Greetings, Boozhoo, Aaniin, Sekoh, Wachay, Ullakut!

National Indigenous Peoples Day invites us to learn more about Indigenous history, perspectives and culture, and helps us build stronger relationships rooted in mutual respect and understanding.

We’re taking the opportunity to spotlight some of the wonderful initiatives and events shared with us by Indigenous leaders and communities across Ontario:

Continue reading Greetings, Boozhoo, Aaniin, Sekoh, Wachay, Ullakut!

Calling all citizen scientists: come to the Killarney Butterfly Count

For its 25th year, Killarney Provincial Park is hosting its Annual Butterfly Count.

And if you’re heading to Killarney on July 8, 2023, we’d like your help!

Continue reading Calling all citizen scientists: come to the Killarney Butterfly Count

Adventure Lab: are you ready for an adventure?

Ontario Parks is pleased to unveil a new outdoor activity that we hope will help connect you and your family to our amazing system of parks!

We’ve teamed up with Adventure Lab to create seven unique “Adventures” that teach you about our protected spaces!

Continue reading Adventure Lab: are you ready for an adventure?

Try a regular dose of camping for good health

Time to reach for our sleeping bags and tents?

Research shows that camping in nature is good for our mental and physical well-being.

What better reason to head out with family and friends into the great outdoors and sleep under the stars?

Check out the brain and body benefits of camping:

Continue reading Try a regular dose of camping for good health

Winter yurt camping at MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Today’s blog comes from Elizabeth Rose at ThisGrowingLife, who recounts her trip to the park in 2020. 

Over the years, our family has camped in every season, and in many different types of accommodations.

However, it wasn’t until our trip to MacGregor Point Provincial Park that we finally got the opportunity to experience yurt camping!

Continue reading Winter yurt camping at MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Where to skate in Ontario Parks

The air is crisp and clean. The evergreens are covered with snow. If you’re lucky – and observant – you might spot a cardinal, a finch, a waxwing or a blue jay as you glide along the ice.

And when the sun goes down, you can huddle around a big bonfire with a cup of hot chocolate and warm up before relacing your skates and heading back out to skate under the stars.

It’s simply magical.

This winter, plan a skating trip to these four provincial parks:

Continue reading Where to skate in Ontario Parks

First Day Hike destinations

New Year’s Day is coming up fast — have you picked out a park for your First Day Hike on January 1, 2023?

This 10-park list rounds up some hot spots for your first foray into 2023:

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Driftwood: shaping shorelines and completing communities

For a while, park staff have been wondering: why do some of our guests who come to visit natural environments feel compelled to leave their mark on that beach, waterfall, or lookout after they’ve left?

At MacGregor Point Provincial Park, we’ve noticed some changes being made to our shorelines by well-meaning sun-seekers who visit our beach for a short time, but leave behind structures made of driftwood.

Staff in our park and others have disassembled several driftwood forts upon discovering them on our beaches, which can be a dangerous task.

Let’s talk about why we’d prefer our visitors to leave driftwood where it lies, and some fun things you can do at the beach instead of building forts.

Continue reading Driftwood: shaping shorelines and completing communities

March Break 2020

During the long winter months, many of us get less “Vitamin N” than usual. Yet contact with nature has been found to lower blood pressure, strengthen immune system, help prevent disease, and reduce stress levels.

Keen to spend time in nature with your family this March Break? Here’s a list of fun happenings across the province:

Continue reading March Break 2020