Tag: Bon Echo

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.

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The fastest animal in Bon Echo, Canada, and the world!

Today’s post comes from Mitch Kellar, a Discovery Leader at Bon Echo Provincial Park.

Being a staff member at Bon Echo has given me a lot of incredible experiences: seeing the Mazinaw Rock at sunset, camping on Joeperry Lake, and a very memorable Kishkebus canoe trip, to name a few.

Above all, my experiences with Peregrine Falcons — small birds of prey and the fastest animals on the planet — will always be one of my favourites.

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The storm that changed Bon Echo

Today’s post comes from Sarah Wray, a Discovery Leader at Bon Echo Provincial Park.

When a massive derecho storm tore a path through Ontario on May 21, 2022, Bon Echo Provincial Park was directly in its path.

What is a derecho? It’s a long-lived, fast-moving thunderstorm with straight line winds that cause widespread damage. With this type of storm, the worst of it comes within a couple minutes of it hitting.

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Camping comfortably with bugs

Today’s post was written by Emma Fuller, a Discovery guide at Bon Echo Provincial Park. 

A lot is left to chance when you’re planning a summer camping trip. You can’t always ensure sunny weather, quiet car rides, or calm paddling waters.

However, one thing is certain if you’re heading into the outdoors, you’re definitely going to encounter the pesky buzz of Ontario’s biting insects!

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Forever protected: why Bon Echo belongs

Our “Forever Protected” series shares why each and every park belongs in Ontario Parks. In today’s post, Lisa Roach from the Discovery Program tells us Bon Echo’s story. 

A favourite for generations of people, Bon Echo provides amazing scenery, relaxation, and a place for families and friends to reconnect. Indigenous peoples, artists, and early recreationists have all been attracted to the Bon Echo area.

So, why was Bon Echo chosen to become a park?

It all started with a donation of land.

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Travel back in time to the Bon Echo Inn

Today’s post comes from Lisa Roach, chief park naturalist at Bon Echo Provincial Park.

Did you know some of your favourite provincial parks like Bon Echo, Sandbanks, Presqu’ile, and Algonquin have hosted the summer vacations of nature-lovers since the turn of the century?

By the end of the 1800s, pioneer society was changing. Increased prosperity led to a growing interest in summer resorts and leisure activities. People in Ontario were using their own wilderness for recreation, just like we do today.

Resorts became the popular hangout for the well-to-do, like Lakeshore Lodge (Sandbanks) or Bartlett Lodge (Algonquin).

Over 100 years ago Bon Echo Provincial Park became home to the ultimate summer recreation destination: the Bon Echo Inn.

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5 things I learned on my first hike-in backcountry trip

In today’s post, Ontario Parks’ marketing intern Megan Birrell recounts her first hike-in backcountry adventure. 

Last year, I tried backcountry camping by canoe for the first time. This summer, my camping crew and I decided to take it up a notch and try hike-in camping.

We selected Bon Echo Provincial Park’s Abes and Essens Trail as our hike-in destination and the planning began.

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The great OP retirement tour: Bon Echo

In our second installment of a trip down memory lane, Interpreter, David Bree, regales us with his experiences at Bon Echo Provincial Park. 

Catch the beginning of the nostalgia tour in the first installment:
Charleston Lake Provincial Park

When people ask me what was my favourite park to work at, I say without hesitation: Bon Echo.

This is as much due to circumstance as the obvious notable physical features and facilities of that park.

I worked at Bon Echo from 1992 to 1999 and went from senior interpreter to leader of the education program in my time there.

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Water safety at Bon Echo

The famous Mazinaw Lake at Bon Echo Provincial Park attracts tons of visitors every year.

We love to see our visitors enjoy beginner friendly canoe routes or swimming in Joeperry Lake and Mazinaw Lake, however we want you to partake in water activities safely.

Here are some precautions to ensure you explore Bon Echo safely:

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