All Species One Earth
This year's event will take place Saturday, April 23 2016 at the Ames Public Library
and Bandshell Park in Ames, Iowa. Mark your calendars for this great event!
This event is presented by The Iowa Wildlife Center, Story County Conservation, Upper Story Studio,
City of Ames Parks and Recreation, and The Ames Public Library
This event celebrates biodiversity and the awakening spring. We will meld art, science and human ingenuity to celebrate the 'sense of wonder' we all feel toward the natural world. To do this, we offer people of all ages a way to connect with other species that we are, in some way, dependent upon, including plants, insects, mammals, birds and reptiles."
"All Species, One Earth" will include an All Species Parade, educational booths and presentations, children's activities, and artistic performances. People participating in the parade can come as any species they want to be for the day—animal or plant, domestic or wild. The moving exhibition will not include any live animals, but, rather, will show off artistic interpretations as creatively portrayed by costumed, masked or painted children and adults. Participation in the parade is free!
Those interested in taking on a particular animal, plant or insect role in the parade may get some help with their transformations by attending one of the puppet, mask or costume-making workshops held in the area and led by event partner and our 2015-16 Artist-In-Residence Molly Nagel, owner of Upper Story Studio. Classes and workshops for the 2016 event are listed under
"GET INVOLVED". If you would like to teach a class or workshop for our 2016 event, there is also information for other artists there as well.
Before the parade, there will be an opportunity for the public to visit educational exhibits at the Ames Public Library pertaining to wildlife, conservation and the respectful treatment of animals. The educational exhibits will be open from 1-2:30 before the parade and performances begin in Bandshell Park at 3pm.
