Creating art out of garbage… barrels that is!

As the busiest provincial park in the province (with 1.5 million visitors annually!), Wasaga Beach Provincial Park deals with A LOT of garbage.

We want to encourage our visitors to dispose of their trash in appropriate areas, and protect our natural spaces.

That’s why we’re proud to share our new partnership where garbage and art collide: art barrels!

Continue reading Creating art out of garbage… barrels that is!

From tumblers to leaf blowers: we bet you didn’t know how much work it takes to make our beaches beautiful

Today’s blog was written by Jessica Stillman, school outreach coordinator at Bronte Creek Provincial Park.

Our beautiful beaches are one of the many reasons people choose to visit parks.

But you didn’t think they got that pretty on their own, did you?

Here’s a glimpse into some of the behind-the-scenes work you probably didn’t know was going on across the province…

Continue reading From tumblers to leaf blowers: we bet you didn’t know how much work it takes to make our beaches beautiful

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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A tale of star cross’d plovers

In today’s post, Marina Opitz, Discovery leader at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, regales us with shorebird drama of Shakespearean proportions. Thanks to Neal Mutiger for photographing our leading avian actors.

First, let us set the scene for our dramatic tale.

Picture an empty beach, orange sunrise gleaming across the waves, when two solitary plovers lock eyes from across the wrack line. It is love at first sight.

However, if we have learned anything from the immortal Bard, it is that not all romantic tales have a happy ending. And so we start on our path to eventual heartbreak…

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The Piping Plover power couple of Darlington

Today’s blog comes from Piping Plover Biologist Monica Fromberger from Ontario Parks’ southeast zone. 

Every year, Darlington Provincial Park runs a Piping Plover conservation program to help these special endangered shorebirds.

This year, the park’s plover lovers have done it again!

Lovebirds Blue and Miss Howard have successfully hatched, fledged, and raised all four of their chicks to migrate for the second year in a row.

Continue reading The Piping Plover power couple of Darlington

Holiday boredom busters in southwestern Ontario

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

Beach accessibility at Ontario Parks

Beaches can be an accessibility challenge for park visitors using walkers or wheelchairs. Because of the soft sand, wheels and legs of walkers can sink in, making them tough to maneuver.

As a part of our commitment to making parks as accessible as possible, more parks are offering beach accessibility measures to help visitors explore our shorelines.

Continue reading Beach accessibility at Ontario Parks

B&Bs make terrific homebases for exploring provincial parks

Crave the warm welcome, soft bed, and hearty meals of a bed & breakfast on your travels? Eager to explore Ontario’s breathtaking natural landscapes?

Why not do both?

Book a stay in a cozy bed & breakfast, and use it as a homebase for daily excursions into parks.

We chatted with the Federation of Ontario Bed & Breakfast Accommodation to uncover nine of the best B&B/provincial park combos across Ontario.

Continue reading B&Bs make terrific homebases for exploring provincial parks

Ploverpalooza at Wasaga Beach

The Piping Plover 10th anniversary event, lovingly entitled Ploverpalooza, is scheduled to take place over the course of the summer of 2017.

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park and the Friends of Nancy Island have spearheaded the Piping Plover Recovery Program since the species returned to Wasaga Beach in 2008.

Help us celebrate the 10th anniversary of the return of this beloved species at risk!

Continue reading Ploverpalooza at Wasaga Beach