“Fall”ing into a new role at Sandbanks

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 Carlin Thompson, Assistant Discovery Leader at Sandbanks Provincial Park.

When summer transitions into fall at Sandbanks Provincial Park, many campgrounds are closed for the season. Park Store and Discovery Centre hours are reduced, and snow fencing is placed along our popular beaches in preparation for whipping winter winds.

This year, as camping visitation waned and summer staff headed back to school, I was preparing to tackle a new challenge for the Discovery Program.

After decades of educating and entertaining campers with summer programs, Sandbanks’ Discovery Program is thrilled to refocus our efforts this fall to become a more active community partner with our local schools.

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Halloween treats for little ghouls & goblins

If you’ve never celebrated Halloween in one of Ontario’s parks, you don’t know what you’re missing! You can decorate your campsite, carve a pumpkin, do a night hike, go trick or treating and finish up in front of a bonfire with a few spooky ghost stories and some devilishly good snacks.

Here are some scary good Halloween treats that are easy to make and will delight your little ghouls and goblins.

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Campsite vacancy highlights: October 11-14

Gather friends and family around the picnic table this year and spend Thanksgiving out in nature surrounded by beautiful fall colours!

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 10:00 am. on October 9, 2019):

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Celebrating 75 Years at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

Today’s post comes from Will Oades, with the Discovery Program staff at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

As we near the end of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park’s 75th anniversary, it’s hard not to look back on all of the rich natural and cultural history that has shaped the park into the place we know and love today.

Full of world-class hiking, biking and ski trails, Sleeping Giant offers a recreational haven for thrill seekers and amateur adventurers alike.

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Campsite vacancy highlights: October 4-6

Say WATT! We have electrical sites available across the province. No matter where you go, you’ll find a hook up waiting for you.

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 9:30 am. on October 3, 2019):

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Tidewater Provincial Park and Pei lay sheesh kow IBA

Welcome to the September installment of “IBAs in provincial parks,” brought to you by Ontario IBA Coordinator Amanda Bichel of Bird Studies Canada.

Today’s Important Bird & Biodiversity Area started out as an area of seven IBAs and is now an amalgamated site with an added 716 km2 of area.

Tidewater Provincial Park and the tail end of Kesagami Provincial Park fit comfortably within our new IBA: Pei lay sheesh kow.

“Pei lay sheesh kow” means “an area that abounds with birds” in Cree. That couldn’t be more true!

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Campsite vacancy highlights: September 27-29

Fall colours are here, folks! Get outdoors and enjoy the season.

Roofed accommodations, electrical sites, and non-electrical sites are all available to fit your camping needs this weekend.

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 9:00 am. on September 26, 2019):

Continue reading Campsite vacancy highlights: September 27-29

201.9 fm Learn to Camp: we’ve been everywhere, man

You are tuning in to the 201.9 fm Learn to Camp station. We will be your disc jockeys for this blog, and will be playing some of the sweet, sweet sounds of summer.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy reading about the “sites” and scenes of our Learn to Camp season!

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The restorative health benefits of protected areas

Today’s blog post comes from Catherine Reining, a graduate in the Master of Environment Studies program at Wilfrid Laurier University.

We know spending time in nature offers a ton of health benefits like reduced stress, better sleep, and lower blood pressure.

But what is the role of parks and protected areas in human health?

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