Tag: Samuel de Champlain

Communication is key: from student to park superintendent

Today’s blog was written by Dave Ward, park superintendent for Ontario Parks’ Temagami Cluster.

The year is 2007. I had just completed my first year of college and had no idea what direction I wanted to go with my career.

I happened to know someone who worked for Ontario Parks as an interpreter in the Discovery program. It sounded like a fantastic job so I applied online for a student park ranger position.

After a thorough interview process, I was successful in getting a Discovery position at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park.

Little did I know at the time that my short summer experience with Ontario Parks would slowly turn into a career.

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Where to camp when your fave park is already full

Did you know over 50% of reservations made by the end of March are for our five most popular parks (Bon Echo, Algonquin, Sandbanks, Killbear, Pinery)?

If you can’t get a campsite at one of these parks, we’ve got some suggestions we’re sure you’ll love…

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Frances Anne Hopkins: documenting the lives of voyageurs through art

Today’s post comes from Taylor Bottoms-Cau, a second-year Discovery student at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. 

You’ve likely heard of the Group of Seven, artists who travelled the remote landscapes of Ontario to capture their rugged beauty by brush.

But they weren’t the only artists who travelled rough and painted what they saw!

Fifty years before the Group of Seven, Frances Anne Hopkins was roughing it in a voyageur canoe between Lachine (Montreal) and Fort William (Thunder Bay).

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Where the wild things are: salamanders

Today’s post comes from Jazmin Gall, park naturalist at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park.

As park staff, one of our favorite questions to get from visitors is, “Where do insert various wildlife names live within the park?”

We love visitors who are as excited as we are about wildlife and we’re more than happy to share the knowledge we’ve gained!

In today’s blog, we’re going to teach you about the somewhat secret sites that salamanders like to call home.

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Building a safe haven with Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park’s artificial turtle nesting site

Today’s post comes from Rose Brandt, a Discovery student at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. 

If you’ve been to Bagwa Day-Use Beach at Samuel de Champlain, you might’ve wondered what that seemingly random pile of sand beside the beach is all about.

That would be our artificial turtle nesting site!

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Life after loss: the importance of moose antlers

Today’s post comes from Jazmin Gall, Acting Assistant Discovery Leader at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park.

Moose are, without a doubt, a magnificent sight to see.

Having the opportunity to see one while camping is a memory that can last a lifetime. It’s something that never gets old.

Despite their size, moose can sometimes be tricky to spot. So when we find evidence of them like their tracks or fallen antlers, it’s an exciting day!

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5 life-changing paddling routes of Northeastern Ontario

Whether you’re planning a scenic day trip or a rugged backcountry adventure, Northeastern Ontario is a paddler’s playground.

Last year, Northeastern Ontario Tourism asked their readers to vote for their top paddling destinations…

…and the votes are in!

Join us in counting down the top 5 paddling destinations of Northeastern Ontario:

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Spend a day paddling the Mattawa

Today’s post comes from Jess Knowlton, Assistant Discovery Leader at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park.

People travel far and wide to paddle the historic Mattawa River.

For the full experience, most people take 2-5 days to paddle the full the 64 km from North Bay to Mattawa, which can be quite challenging, even with proper research and preparation.

If you want to enjoy this beautiful river but don’t have the time to commit to a multi-day canoe trip, don’t want to portage, or are looking for a nice and easy day trip, you’ve come to the right place!

Here are four of the most popular and breathtaking day trips along the Mattawa River:

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