Venture Outdoors Festival is Saturday

The Venture Outdoors Festival is returning for its second annual event. The festival will be Saturday from 3-9 p.m. at Canyon Rim Park, 2900 E. 3100 South

Because of last year's success, this year's event is expected to be bigger and more exciting.

The free, family-friendly event will feature various activities for kids including a navigation treasure hunt, crafts, kid's race and a 40-foot giant slide. Other clinics will range from leisurely to heart-pumping sports.

More than 40 clinics will inform and demonstrate recreation amenities available in Utah. Clinics include: using garden herbs for healthy cooking with "Joy in the Garden" host Joy Bossi; a skateboard competition from Milosport; archery training; kiteboarding demonstrations; fly-fishing techniques; and a discussion with world-record holding Mount Everest climbers.

Some recreation clinics will teach kids and parents basic principles of leaving no trace behind when camping, and other clinics will teach the importance of maintaining and protecting our wilderness resources.

Live music will be provided by groups such as Kalai, Salty Rootz and the Incendiary Circus. Food vendors will also be present.

To ensure all Millcreek Township is involved, Venture Outdoors will host Venture Activities, in the morning, before the festival, to encourage all residents to enjoy outdoor recreation. Fill-the-Ark 5K Race, Millcreek Bike Rodeo, a guided nature hike up Millcreek Canyon and a Healthy Living Fair for older adults are activities planned for Saturday morning.

The festival is designed to build community awareness for residents of Millcreek Township and promote active living. It hopes to achieve this by organizing community events. In 2008, township residents will be surveyed on the future governance structure of their community.

Highlighted events include:

• Fill-the-Ark Race (Wasatch Jr. High, 3103 E. Craig Drive. This is a unique fund-raiser for Heifer International that provides animals to needy villages. 5K Race: 7-10 a.m.

• Millcreek Bike Rodeo & Breakfast, Big Cottonwood Park, 1300 E. 4300 South. Kids participate in ten bike safety stations and all enjoy a community breakfast. Bike Rodeo: 9-11 a.m.

• Guided Wildflower Hike, Millcreek Canyon Trail, 3800 S. Wasatch Blvd. Free guided hike with botany expert from Utah Native Plant Society. Hike: 9 a.m.

• Healthy Living for Older Adults, Evergreen Park, 2264 Evergreen Ave. Older adults will gain new resources and information on how to improve their health and nutrition. Clinics: 9-11 a.m.

• REI Paddle Demo, Liberty Park, 650 E. 1300 South. Test-drive the newest canoes and kayaks and get free instruction from REI experts. Demo: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Go to: www.millcreekoutdoors.org for more information.