How seizing every opportunity led me from student to project lead

Today’s blog was written by Matthew Cunliffe, project lead for training and directive development with the Ontario Parks Operations Branch.

Back in 2006, as an aspiring teacher, I found myself at the doorstep of a career that would shape me in ways I never anticipated.

I had always been fascinated with the plants, birds, rocks, and (especially) insects I would find along trails, but I had no idea that I could make a career out of being a self-defined “nature geek.”

After my first year of university, I applied to my local provincial park through the Discovery Program and took my first steps into a world filled with nature, education, and endless possibilities.

I fell head over heels for the educational aspects of parks and thus began a journey of learning, growth, and discovery.

Continue reading How seizing every opportunity led me from student to project lead

How to plan your visit to Wasaga Beach Provincial Park

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is the busiest provincial park in the province, receiving over 1.5 million visitors every year!

Home to the world’s longest managed freshwater beach, Wasaga boasts 14 km of pristine sand, which makes it a hot spot for summer activity.

This also means that our park can get extremely busy, and often reaches capacity on hot summer days.

Our park is unique within the provincial park system as it is the only provincial park that is fully integrated within a town. This can be confusing for our visitors.

Continue reading How to plan your visit to Wasaga Beach Provincial Park

3 ways to level up your birding

Today’s post comes from marketing specialist and birding enthusiast Tanya Berkers. 

When Ontario Parks signed on as a supporter of the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, I eagerly volunteered on one of the organizing committees.

I love birding, and the Atlas is an important volunteer-dependent project that supports conservation and environmental policy across the entire province.

I wanted to contribute to the Atlas both behind the scenes and as an active data collector.

There is just one problem: I am not a strong birder, and have lots of gaps in my knowledge!

Continue reading 3 ways to level up your birding

Be an invasive species fighter! Clean, drain, dry your boat

Today’s post comes from our friends at the Invasive Species Centre.

Ontario is home to wonderful lakes, rivers, and streams. Unfortunately, some of these waterways are home to aquatic invasive species such as Zebra or Quagga Mussels.

These species can be spread from one waterbody to another through watercraft that have not been properly cleaned, drained, and dried between uses.

Continue reading Be an invasive species fighter! Clean, drain, dry your boat

Help us maintain the Algonquin trout fishing tradition

Today’s post comes from Nick Lacombe, fisheries biologist at Algonquin Provincial Park.

For me, springtime in Algonquin means trout fishing.

Many others share this feeling, as about 70% of backcountry campers fish for trout during their spring trips. Lakes containing Brook and Lake Trout are found throughout the Algonquin backcountry, with the best lakes often being more challenging to reach.

Fellow anglers, we need your help to protect Algonquin’s trout populations.

Starting on the opening day of trout season (April 27, 2024), angler survey packages will be available at all operating Algonquin offices.

Do your part and complete an angler survey.

*Always check the Ontario Fishing Regulations for the area you’re fishing in.

Continue reading Help us maintain the Algonquin trout fishing tradition

What YOU need to know to keep oak wilt out of Ontario Parks!

Today’s post comes from Program Development Intern Vincent La Tassa at the Invasive Species Centre. 

Ontario is home to a significant number of majestic oak trees, many of which take root in our provincial parks.

They provide us with shade, beauty, and a sense of connection with nature. The sprawling canopies of these mighty oaks offer a serene backdrop to our adventures.

However, there is a silent threat to oak trees.

Read on so we can work together to prevent it from spreading:

Continue reading What YOU need to know to keep oak wilt out of Ontario Parks!

Why is biodiversity important?

Biodiversity is a big word for the variety of life on Earth.

Biodiversity is you — and every other living thing on the planet.

We see biodiversity every day, but it’s more than bugs and animals and trees. It’s about how everything is connected. If we lose one piece of biodiversity, the rest is affected.

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Why social trails are damaging to provincial parks

Park-lovers are natural explorers, and we love our visitors’ passion for adventure.

Sometimes, we see our visitors create their own shortcuts by cutting through sensitive habitat. This is otherwise known as creating a social trail.

Social trails can have a wide range of damaging effects on protected areas, and we’d like to ask our visitors to always stay on designated trails.

Continue reading Why social trails are damaging to provincial parks

Orphaned by the Ice Age

Today’s post comes from Cara Freitag, a park naturalist at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.

One of the most interesting stories that a small, shrubby, low-growing plant can tell is that of Sleeping Giant’s arctic disjunct species.

They survived a journey of over 850 km: that’s almost infinity for small plants like the Encrusted Saxifrage.

Travelling from the geological area known today as Polar Bear Provincial Park, these plants have found microclimates they can also call home here at Sleeping Giant.

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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