PA Day Adventures with the Parish of the Good Shepherd & Christ Church, Port Sydney
Thanks to generous support from the Anglican Foundation of Canada’s Say Yes! to Kids initiative, as well as a $10,000 grant awarded this past spring through AFC’s Community Ministries Fund, youth in the Muskoka Deanery are experiencing extraordinary hands-on learning through the Emsdale Explorers and P.A. Day Fun Fridays programs. These monthly gatherings have become a highlight for children from Emsdale, Port Sydney, and surrounding rural communities—places where opportunities for creative, educational programming can be limited. And what a season it has been.
A Day at the Farm: Learning Where Wool Begins
On an outing this past October, 14 enthusiastic young people boarded a bus bound for a small farm just outside Huntsville—home to sheep, a donkey, a horse, a dog, a cat, and many rescued animals who now enjoy a safe and loving home. The day’s destination was the outdoor studio of local fibre artist Pam Carnochan, who welcomed the group into the magical world of “wool painting.”
Before any artwork could begin, Pam walked the children through the surprising first step: cleaning freshly sheared wool. “Boy do those sheep get mucky!” Joy Stott, program organizer, laughed, recalling the children gingerly dipping their hands into the dirty wash water. But very quickly, hesitation turned into fascination—and then pride. “Everyone did an excellent job,” Joy shared. “And we all discovered that lanolin makes your hands wonderfully soft!”
Carding, Dyeing, and Discovering Colour
With the wool cleaned, the children learned how to prepare it for felting. Some carded the wool by hand, using two paddles and learning to be careful of their fingers, while others eagerly tried the carding machine, which they declared “so much more fun.” They also discovered how to dye wool using Kool-Aid packets. What came off the wheel was beautiful—soft, fluffy batts of coloured wool ready for the next stage.
The Messy Wonder of Felting
The felting process was a delight in itself. Armed with rubber gloves, bubble wrap, and plenty of enthusiasm, the children “shocked” their wool with hot water, rolled it, pressed it, and squeezed it until the fibres slowly transformed into felt. “It’s a messy job,” Joy said, “so it had to be done outside—but the kids loved every minute of it.”
From Wool to Art: Creating Painting in Fibre
At last, the artists were ready. Using dyed and natural wool, each child created a unique wool painting—landscapes, imaginative scenes, bursts of colour, even a picture of the three sheep who had provided that very wool. Pam was amazed. “Our artist was so impressed by what they all achieved,” Joy said. “These kids created beautiful, beautiful art.”
A Lesson of the Heart
As part of their day, the group also reflected on a simple but powerful teaching: God looks after all His sheep, knows each one by name, and when one is lost, God finds, rescues, and rejoices. From meeting real sheep, to learning the value of their wool, to turning that wool into art, the children experienced first-hand the beloved shepherd imagery of Scripture. Pam summed it up beautifully: “From Farm to Frame.”
Joy, Friendship, and Play
Of course, PA Days include more than just learning. At lunchtime, the kids climbed rocks, played cornhole, and spent time outdoors building friendships and confidence. These days have become safe, joyful spaces for rural children to explore creativity, faith, community, and play.
A Message of Thanks
At the end of the day, Joy and the Rev. Catherine Murkin offered heartfelt thanks: “Thank you, Anglican Foundation, for all your support through your gracious grant, and for giving us this opportunity to Say Yes! to Kids! Everything you have provided made this day so meaningful and so special. You are awesome!”