Our favourite natural spaces can move us. Scenic views, outdoor adventures, and breathtaking experiences all hold a special place in our hearts and minds.
Recently, one generous donor was so moved by the Kabeyun Trail at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park that they made a $25,000 donation to improve the trail.
Talk about “giant” generosity!
Everything looks better with a fresh dusting of snow.
Happy New Year, parks-lovers!
We know how much nature matters – and we know you do too! That’s why Ontario Parks asked you for your opinion last year during our Healthy Parks Healthy People (HPHP) consultation.
And you responded!
We received more than 2,500 responses from researchers, members of the healthcare sector, environmental groups, Indigenous organizations, educators, and members of the public!
Nature? We’re here for it and so are our friends at Coleman Canada. Read on to find out how they’re helping us encourage Ontarians to spend more time outside!
It’s easy to feel a bit low at this time of year. It seems to get dark outside immediately after lunch, the sun is elusive, and our bodies are still adapting to cooler temperatures.
There’s a part of our brain that really wants to hibernate.
But we’re going to fight that urge, and you should too! Here’s why: our brains need nature! Continue reading This is your brain on nature!
Don’t let the Northern Shrike’s small size deceive you.
These little floofs are strict carnivores and will stealthily hunt anything of manageable size, including insects, mice, lizards, and other birds.
Northern Shrikes spend the breeding season in the far north, but can be found south of Thunder Bay and Sudbury during the winter, so watch for these masked predators warbling in shrubby habitats.
Threats like habitat loss, predators, and vehicle collisions are causing turtles to disappear from the landscape at an alarming rate. All eight of Ontario’s turtle species are now at risk.
We’re seeking donations for our Turtle Protection Project. Every dollar raised will be used to fund turtle research and protection projects in provincial parks.
November is the perfect time for stargazing.
Even though the temperatures are cooling down, the early sunset and later sunrise provide us with almost fifteen hours of darkness in which to observe nighttime splendors. Plus, there are some exciting occurrences lighting up the skies all month long.
Why not take some time this month to view these celestial splendours?
Sneaking out of your tent in the middle of the night to stare up at the stars… is there anything better?
There’s no substitution for witnessing a starry sky firsthand, but this month’s FREE digital download is a good start!
In today’s post, Alistair MacKenzie, Naturalist Heritage Education Supervisor at Pinery Provincial Park, recounts a dramatic encounter with an Eastern Screech Owl. © Can Stock Photo Inc. / mlorenz.
We desperately needed to confirm breeding evidence for Eastern Screech Owls in our survey squares for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas back in 2005.
It was our last chance given that the atlas was wrapping up the collection period and I was frustrated since I confidently knew that screech owls did indeed breed in the park, but sadly we just hadn’t managed to be in the right place at the right time to confirm it.
In today’s post, Assistant Discovery Program Leader Emma Dennis invites us to reflect on Killarney Provincial Park’s landscapes, past and present.
When I was young, we used to play a game where we would stand or sit in one spot, and use our imaginations to create an idea of what might have happened there years before us.
At that age, our ideas were that perhaps dinosaurs roamed in that same area or the princess kissed the frog in that same place hundreds of years ago (and they lived happily ever after!).
Today, I find myself playing a similar game as I explore Killarney Provincial Park.
However, my record of historical events is slightly more accurate.
Continue reading Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Group of Seven
