It’s back! Enjoy FREE day-use at all Ontario Parks on July 19, 2019 for Healthy Parks Healthy People Day!
Spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental health. There are tons of great events occurring across the province to foster appreciation for nature and raise awareness about the benefits of time in nature.
Write yourself a nature prescription and start your weekend early with FREE day-use entry to your favourite provincial park.
Check out our four spotlight events, or scroll down to see park events from across the province:
1. Go wild for art at Awenda Provincial Park
What better way to help celebrate Awenda Provincial Park’s 40th anniversary this summer than by exploring the park’s rich artistic heritage and creating your own personal masterpiece?
Learn to keep a nature journal, paint a “tree cookie,” or decorate your own miniature paddle in a workshop geared to capture your special connection to Awenda!
- Where: Awenda Provincial Park
- When: July 19 — sessions will be offered at 10:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm
- How: Pre-register at the Park Store upon park arrival. Limited to 30 participants.
2. Yoga at Bon Echo Provincial Park
Did you know that physical activity in nature can reduce the risk of mental health problems by 50%? Moving your workout outdoors is a great way to get even more health benefits.
Experience the health benefits of the outdoors for yourself by joining a yoga class at Bon Echo to celebrate Healthy Parks Healthy People Day.
- Where: Pumphouse Beach (near the Visitor Centre) at Bon Echo Provincial Park
- When: July 19 at 9:30 am
- How: No registration necessary – meet us at the beach and bring your yoga mat!
3. Forest bathing at MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Explore MacGregor Point through a peaceful session of forest bathing. Together we will take a meditative walk in the woods to soak up the positive health benefits of being in nature.
Never heard of it? Learn more about forest bathing here.
- Where: Visitor Centre at MacGregor Provincial Park
- When: July 19 at 9:00 am
- How: Pre-register by stopping by the Visitor Centre or by calling 519-389-6232.
4. Amazing amphibians at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
Frogs, toads, salamanders, oh my! The word amphibian means “double life,” as most amphibians spend part of their life on land and part in the water. Stop by this Discovery Drop-in to explore, observe, and discover the amazing amphibian species which call our park home.
- Where: Saw Lake at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
- When: July 19 at 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- How: Registration not required.
Find an event near you!
Our Healthy Parks Healthy People celebration takes place across the province, so you can choose an event for yourself in your favourite provincial park.
Art and music
| Park | Activity/Event | Zone |
| Algonquin | Free Tom Thomson paddle art workshop and contest | Algonquin |
| Arrowhead | Paint for the health of it! | Algonquin |
| Awenda | Go wild for art: path of paint and paddle; ‘cookie’ canvas | Southwest |
| Balsam Lake | Go wild for art | Southeast |
| Bonnechere | Tree cookie painting | Algonquin |
| Killarney | Zach Oliver guitar workshop and concert | Northeast |
| Killbear | Go wild for art: ‘cookie’ canvas | Northeast |
| Kettle Lakes | Art in the park | Northeast |
| Neys | Tree cookie painting | Northwest |
| Pinery | Art in the park | Southwest |
| Pinery | Painting the Old Ausable | Southwest |
Nature and education
| Park | Activity/Event | Zone |
| Algonquin | Citizen science bioblitz | Algonquin |
| Awenda | Connecting to nature’s web | Southwest |
| Awenda | Open your eyes to nature | Southwest |
| Balsam Lake | Bioblitz | Southeast |
| Charleston Lake | Charleston Lake challenge | Southeast |
| Driftwood | Discovery Drop-in | Algonquin |
| Esker Lakes | Discovery Program | Northeast |
| Fushimi Lake | Wow wildflowers – Wow! Les fleurs sauvages | Northeast |
| Ivanhoe Lake | Discovery Drop-in: amazing amphibians | Northeast |
| Kakabeka Falls | Trip around the sun | Northwest |
| Killbear | Ask the naturalist | Northeast |
| Murphys Point | Night-time flyers | Southeast |
| Nagagamisis | Wow wildflowers – Wow! Les fleurs sauvages | Northeast |
| Pinery | Pinery’s protectors | Southwest |
| Pinery | Sunset scroll | Southwest |
| René Brunelle | Wow wildflowers – Wow! Les fleurs sauvages | Northeast |
| Rideau River | Discovery Drop-in | Southeast |
| Rondeau | Invasive species pull | Southwest |
| Samuel de Champlain | Great Canadian shoreline cleanup | Algonquin |
| Sandbanks | Great Canadian shoreline cleanup | Southeast |
Cultural heritage
| Park | Activity/Event | Zone |
| Killbear | Traditional Nishinaabeg strawberry and water ceremonies | Northeast |
| Murphys Point | Tour – the mystery of the Silver Queen Mine | Southeast |
| Murphys Point | Traditional Indigenous closing ceremony and canoe launch | Southeast |
Kids programming
| Park | Activity/Event | Zone |
| Algonquin | Bears and you | Algonquin |
| Algonquin | Life as a logger: square timber era | Algonquin |
| Arrowhead | Story walk | Algonquin |
| Bronte Creek | Learn to Camp activities | Southwest |
| Emily | Hula hooping at the playground | Southeast |
| Esker Lakes | Sandcastle building contest | Northeast |
| Kakabeka Falls | Bubble booth | Northwest |
| Port Burwell | Sand turtle sculpting competition | Southwest |
| Rondeau | Kids yoga | Southwest |
| Sleeping Giant | Fish and learn | Northwest |
Nature hikes
| Park | Activity/Event | Zone |
| Arrowhead | Mood walk | Algonquin |
| Bon Echo | Guided hike | Southeast |
| Bonnechere | Mindfulness walk and nature journalling | Algonquin |
| Bronte Creek | #HikOga (HikeYoga) | Southwest |
| Emily | Magnificent mammals guided hike | Southeast |
| Esker Lakes | Guided Discovery hike | Northeast |
| Killbear | Guided hike: how nature makes people healthy | Northeast |
| Lake Superior | Mindfulness walk | Northwest |
| Pinery | Guided hike: vitamin breathe | Southwest |
| Port Burwell | Guided hike along the beach | Southwest |
| Port Burwell | Self-guided scavenger hunt | Southwest |
| Presqu’ile | Bird walk | Southeast |
| Rondeau | Family fun walk | Southwest |
| Sleeping Giant | Forest guided hike | Northwest |
| Sleeping Giant | Nature photography hike | Northwest |
Sports and recreation
| Park | Activity/Event | Zone |
| Algonquin | Free four-hour canoe rental and discounted lunch | Algonquin |
| Algonquin | Free two-hour paddleboard or canoe rentals at the Lake Opeongo store | Algonquin |
| Algonquin | Free guided Costello Creek paddle at the Lake Opeongo store | Algonquin |
| Algonquin | Free two-hour bike rental | Algonquin |
| Bronte Creek | Learn to disc golf | Southwest |
| Bonnechere | Photo scavenger hunt | Algonquin |
| Emily | Staff vs campers soccer game | Southeast |
| Kakabeka Falls | Second annual 5 km fun run | Northwest |
| MacGregor Point | Amazing race | Southwest |
| Pancake Bay | Water obstacle course | Northeast |
| Pinery | Guided canoe hike | Southwest |
| Port Burwell | Pick-up baseball game with park staff | Southwest |
| Rideau River | Free two-hour canoe, kayak and SUP board rental | Southeast |
| Rondeau | Boot camp | Southwest |
| Rushing River | Staff vs campers volleyball game | Northwest |
| Rushing River | Dance class | Northwest |
| Samuel de Champlain | Trail blazers: trail running for beginners | Algonquin |
Yoga and wellness
| Park | Activity/Event | Zone |
| Bon Echo | Yoga | Southeast |
| Bonnechere | Yoga | Algonquin |
| Bronte Creek | Yoga and Pilates | Southwest |
| Driftwood | Sunset yoga | Algonquin |
| Emily | Yoga on the beach | Southeast |
| Esker Lakes | Morning yoga | Northeast |
| Killbear | Yoga on the beach | Northeast |
| Lake Superior | Quiet contemplation of animal behaviour | Northwest |
| Lake Superior | Yoga | Northwest |
| MacGregor Point | Forest bathing session | Southwest |
| MacGregor Point | Forest therapy information session | Southwest |
| Pancake Bay | Yoga on the beach | Northeast |
| Presqu’ile | Yoga | Southeast |
| Rondeau | Yoga on the beach | Southwest |
| Sleeping Giant | Family yoga | Northwest |
For all other events, check out our Events page.
Just want to get outside?
Head to a park to hike, swim, paddle, and generally fall in love with nature all over again! Find a park near you using our Park Locator.