will be contacted on a “first come first serve” basis.
Come explore the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area and learn about the about the importance of fungi in the forest. Our guest speaker, Keith Egger will be acting as our guide and sharing his knowledge about the astonishing range of fungal diversity and their roles in the environment as decomposers, pathogens and mycorrhizal symbionts with forest trees.
Keith Egger is a retired professor and mycologist from BC who now lives in the Annapolis Valley. If your sole interest in mushrooms is foraging for edibles this is not the workshop for you as Keith will be focusing on fungal diversity and ecology.
Informed Consent & Release Of Liability: Our workshops are a wonderful way to connect to nature, learn more about our forests and interact with the community, but it is not without certain risks, dangers, hazards, and liabilities to participants. We require all participants (or their legal guardians) to complete, sign and date the waiver before they can participate in the workshop. Click here to download the waiver and please ensure that you bring it with you to the workshop. Extra copies will be available at check-in if you forget!

Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area - Water Ceremony
2024-09-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
Mi’kma’ki Grassroots Grandmother Dorene Bernard will perform a Water Ceremony at Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area on Saturday September 21 starting at 1:00pm.
Dorene Bernard notes: Women who want to participate in the ceremony to wear skirts. Everyone is welcome. Sacred ceremony protocols. We will explain more about the ceremony at that time. Please NO photos of the Ceremony. Wela’lin.
If you would like to attend please email soof@saveouroldforests.ca to register. Registered participants will receive an email on Friday, September 20 to confirm the start time, directions and other details.

Annapolis County Volunteer Expo
2024-09-21 10:00 - 12:30 | Bridgetown Regional Community School, 25 Cromwell Court, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia, Canada
Save Our Old Forests will be attending the 2024 Annapolis County Volunteer Expo! We’re excited to be part of the expo and looking forward to sharing more about SOOF!
The Volunteer Expo is free and everyone is welcome to come and learn more about the many nonprofit and grassroots organisations in Annapolis County. There will be community presentations, entertainment, and lots of food…plenty of activities to enjoy! While some people are playing, others will be visiting the booths finding a community group that is a good fit for them.

Spreading Spores!—An evening of fungi, lichens, and Haeweon’s going-away party
2024-09-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Centrelea Community Hall, 3495 Highway 201, Centrelea, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
Haeweon Yi, a friend of SOOF, is returning to England to complete her performance research on fungi and human relationships after a year of fieldwork in Mi’kma’ki. You may have seen her filming, performing, camping, exploring the forests, or making something fun with young people. She is hosting this special evening to thank the SOOF community, share some of her memories, and give you a glimpse of where the story of fungi and lichens in the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area is headed with her research. All fungi and lichen nerds are welcome!

It’s a potluck party! Please bring some food to share.

There will be screenings of Haeweon’s films documenting the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area and citizen scientists, including a conversation between Nina Newington and Gini Proulx.

A short performance by Haeweon will showcase her research practice on the Theatre of Decomposition.
Please feel free to bring your instruments and dancing shoes! The evening will end with a jam session of music and dance.
RSVP to haeweon.yi@gmail.com if possible, but you are also welcome to drop by.

SOOF @ Forest Market Fair
2024-08-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Annapolis Royal Farmer’s Market, St George St, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, B0S 1A0, Canada
After hanging out at SOOFSTOCK be sure to head over to Annapolis Royal on Sunday August 25 for Medway Community Forest Co-op‘s Annual Forest Market Fair! Come by and say hello to the SOOF table, sign a petition, or have a chat about Goldsmith Lake and Beals Brook Wilderness Areas.
Thanks to the folks at the Medway Community Forest Co-Op for letting us share this beautiful poster by artist Liz Miles! https://lizzmiles.com/

SOOFSTOCK 2024 - Music Festival
2024-08-23 00:00 - 2024-08-24 23:59 | West Dalhousie Community Hall, 4868 West Dalhousie Road, West Dalhousie, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0
Help Save Our Old Forests through music!
SOOFSTOCK 2024 includes: live music performances, market, Kids Corner, and a forest walk at Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area. Food trucks and vendors on site, rough camping available (Friday night to Sunday morning). The festival features a wide variety of music genres, including everything from Rock, Folk, Country, Blues, and Sea Shanties!
Check out our SOOFSTOCK page on our website for more details and ticket information! saveouroldforests.ca/soofstock

Old Growth Forest Walk - with Donna Crossland (SOOFSTOCK 2024)
2024-08-07 08:00 - 17:00 | Nova Scotia
SOOF is super excited to share that Bob Bancroft will be joining us on Saturday August 24 for the “Old Growth Forest Walk with Donna Crossland” at Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area! The forest walk is part of the SOOFSTOCK 2024 program. The walk will take place in a newly discovered area of old-growth Wabanaki/Acadian Forest in the eastern part of the proposed Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area. The 1.6 hectare old growth forest is close to Corbett Lake and includes Sugar Maple and Yellow Birch that are estimated to be 150 to 200 years old, and possibly older.
What to bring/wear: Layered clothing, waterproof boots/shoes, water, snacks, bug dope/bug shirt
Limited to 20 participants.
Registration required: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Meeting Location for Check-In: West Dalhousie Community Hall (4868 West Dalhousie Road) starting at 9:30am
Informed Consent & Release Of Liability: Our workshops are a wonderful way to connect to nature, learn more about our forests and interact with the community, but it is not without certain risks, dangers, hazards, and liabilities to participants. We require all participants (or their legal guardians) to complete, sign and date the waiver before they can participate in the workshop. Click here to download the waiver and please ensure that you bring it with you to the workshop. Extra copies will be available at check-in if you forget!

SOOF @ Tupperville School Museum's Ice Cream Social
2024-07-27 13:00 - 16:00 | Tupperville School Museum, 2663 Highway 201, Tupperville, Nova Scotia, B0S 1C0, Canada
Come enjoy some home made ice cream, old fashioned games, live music and a BBQ at the Tupperville School Museum! SOOF will be there too so be sure to stop by and say hello, sign a petition, check out our SOOFSTOCK 2024 t-shirts and chat about the Goldsmith Lake and Beals Brook wilderness areas! Plus we will be selling tickets for our Raffle and you could win “Shelley” a Whimsical Blanding’s turtle sculpture by Deb Kuzyk!!
