Category: Winter
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What goes into closing a park for the winter?
While 32 provincial parks remain open for the winter, the rest hibernate until spring. But closing a park isn’t as simple as just locking the gates. Our staff put a lot of elbow grease into prepping each park for the winter. Here are just a few of the tasks we do each fall:
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Slithering into fall: hibernation for Ontario’s reptiles
Today’s post was written by seasonal student Heather Van Den Diepstraten from Rondeau Provincial Park. It’s not just students and birds on the move this fall. As the cold weather approaches, reptiles are trekking across Rondeau Provincial Park in search of hibernacula (places in which wildlife overwinter). Researchers for Wildlife Preservation Canada are busy tracking the…
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March's digital download
March is a month of big changes, as winter gives way to spring. Squeeze in one last snowy adventure in this March and get outside! This month’s FREE digital download comes from the stunning Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park. Throughout 2023, we’re sharing a free downloadable graphic for you to use as wallpaper for your favourite…
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Bronte Creek’s maple candy wars
Today’s blog post was written by Jessica Stillman, school outreach coordinator and maple syrup aficionado at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Maple season is upon us! Trees have been tapped, sap is boiling, and Bronte Creek’s annual Maple Syrup Festival is underway, which means the biggest annual debate has also begun… …which is the better form…
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Eyes on the skies – February
Welcome to the Ontario Parks “Eyes on the Skies” series. This “space” will cover a wide range of astronomy topics with a focus on what can be seen from the pristine skies found in our provincial parks. The month of February brings the promise of both warmer weather and clearer skies. So grab a cup…
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Tips from a trail manager: prepping for the perfect cross-country ski day
Ready for a day of cross country skiing? Preparing your skis properly can make a big difference in whether you have a fun outing – or a frustrating one. Peter Crooks, the trail manager for Kamview Nordic Ski Centre in Thunder Bay, has been cross-country skiing for nearly half a century. Here are his top…
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Fun for all at the Sleeping Giant Loppet
Today’s post comes from Peter Gallagher, coordinator of the annual Sleeping Giant Loppet. Looking to ski your winter blues away? The annual Sleeping Giant Loppet is a mass participation cross-country skiing festival on the spectacular trail system of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. The Loppet is a longstanding winter tradition for many northwestern Ontario families. Mark your calendars: the…
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Ice fishing for perch at Sibbald Point
Today’s post comes from year-round multispecies angler and writer, Ashley Rae, of SheLovesToFish.com. I’ve previously only had the opportunity to explore Lake Simcoe a handful of times. This included a couple of open water outings and an afternoon on the ice while passing through the area a few years back. Spending more time on this…