Today’s blog was written by Jessica Stillman, school outreach coordinator at Bronte Creek Provincial Park.
Parks are magical places.
I don’t need to convince you of this.
But sometimes, we all need a little help unlocking the magic around us. That’s where Discovery Guides and Exploration stations come in!
What is an Exploration Station?
That’s a great question!
These expertly-crafted stations are designed with exploration in mind.
Packed full of things to touch, games to play, artifacts to wonder about, and so much more — they’re not just for younger campers, but also the young at heart.
Exploration Stations are drop-ins, which means you can stop by throughout their operating time, and you can stay however long you want.
It’s not uncommon to wonder after a program “how did the time go by so quickly?” or “why was it so fun exploring?”
That’s part of the magic!
Magical staff
Like magic, Discovery Guides transform a picnic table, beach area, field, or park store entrance into an Exploration Station.
With the flick of their wrist, an unassuming area becomes a place for discovery.
Your Discovery Guide is a magician. But they aren’t the star of the show — you are!
Their role is to give you the tools to make your own magic happen, and your stage is the park. They’ve got tricks to help conjure up discovery, wonder, and awe. While good magicians never share their secrets, our Discovery Guides want you to know the secrets to good exploration.
Magical acts
Here are the 10 Exploration Stations popping up in participating parks around the province this July and August.
Make your own magic
While we may not be part of the Ministry of Magic, our Discovery Guides and their Exploration Stations are wizards of their craft. They’ve got the tips and tricks to make magicians of all of us so we can better explore and enjoy parks.
Join them this summer for a program — bring along your Discovery Activity book (or pick one up at the Exploration Station) and take your Discovery Pledge.
To find an Exploration Station near you, check out the events page of parks offering these magical programs to see their upcoming program schedule.
We can’t wait to make magic with you at an Exploration Station this summer!
- Balsam Lake Provincial Park
- Bonnechere Provincial Park
- Bass Lake Provincial Park
- Chutes Provincial Park
- Craigleith Provincial Park
- Driftwood Provincial Park
- Earl Rowe Provincial Park
- Emily Provincial Park
- Esker Lakes Provincial Park
- Fairbank Provincial Park
- Fitzroy Provincial Park
- Ferris Provincial Park
- Fushimi Lake Provincial Park
- Halfway Lake Provincial Park
- Inverhuron Provincial Park
- Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
- Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
- Lake Superior Provincial Park – Rabbit Blanket
- Long Point Provincial Park
- Mara Provincial Park
- Marten River Provincial Park
- McRae Point Provincial Park
- Mikisew Provincial Park
- Nagagamisis Provincial Park
- Pancake Bay Provincial Park
- Point Farms Provincial Park
- Port Burwell Provincial Park
- Quetico Provincial Park
- Rainbow Falls Provincial Park
- Rene Brunelle Provincial Park
- Restoule Provincial Park
- Rideau River Provincial Park
- Rushing River Provincial Park
- Sandbar Lake Provincial Park
- Sauble Falls Provincial Park
- Selkirk Provincial Park
- Sharbot Lake Provincial Park
- Silent Lake Provincial Park
- Silver Lake Provincial Park
- Six Mile Lake Provincial Park
- Turkey Point Provincial Park
- Voyageur Provincial Park
- Wheatley Provincial Park
- White Lake Provincial Park
- Windy Lake Provincial Park