Happy International Women’s Day!
At Ontario Parks, we simply couldn’t do without our female team members. They work as biologists, instructors, wardens, superintendents, planners, managers and more.
Here’s the inside scoop on our staff:
Category: Park Stories
Finding inspiration through nature
This blog post comes from Laura Myers, a Learning and Education Leader with the Ontario Parks Discovery Program.
Provincial parks are powerful places filled with inspiring elements. They have inspired artists for countless generations and continue to draw artists from near and far.
My journey to becoming a Discovery Guide at Rainbow Falls
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 Caroline Freitag, a Discovery Guide at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park.
When I was a very young child, I was fascinated by leaves and rocks. On walks around my neighbourhood I would collect the biggest, coolest leaf I could find and bring it home to show whichever family member hadn’t been with me when I’d found it.
My preferred method of showing affection to people was to give them a “very cool rock”- usually a piece of gravel I’d found on the side of the road. My one neighbour loves to tell the story of the shy girl who left her piles of pebbles by the garden gate!
Continue reading My journey to becoming a Discovery Guide at Rainbow Falls
International Women and Girls in Science Day 2020
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
Our female scientists are absolutely integral to Ontario Parks, working as researchers, biologists, ecologists, and more!
Continue reading International Women and Girls in Science Day 2020
Improving accessibility at North Beach Provincial Park
A day on the beach is an essential Ontario Parks experience. There’s almost nothing better than soaking in the sun, relaxing on the sand, or playing in the water with friends and family.
This summer, John Cairns, from the Wheelchair of Hope Foundation, helped make this possible for all North Beach Provincial Park visitors through the donation of two wheelchair-accessible Mobi-Mats.
Continue reading Improving accessibility at North Beach Provincial Park
Stars over Killarney, 2019: an Indigenous astronomy learning experience
Today’s post comes from Bruce Waters, a former educator at the McLaughlin Planetarium and founder of the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory.
Astronomy is a field of science that embraces an inquiring mind, and knows that there are often many perspectives in which to learn, to study and to appreciate the cosmos and beyond.
In this International Year of Indigenous Language, Ontario Parks was fortunate to host a truly amazing event featuring Indigenous astronomy and cultural learning.
“[This] event was a great example of how collaborations that are built upon mutual respect can foster and support true Reconciliation,” said Luke Wassegijig, Wikwemikong Tourism Manager.
Continue reading Stars over Killarney, 2019: an Indigenous astronomy learning experience
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!
Continue reading 201.9 fm Learn to Camp: we’ve been everywhere, man
True beginnings in nature: four generations of campers
Today’s post comes from Rebecca van Massenhoven, a Learn to Camp leader at Grundy Lake Provincial Park.
In 1951, at the age of forty, my great-grandmother crossed the Atlantic Ocean with her family on the ocean liner The Volendam. She wanted a better future for her family, and moved to Canada in search of this dream.
I can still recall her burning curiosity about the world around her. From spiders to birds, she loved learning about nature and often spent time sharing this passion with the family. As a child, I sat in her bay window watching the birds that came to her feeder as she told me about them as if they were her dear old friends.
My story truly began with my great-grandmother’s passion for the environment. In each of the four generations that have come to call Canada home, we continue to foster her love of the natural environment as our own.
Continue reading True beginnings in nature: four generations of campers
Preserving international dark skies at Quetico
Today’s post comes from Chris Stromberg, Acting Backcountry Operations Specialist at Quetico Provincial Park and Coordinator for the Heart of the Continent Partnership.
This past July, four teams of Ontario Parks and US Forest Service wilderness rangers / park wardens went into the woods to observe the nights of the new moon.
Along with their usual assignments of ensuring compliance, clearing portages, restoring campsites, and acting as park/forest ambassadors, they were out collecting sky quality metre (SQM) readings during the darkest hours of the evening.
Continue reading Preserving international dark skies at Quetico
Falling in love with Blue Lake Provincial Park
Today’s post comes from Summer Stevenson, a Discovery Program Leader at Blue Lake Provincial Park.
Where on earth is Blue Lake Provincial Park?
Continue reading Falling in love with Blue Lake Provincial Park