Fishing on the Mattawa River

Today’s post comes from year-round multispecies angler and writer Ashley Rae of SheLovesToFish.com.

Fishing on a new body of water is always exciting and presents a challenge, too.

Fishing a new lake means learning the lay of the land without having go-to areas or fishing hotspots from past adventures to rely on.

This is precisely why I love traveling so much and visiting various parks in our beautiful province. It’s an opportunity to dissect new waters and create memories.

Any day on the water is a day well spent, but landing a memorable catch on a brand new body of water certainly adds a satisfying element to the experience.

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I spy with my little eye…

Today’s post comes to us from Heather Stern, a naturalist at Bon Echo Provincial Park. 

Some of the oldest rock in the world.

Something that is carved.

Something made of wood.

These are only a few examples of the many things you can see from the Visitor Centre at Bon Echo Provincial Park, thanks to Rod MacKenzie with Hi-Spy Viewing Machines.

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The people I’ve met in parks…

Stroll the halls at our main office, and you’ll find many a former naturalist, ops tech and superintendent. So many of our long-time team members started their careers in a favourite provincial park. In today’s post, Eva Paleczny — now working centrally as a Learning & Education Specialist — recounts her time working in a park. 

As a park naturalist at Lake Superior Provincial Park, I met so many people, some just briefly and others year after year.

And the diverse array of visitors I’ve met while working with Ontario Parks has been one of the best parts of my job!

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Stars over Killarney 2018

What happens when two great organizations work together to promote astronomy and dark skies? An incredible experience that captivated visitors from all over Ontario and beyond.

On September 22, 2018, we launched Ontario Parks’ first Dark-Sky Preserve in Killarney Provincial Park (the other is in Lake Superior Provincial Park) with a special “Stars over Killarney” program. Joining us as co-hosts for this special event were our friends at Science North, one of Canada’s best hands-on science museums.

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A bonding family experience in the #OPescape RV

Today’s post comes to us from Paula Schuck (@inkscrblr), the writer behind Thrifty Mommas Tips, and our next #OPescape content creator to travel around Ontario’s provincial parks in our wrapped RV. 

A few weeks ago, I listened to a podcast about the brain and nature’s impact on health, and I learned that time spent in natural surroundings impacts immune function, weight, and blood pressure as well as attention deficit disorder.

The impact of even a three day break when spent outdoors enjoying nature lasts months and leaves you in better health mentally and physically.

After learning that, I was more eager than ever to leave on our first ever RV trip (in celebration of Ontario’s Parks 125th anniversary). I needed to see for myself if it was true. Would the experience change us?

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Nutritionist turned camper in the Ontario Parks RV

Today’s post comes from Jordana Hart, creator of I Hart Nutrition. Jordana is one of six content creators we invited to document and share their Ontario Parks RV experience in a custom-wrapped RV as part of this year’s OP125 celebrations.

If I am being honest, while I love nature and love being outdoors, I definitely don’t consider myself to be the camping type. So needless to say, this type of experience was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but one I just couldn’t turn down.

I think the idea of being on an RV is what really convinced me. I had never stepped foot into an RV before, and I’m all about new adventures.

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