Campfire fare that stands the test of time

For seasoned and novice campers alike, Ontario’s provincial parks hold cherished memories for generations of visitors.

And while modern-day camping features feather-light freestanding tents, fuel efficient radiant burner cookstoves that boil water in 90 seconds, and electronic gadgets that take campground games like Hide and Go Seek (a.k.a. geocaching) to New Ager heights, basic camp kitchen equipment has stood the test of time.

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Is your favourite park making you sneeze?

For those who suffer from asthma or allergies, the warmer weather and park visits can sometimes mean running nose, watery eyes or breathing difficulties.

It’s time for a quick pollen lesson to better equip you to take control of your breathing.

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Ouimet Canyon: a northwestern birding hotspot

Today’s post comes from our Northwest Regional Planning Ecologist Bill Greaves.

Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park is typically visited for its jaw-dropping geological feature, but it’s also one of the better birding hotspots in the Thunder Bay area.

What might you see at Ouimet Canyon?

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The Boundary Waters/Voyageur Waterway: a Canadian Heritage River

Today’s post was written by Kestrel Wraggett, a planning intern from our Northwest Zone.

Did you know that there’s a network of nationally recognized significant waterways all over Canada?

There are 42 Canadian Heritage Rivers within the country, 12 of which are located in Ontario. Two of these designated heritage rivers run through Northwestern Ontario and both are located within the boundaries of provincial parks.

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Ecosystems and music

Not sure exactly what “ecological integrity” means? Today’s post from Park Biologist Shannon McGaffey explains how ecological integrity is like music.

Synergy: the creation of a whole that is bigger than the sum of the individual parts

If you are listening to a symphony, you are not listening to two violins, one piano, three flutes, etc. You are listening to music, an art that breaches the realms of spirituality. Music naturally generates measurable energy, but also produces energy beyond that, an energy that humans can feel, but just can’t quite grasp and understand.

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Does the darkness need our protection?

Today’s post comes from our Natural Heritage Education Coordinator Brad Steinberg.

Not many researchers like being kept in the dark…

…except, that is, for scotobiologists!

Scotobiology is the science of darkness, a research topic that is growing in importance. Many birds, amphibians, insects and plants (and us!) have evolved to rely on uninterrupted periods of darkness during the night.

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