In today’s post, Assistant Superintendent Josie Grenier and other southeast zone staff give us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what our crews are up to during the winter months.
There’s a false assumption out there that Ontario Parks goes into hibernation in the winter, just like bears, but we are by no means just a summer experience.
Field staff are often asked, “What do you guys do in the winter or when you’re closed?”
Where can we even begin to answer this question!?
Today’s post comes from Quetico Provincial Park‘s superintendent, Trevor Gibb.
The smell of crisp clean pine and spruce trees. The sight of fresh moose, wolf, otter, and hare tracks zigging and zagging across the path in front of you. The chirp of a chickadee. The crunch of the bright white snow and the gentle bite of the winter air on your cheeks.
This is cross-country skiing in a wilderness park. This is what winter is all about.
Today’s post comes from Alistair MacKenzie, Resource Management and Discovery Supervisor at Pinery Provincial Park.
As we begin a brand new year, many of us make personal resolutions to try to better ourselves or to help our families and communities.
I’ll be making several personal resolutions (darn sour cream-glazed doughnuts!), but in addition, I am choosing 2024 as the year to make some resolutions for parks and protected areas.
As I work and play in Ontario Parks’ many incredible landscapes, most of my efforts will take effect there, but I am not planning on limiting my efforts… I’ll include any green spaces I can find!
I’m just one person, so I would encourage you to help.
You may want to create a different list for yourself, but our parks can certainly use the help, so please consider giving back to our protected areas.
January’s wallpaper features Algonquin Provincial Park’s iconic Spruce Bog Trail.
Picture yourself here, meandering along the snow-covered trail.
Better yet, visit to see it all for yourself!
Is “I’m bored” a constant refrain during the winter school break?
Boredom can be good for kids’ creativity, but it can be demanding on a parent’s last nerve.
Out of ideas? We have you covered.
Southwestern Ontario boasts nine parks which are open over the school break, offering a variety of indoor and outdoor programs, events and activities!
Continue reading Holiday boredom busters in southwestern Ontario
Start the year right with a cozy staycation!
Stay warm in one of our roofed accommodations, and enjoy all that winter has to offer! We’ve have cabins, cottages and yurts available, especially for midweek visitors!
Accommodations featured below were available as of 9:00 am, December 18, 2019.
Continue reading January vacancy highlights (roofed accommodation)
December’s wallpaper features Arrowhead Provincial Park under a blanket of fresh snow.
Planning your winter adventure to Arrowhead? You’ll want to follow these tips and tricks!
In October of 2019, Ontario Parks updated our reservation system and are offering new and exciting services to our visitors. One of the biggest changes is that all our car campsites are now fully reservable — no more first-come, first-served sites.
Most of our visitors are excited by this change, and so are we. We heard overwhelmingly that our customers prefer having a reservation in advance, so they know for sure that they have a campsite before they show up.
However, there have also been some questions from our visitors who enjoyed the first-come, first-served option, and what this change means for them.
Here are the most common questions we’ve encountered so far:
Continue reading Why Ontario Parks moved to 100% reservable car campsites
The summer student workforce is the life-blood of the Ontario Parks summer operating season. Our provincial parks simply could not operate without our student workers.
This week, we gathered in Peterborough to award the 2019 Ontario Parks Partners Bursaries.
Continue reading Congratulations to our 2019 Ontario Parks Partners Bursary recipients!
How do you fit a whole 682 ha park into a classroom?
Package it up into one of our many hands-on, activity-based school programs!
Located in Oakville, Bronte Creek Provincial Park now offers a suite of in-school programs that complement our in-park education programs. Let our staff take your group on a journey of discovery as you explore topics such as Victorian heritage, species at risk, biodiversity, and much more!
