Today’s blog comes from Hope Freeman, Discovery leader at Grundy Lake Provincial Park.
Maybe it sounds cliché, but I truly love my job.
Ontario Parks has provided me with the opportunity to help protect our province’s unique biodiversity while learning and growing as a professional.
One of the best parts? Working in an inclusive environment that focuses on maintaining a good work-life balance.
Wondering how I got here?
Let’s backtrack a bit
“What do you want to do when you grow up?”
For some (including myself) the answer isn’t always clear.
I attended a relatively small high school that seemed to push a limited number of careers, one being the field of medicine. I liked science, so off I went to McMaster University with the goal of doing something related to medicine.
Within the first month of my first semester, I knew something wasn’t right. I began to think of what made me truly happy: being outside. The outdoors makes me feel calm, focused, and more!
By Thanksgiving I had already began the process of switching my major to Earth and Environmental Sciences, eager to gain hands-on experience and turn my love for nature into a full-time job.
Later that semester, I applied to work for Ontario Parks. The next thing I knew I was packing my bags to begin what is now my career.
Talk about adventure of a lifetime!
Experiencing Ontario Parks
If you’ve ever met me, you know I refer to myself as a “Grundy Lake Lifer.” Camping at the park my whole life, my passion for its landscape runs deep. As such, I was thrilled to be a gate attendant welcoming visitors to my favourite park.
With this position, I gained and sharpened a plethora of skills like working in a team-based environment answering phones, conveying information over park radios and, of course, registering campers to their campsites.
I managed cash flow, credit transactions, provided retail services, and more.
During this time I also learned a lot about Ontario Parks. The gatehouse was like a beehive, acting as a home base for three of the park’s four departments.
During quieter shifts, I took the opportunity to read policies, directives, and best management practices. Senior staff including park wardens, the Discovery leader, and park clerk were also willing to tell me about their experiences.
More than just a job
I gained more than just “on the job” skills, I made lifelong friends and went on tons of outdoor adventures.
Working for Grundy Lake also meant moving away from home for the first time. I lived in a staff house with 23 other summer student staff!
Amongst countless campfires, afternoons relaxing in hammocks, and sunset swims, we also set out to celebrate (almost) every holiday: birthdays, Halloween, Easter, Valentines Day, and Christmas, which included a full potluck feast and homemade gift exchange.
After my shifts in the gatehouse, I spent some evenings volunteering for the park’s Turtle Monitoring Project.
The opportunity to protect at risk turtles sealed the deal for me. I knew this was no longer just a summer job, I wanted a career in Ontario Parks.
Gaining valuable skills
After just ten weeks, my customer service, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills were better than ever.
The most notable improvement? My confidence. My experiences as a gate attendant gave me the courage to tackle my first Discovery role!
That winter I worked as a Discovery Ranger at Bronte Creek Provincial Park’s Victorian Christmas and Maple Syrup Festival.
I was a storyteller, transporting visitors back to the early 1900s.
Both the Christmas and Maple Syrup Festivals had me donned in period costumes, something I’d never done before.
I time travelled with visitors as I led guided tours. Together we explored what Christmas was like over 100 years ago and experienced how maple syrup has been made over the last 400+ years.
Best of all, I continued to develop my skills while working outside (which helped cure my winter blues).
My experiences at Bronte Creek gave me a glimpse of what working in Discovery was all about.
Each provincial park has a unique story and I quickly saw how many opportunities there were to grow my skillset.
Not every park offers Discovery Programs, but with over 20 enhanced Discovery Program parks and over 40 parks that offer exploration stations, there are a lot of unique stories to be shared.
Finding the perfect position
As I enter my third season as the Discovery Leader at Grundy Lake, I reflect on the experiences that helped me to get to where I am today. At the base of it all, my love for nature.
I’ve enjoyed the journey as much as the destination. As a Discovery leader my job duties are diverse but the main goal is to inspire curiosity and encourage exploration of our natural environment!
In my eyes, the best job ever.
Whatever your interest, there is a “best job ever” waiting for you at Ontario Parks! Consider being a hi-vis hero on one of our maintenance teams, a next-level naturalist in a Discovery program, or a great gate attendant within an administrative department!
Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime and learn more about being a park ranger here.
Learn more about jobs with Ontario Parks and how to apply on our careers page.