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:
The Ontario Parks Discovery Program: 75+ years in the making
In 1944, Algonquin Provincial Park decided to try something new.
They hired Professor J.R. Dymond, Director of the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology, to deliver guided hikes for park visitors. Those first interpretive programs were a success and what would become the Ontario Parks Discovery Program was born.
More than seventy-five years later, roughly 300 Discovery staff in over 70 parks continue to engage visitors with stories of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage and encourage them to explore further.
Continue reading The Ontario Parks Discovery Program: 75+ years in the making
Nominate a student
Has one of our park staff ever made your day? You know: gone that extra yard to make your vacation that much more enjoyable?
If this has happened to you, it has most likely involved one of the 1,500+ student staff we hire each summer.
And we’d love your help in giving them some well-deserved recognition and support.
Campsite vacancy highlights: August 9-11
Time in nature has been proven to lead to better sleep, improved productivity, and lower stress. What better reasons to go camping?
Scout out your ideal campsite on our Campsite Browsing/Reservation tool (including pictures of most campsites!), or check out these featured campsites (available as of noon on August 8, 2019):
Behind the scenes: from curious camper to Discovery staff at Lake Superior Provincial Park
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 Jordan Welch and Kelly Taylor, Discovery Program staff at Lake Superior Provincial Park
We have all been asked the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?”
We tend to make the decision based on the experiences we have. For some, it’s school; for others, it’s travel. Perhaps even friends and family help in deciding a career path. We went outside.
The life of a resource steward
Today’s post comes from Rebecca Rogge, a travelling resource steward for the Northeast Zone.
I first started working for the Northeast Zone Resource Steward Program back in 2011. It seems like a lifetime ago.
At the time, it was a relatively new job in Ontario Parks. The program had only been around for a few years, and few of us existed.
Several parks were created in 1999, the majority of which were “non-operating” provincial parks. They generally do not have facilities or dedicated staff. Many protect recreational waterways and nature reserves protect rare flora, fauna and geological landscapes.
This is where we, the resource stewards, spend most of our time. In these wonderfully beautiful and diverse places.
Behind the Scenes: working with the Discovery Program at Samuel de Champlain
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 Heather Stern, a Discovery Leader at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park.
So you think you want to work with the Ontario Parks Discovery Program…
Every spring, while interviewing potential Discovery Program staff, someone inevitably asks, “What can I expect to do in this role?”
This is always a great question, but it can be difficult to answer. Every day will likely look slightly different, and your responsibilities will vary depending on the season.
Continue reading Behind the Scenes: working with the Discovery Program at Samuel de Champlain
5 reasons why you should try our Learn to Fish program
Today’s post comes from Brianne Schneider, a Learn to Fish leader at Emily Provincial Park.
New to fishing? Want to freshen up your skills? The Learn to Fish program is for you!
This two-hour session begins on land but ends along the shores catching the big one or the small one. The best part about fishing is that the catch gets larger with time!
Continue reading 5 reasons why you should try our Learn to Fish program
Nebulae of the night skies
When looking towards the centre of our Milky Way Galaxy, we can catch sight of many beautiful objects in the sky.
M8 (the Lagoon Nebula) and M20 (the Trifid Nebula) are just two of the notable objects that can be seen with a large pair of binoculars or a telescope.
Campfire Trout recipe
This summer, we joined forces with the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance and Butternut Productions to create some “tasty” new videos with some Feast On chefs (Feast On recognizes businesses committed to sourcing Ontario grown/made food and drink).
Somehow, food always tastes better over the campfire!
We headed to Sibbald Point Provincial Park where Chef Ricky Casipe of Hawthorne Food and Drink showed us how to take our lunch to the next level.
Watch our Campfire Trout Recipe video to find out how to tickle your tastebuds on your next camping trip!