Happy International Women’s Day!
At Ontario Parks, we simply couldn’t do without our women team members. They work as biologists, instructors, wardens, superintendents, planners, managers, and more.
Here’s the inside scoop on our staff:
Category: Careers in Parks
The joy of answering interesting questions
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 Anna Scuhr, Discovery Program staff member at Lake Superior Provincial Park.
Many joys come along with being an Ontario Parks’ Discovery Guide. We work in some of Ontario’s most beautiful places, with coworkers who share our passions, and a job that is never dull.
What it’s like to be a water technician at Ontario Parks
Today’s post comes from Mackenzie Garrett, a water technician at Bon Echo Provincial Park.
Picture this: you’re camping at a provincial park when thirst strikes.
As you fill your water jug at the nearest tap, you may wonder, “where did this water come from?”
This is where I come in! This past year, I had the pleasure of working as a water technician at Bon Echo Provincial Park.
In a nutshell, my job was to ensure our campers, day-users, and staff were provided with safe drinking water during their stay at the park.
Continue reading What it’s like to be a water technician at Ontario Parks
Off-hours road tripping with Zuzanna and Alysa
Today’s story comes from Park Staff Besties: Zuzanna and Alysa, summer staff working at Killbear Provincial Park who spent their season visiting over 30 provincial parks! Are you interested in joining us for the 2024 summer season? Applications are now open!
“You work and live in a provincial park? What do you do on your days off?”
“Camp at other provincial parks!”
If you asked staff at Killbear what they thought of the two of us, they would say we are “attached at the hip.” We met last year working as gate attendants in Algonquin Provincial Park and moved to Killbear this season.
Not knowing anyone else at this park, we requested to be roommates at our new staff house and have been going almost everywhere together ever since!
Working and living at Killbear this past summer has been an absolute dream. With the pristine sand beaches, rocky shorelines and picturesque sunsets, we were curious to see what other provincial parks had to offer and decided to make the most of our summer season living up here!
Continue reading Off-hours road tripping with Zuzanna and Alysa
Monitoring birds in northern protected areas
Today’s article comes from our bird recording specialists, Zone Ecologist Ed Morris and Zone Operations Technician Rebecca Rogge.
Birds are interesting. Most are visually striking, with noteworthy songs to match their brilliant feathers.
They are also very important.
Birds contribute to the health of our environment. They disperse seeds, pollinate plants, and help to control insect populations.
They have direct and indirect effects on human health and well-being as well.
The medical community recognizes the health benefits of spending time with nature and for many people, their connection with the natural world is through birds.
Continue reading Monitoring birds in northern protected areas
Migrating north: how I became a “Bird Nerd”
Today’s post comes from Sarah Wiebe, the senior park naturalist at Kettle Lakes Provincial Park.
Before this year, I would have never considered myself a “Bird Nerd.”
My journey began in my southern Ontario home, but it wasn’t until I arrived at my summer destination (Kettle Lakes!) that I truly hit my nerdy stride.
Continue reading Migrating north: how I became a “Bird Nerd”
International Youth Day 2022
Happy International Youth Day!
Students and youth are the lifeblood of our parks — we couldn’t do without them!
Here are just a few stand-out students and youth from around the province:
Happy World Ranger Day!
Ontario Parks staff tackle a huge array of tasks and challenges.
Our days are diverse. You might find us researching rare species, applying First Aid skills, maintaining safe and healthy water systems, building a boardwalk, or welcoming families to a busy campground.
We’re stewards of our province’s most treasured natural resources. We’re educators, instilling a love of nature in new generations of Ontarians.
Internationally, World Ranger Day celebrates the wonderful work that is protecting our parks, and commemorates park rangers killed or injured in the line of duty in park organizations with high-risk activities.
We’re proud to keep our parks safe and welcoming to visitors, while protecting our amazing natural world.
Planes, paddles and portages: a journey of garbage
This is a story about garbage.
It wasn’t a quick journey. It took a plane ride, some paddling in a canoe, portaging, more paddling, another plane ride, and a drive on the highway.
This garbage was left in Algonquin Provincial Park’s remote backcountry, something that, unfortunately, happens far too often.
Continue reading Planes, paddles and portages: a journey of garbage
A trip down the Pakeshkag River at Grundy Lake Provincial Park
Today’s post comes from Sonje Bols, a former naturalist at Grundy Lake Provincial Park.
Part of a park naturalist’s job is to familiarize themselves with the natural and cultural wonders of their park through exploration.
Whether it’s hanging out at bogs to catch and identify dragonflies, checking rocks for snakes, or canoeing along Indigenous canoe routes, naturalists set out to observe and explore every inch of their parks so they can bring that knowledge and experience to park visitors and managers.
Continue reading A trip down the Pakeshkag River at Grundy Lake Provincial Park