Yes, we are!
The Ontario Parks Discovery team is hard at work coming up with creative ways to connect visitors with the special stories and values protected in our parks.
If you visit any of the parks offering Discovery programming, you may connect with Discovery staff along a trail, as they rove through the campground, at a drop-in program, in a Visitor Centre, or at a scheduled program.
This season’s Discovery
As we continue to follow public health guidelines, you likely won’t see the usual event calendars promoting traditional programs for larger crowds.
Instead, Discovery staff will be offering a variety of creative ways for visitors to connect with nature and to learn about special park values.
All parks listed below have summer student Discovery Guides.
In July/August, you may see guides walking through the campground or presenting drop-in programs that aim to get kids and their guardians exploring nature.
Drop-in programs are often paired with a Discovery book activity (available for free from Discovery Guides) and other props or tools to help explore.
Some parks have Discovery buckets with nets and other tools available to sign out!
Our Discovery programs — enhanced!
Enhanced Discovery parks (marked below with an asterisk) have at least one experienced naturalist on staff.
These parks traditionally offer a variety of interpretive programs, from guided hikes to children’s programs to evening presentations, and more!
Although some parks will be offering these programs at a reduced capacity this year, you may be more likely to meet an interpreter stationed along a trail or roving through your campground.
If you do, please say hello and take the opportunity to ask questions or connect with the many park stories they have to tell!
Some parks have a Visitor Centre open this summer as well.
Select enhanced Discovery parks also offer staff-led programs into the fall and winter, including school programs.
These parks are offering staff-led Discovery programs this summer:
- Algonquin Provincial Park *
- Arrowhead Provincial Park *
- Awenda Provincial Park *
- Bon Echo Provincial Park *
- Bonnechere Provincial Park
- Bronte Creek Provincial Park *
- Charleston Lake Provincial Park *
- Darlington Provincial Park *
- Driftwood Provincial Park
- Earl Rowe Provincial Park
- Emily Provincial Park
- Esker Lakes Provincial Park
- Fitzroy Provincial Park
- Fushimi Lake Provincial Park
- Grundy Lake Provincial Park *
- Inverhuron Provincial Park
- Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
- Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
- Kettle Lakes Provincial Park *
- Killarney Provincial Park *
- Killbear Provincial Park *
- Lake Superior Provincial Park *
- Long Point Provincial Park
- MacGregor Point Provincial Park *
- Mikisew Provincial Park
- Murphys Point Provincial Park *
- Nagagamisis Provincial Park
- Neys Provincial Park *
- Pancake Bay Provincial Park
- Petroglyphs Provincial Park *
- Pinery Provincial Park *
- Point Farms Provincial Park
- Presqu’ile Provincial Park *
- Quetico Provincial Park
- Rainbow Falls Provincial Park
- Rene Brunelle Provincial Park
- Restoule Provincial Park
- Rideau River Provincial Park
- Rock Point Provincial Park *
- Rondeau Provincial Park *
- Rushing River Provincial Park
- Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park *
- Sandbanks Provincial Park *
- Sauble Falls Provincial Park
- Selkirk Provincial Park
- Sibbald Point Provincial Park *
- Silent Lake Provincial Park
- Silver Lake Provincial Park
- Six Mile Lake Provincial Park
- Sleeping Giant Provincial Park *
- Turkey Point Provincial Park
- Wasaga Beach Provincial Park *
- White Lake Provincial Park
(* = Enhanced Discovery programs)