Tag: Research
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Join us for Science Literacy Week!
Today’s post comes from Jessica Stillman, school outreach coordinator at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. What do a Polar Bear, a Prickly Pear Cactus, a Five-lined Skink, and a Bobolink all have in common? Aside from their snazzy names, they’re plants and animals that require unique environments to survive. Some of these special spaces have been…
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Carnivorous Pitcher Plants found at Algonquin
Today’s post comes from Samantha Stephens, a science and conservation photojournalist who spent this past summer in residence at the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station. The excitement of discovery is a feeling everyone has experienced. Finding a new favourite hiking spot or adding a “lifer” to your birding list are some familiar examples for nature lovers.…
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The restorative health benefits of protected areas
Today’s blog post comes from Catherine Reining, a graduate in the Master of Environment Studies program at Wilfrid Laurier University. We know spending time in nature offers a ton of health benefits like reduced stress, better sleep, and lower blood pressure. But what is the role of parks and protected areas in human health?
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The 30×30 Challenge is good for you
Today’s post comes from Sarah McMichael, Ontario Parks’ Healthy Parks Healthy People Coordinator. We all know that fresh air is good for us, right? Time in nature has been proven to lead to better sleep, improved productivity, lower stress, increased self-esteem, better mood, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and a lower risk of…
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The importance of research in Ontario Parks
Ever wondered about or wanted to pursue scientific research in a provincial park? Today’s post from Northwest Zone Ecologist Intern Lindsey Boyd and Northwest Senior Assistant Zone Ecologist Evan McCaul should answer your questions. Spread throughout Ontario, our 340 provincial parks protect 8.27 million hectares of land and 1.3 million hectares of lakes and rivers. There…
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Beyond the light of the campfire
Today’s post comes from Park Naturalist Roger LaFontaine, a classically trained biologist and amateur Sasquatch researcher. He has spent nearly two decades researching and documenting the occurrence of Sasquatch in Ontario. I have always had an interest in the creatures that others were not fond of: invertebrates under a log, salamanders in the soil, nocturnal creepy…
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When the sun goes down at Killarney
In today’s post, Biologist Intern Michelle Lawrence gives us an insider look at Killarney’s “nightlife,” and shares how staff are working to protect the park’s bat populations. Killarney Provincial Park has been called “a crown jewel of the provincial parks system” by some, and it’s not hard to see why. With white quartzite mountains and…