This August, Ontario Parks is challenging you to spend 30 minutes in nature each day for 30 days. You know what would make meeting that challenge really easy? Spending a whole weekend in nature!
Scout out your ideal campsite on our Campsite Browsing/Reservation tool (including pictures of most campsites!), or check out these featured campsites (available as of noon on August 15, 2019):
Today’s post comes from Grace McGarry and Meghan Drake, Discovery Program staff at Neys and Mark Puumala, Resident Geologist at the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines.
Neys Provincial Park is a special place. It has so many qualities that stand out when compared to other parks.
One of these qualities is the park’s Under the Volcano Trail. This stunning trail is entirely along the coast of Lake Superior.
This trail has some interesting features waiting to be discovered. Let’s take a look at what makes this trail special.
To start, the name says it all. This trail takes you along the route of what was once an active volcano where the coast of Lake Superior is now!
Continue reading Under the Volcano Trail at Neys Provincial Park
Today’s post comes from Connor Ferguson, an Assistant Discovery Leader at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park.
Every summer, you’ll find me in the parks of northern Ontario, sharing my love of nature with visitors from around the world as an Ontario Parks naturalist.
When the operating season is done, and the visitors have returned home, I go back to where I’m from: the far south of the province. I like to think that moving between these regions gives me a special appreciation for my time in the north.
Here are some of the reasons why I love spending my summers in Ontario’s north.
Continue reading The best parts of a northern summer, according to a southern naturalist
Cooler weather. No bugs. The pumpkin pie aroma wafting from your campfire, and the warmth of hot chocolate in your hands. It must be fall camping season!
These six parks will be extending their camping season this year:
Continue reading Extended fall camping at six parks
Today’s post comes from Sheila Wiebe, a Marketing and Development Specialist at Bronte Creek Provincial Park.
I recently celebrated the halfway point in my life. The milestone of 50 years on this Earth, half a century.
As I usually do around my birthday I reflected on the past year: the accomplishments, the challenges, and everything in between.
I felt like I needed to do something to commemorate the occasion. Continue reading My 50 trees challenge
Happy International Youth Day!
Students and youth are the lifeblood of our parks — we couldn’t do without them!
Here are just a few stand-out students and youth from around the province:
In 1944, Algonquin Provincial Park decided to try something new.
They hired Professor J.R. Dymond, Director of the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology, to deliver guided hikes for park visitors. Those first interpretive programs were a success and what would become the Ontario Parks Discovery Program was born.
More than seventy-five years later, roughly 300 Discovery staff in over 70 parks continue to engage visitors with stories of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage and encourage them to explore further.
Continue reading The Ontario Parks Discovery Program: 75+ years in the making
Has one of our park staff ever made your day? You know: gone that extra yard to make your vacation that much more enjoyable?
If this has happened to you, it has most likely involved one of the 1,500+ student staff we hire each summer.
And we’d love your help in giving them some well-deserved recognition and support.
Time in nature has been proven to lead to better sleep, improved productivity, and lower stress. What better reasons to go camping?
Scout out your ideal campsite on our Campsite Browsing/Reservation tool (including pictures of most campsites!), or check out these featured campsites (available as of noon on August 8, 2019):
In our “Behind the Scenes” series, Discovery Program staff across the province share a “backstage” glimpse of their favourite programs and projects. Today’s post comes from Jordan Welch and Kelly Taylor, Discovery Program staff at Lake Superior Provincial Park
We have all been asked the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?”
We tend to make the decision based on the experiences we have. For some, it’s school; for others, it’s travel. Perhaps even friends and family help in deciding a career path. We went outside.
