One-Tank Trip for April 27-19
(c) By Jim Fox
Campers are getting
ready to come out of hibernation after a long, cold winter.
Roughing it in the
wilderness beside a lake, stream or river is entrenched in the Canadian psyche
and, for newbies, there couldn’t be a better time to learn all about it.
Trading the urban
wilderness for the wilds of the woods isn’t all that difficult and Ontario
Parks can help with its Learn to Camp program.
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| These campsites will soon be filled in Ontario Parks. (Barbara Fox photo) |
Family
camping is one of the great summer traditions, with the launch of the season
traditionally on the coming Victoria Day holiday weekend.
Ontario
has more than 100 provincial parks that offer drive-up camping, with most parks
open from late spring (May or June) until fall (Labour Day or Thanksgiving weekend).
For those hardy
souls, parks such as Algonquin, MacGregor Point, Pinery and Killarney offer
camping year-round.
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| Some people like to “camp” with the comforts of home at McRae Point Provincial Park near Orillia. (Jim Fox photo) |
Here’s how
For anyone interested
but not sure where to begin, the Learn to Camp program can help, said Jeff Brown of Ontario Parks.
“Reservations open
on May 6 for this popular program that teaches first-timers the basics of
camping at overnight programs offered in June, July and August,” he said.
Participants are
provided with the equipment and instruction to pitch a tent, build a campfire, make
classic camping treats and more.
“With more than 20,000
participants to date, the program continues to help create family memories that
last a lifetime,” Brown said.
Ontario Parks
offers a variety of “roofed accommodations” including backcountry and camp
cabins, deluxe furnished tents built on a wooden platform, yurts, lodges,
cottages, cabins and heritage houses.
What’s happening
Among the upcoming
activities are migrating bird festivals.
- Rondeau
Provincial Park’s Festival of Flight from May 1 to 19 features guided walks
with naturalists and birding experts along with breakfast and lunch for
participants.
- Pinery Provincial
Park hosts its annual Migration Weekend from May 17 to 20 to join park
naturalists, local birders and banders mark the arrival of colourful birds and
signs of spring.
- Frontenac
Provincial Park has a Spring Nature Walk on May 4 to examine plant and animal
life along the Doe Lake Trail.
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| A couple heads out to do some fishing from a provincial park dock. (Jim Fox photo) |
- Algonquin
Provincial Park has some of the best viewing opportunities for beavers in the
spring exploring the many ponds and ice ledges.
The recent Earth
Day was marked by volunteers helping to “restore and maintain” several parks.
Visitors now are
urged to “try a new environmentally friendly workout trend” called plogging – a
combination of jogging and picking up litter.
“Take some time to
explore Ontario Parks – with more than 330 parks, covering nine-million
hectares that attract 10-million visits each year,” Brown said.
Reservations can be
made at ontarioparks.com/reservations;
1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275).
Camping week
The fifth annual Canadian RVing and Camping Week returns May
21 to 25 at “select campgrounds” across Canada.
Developed by Go
RVing Canada and the Canadian Camping and RV Council, it marks the start of the
camping season.
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| Trilliums, Ontario’s official flower, will soon be in bloom at provincial parks. (Jim Fox photo) |
Participating
campgrounds will be offering specials and discounted rates for reservations
made on those dates.
For a list of the
planned events, activities, promotions and participating campgrounds, visit campincanada.ca
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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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