Category: Summer

The fascinating world of dragonflies and their importance to ecosystems

Today’s blog comes to us from Park Naturalist Sarah Lamond at Algonquin Provincial Park.

Picture it: a warm July day at Algonquin.

You’re basking in the day’s rays and exploring an interpretive trail.

It’s all picture perfect until you hear that telltale buzz and feel an all-too-familiar pain on your scalp.

The Deer Flies have arrived.

Swatting at the growing swarm, you look to the sky and wonder: will there be no relief?

And then they arrive. The prehistoric predator. The Deer Fly devourer. The people’s champion.

Dragonflies.

Continue reading The fascinating world of dragonflies and their importance to ecosystems

April’s vacancy highlights (roofed accommodation)

Spring temperatures can be tough to predict, which is what makes April a great month to stay in a cabin or yurt!

Whether it rains, snows or shines, you’ll have a cozy home base for your outdoor adventures.

Accommodations featured below were available as of March 12, 2024.

Continue reading April’s vacancy highlights (roofed accommodation)

Five friends, five departments, one park

Today’s post comes from Zuzanna, Alysa, Lyle, Jackson, and Emily: five friends who applied to Ontario Parks across the province and by a twist of fate, all got jobs at the same provincial park, 1,500 km (or 16 hours) from home!

Are you interested in joining us for the 2024 summer season? Applications are now open!

In early January of last year, we applied to work at parks across the province. Being friends with connections in southern Ontario, we were yearning for seasonal jobs characterized by adventure and wilderness.

After numerous interviews and phone calls, one by one we received job offers from the same park: Quetico Provincial Park.

Once he reviewed our resumes and interviews, our senior operations technician discovered the friendships and previous connections that we had to one another.

Upon consideration of our unique backgrounds, he placed us in distinct departments to align with our individual strengths.

We became five friends in five departments, all at the same provincial park.

Continue reading Five friends, five departments, one park

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Breaking the Barrier

Thirty years ago, Atikokan resident and paralympic gold medalist Tom Hainey historically swam across the entire length of Quetico Provincial Park in the Breaking the Barrier Swim.

This swim honoured Tom Hainey’s mother and long-time Quetico employee, Sheila Hainey, who had recently passed away in a car crash.

This year on August 12, a gathering will be held at Quetico’s Dawson Trail Campground to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tom Hainey’s swim and the dedication of a barrier-free boardwalk to his mother Sheila.

Continue reading Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Breaking the Barrier

It’s August — what are Black Bears up to?

Ontario’s Black Bears are busy looking for food in August!

They only have a few a short months before they go into hibernation.

In August, Black Bears are focused on finding delicious berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

Continue reading It’s August — what are Black Bears up to?

August’s digital download

Can you believe summer’s half over?

If you haven’t had a chance to take a trip to the great outdoors, THIS IS YOUR SIGN!

We’ve got plenty of sites available for your camping trip! Want your pick of the sites? Take some time off work and book a midweek trip!

This month’s FREE digital download comes from the stunning Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park.

Continue reading August’s digital download

5 common moths and how to identify them

Today’s blog comes from Murphys Point Provincial Park Assistant Superintendent Mark Read. 

With an ever-increasing interest in some of the smaller wildlife found in our provincial parks, moths are quickly becoming the new park stars!

In fact, when looking at Ontario Parks’ iNaturalist project, you can find five native species sitting right up there amongst some of the most frequently observed wildlife across our entire network of parks.

Here are 5 of the most common moth species found in Ontario Parks:

Continue reading 5 common moths and how to identify them