Today’s post comes from Madeline McNabb, a 2017 Discovery ranger at White Lake Provincial Park.
We all dream of turning our passion into a job.
My chance came this past summer when I worked at White Lake Provincial Park as a Discovery ranger.
The Discovery program aims to inspire curiosity in park visitors and encourage exploration of our natural environment. I made so many amazing memories this past summer. There are too many wonderful things I want to share!
After much deliberation, I have narrowed it down to five top reasons why I loved being a Discovery ranger:
1. The multitude of topics to explore
Did you know that all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads? Toads are actually a type of frog! Before this summer, I didn’t know that.
I learned tons of fun facts like this one because of the wide range of exploration prompts in the program – from insects to mammals, geology to citizen science.
There was more than enough to choose from when making up my exploration station schedule!
I found that even though I thought I knew a lot about nature, I was still always learning. Being a Discovery ranger helped me realize it’s always good to get outdoors and explore, no matter how old you are!
2. Using my creativity
There were many ways I was able to let my creativity shine through my role as a Discovery ranger.
Whether I was setting up the exploration station or choosing activities for visitors, there was always something there to keep me thinking outside the box.
My favourite exploration station was the art-themed one.
I learned about the Group of Seven and helped visitors make their own beautiful pieces of nature-inspired art. Families loved gathering stray leaves and pinecones for leaf rubbings and twig frames.
3. Being outside everyday
If you love nature, then you’re in luck. Being a Discovery ranger means spending your whole summer outdoors!
At my exploration stations, I spent time talking to people in the park and helping kids explore the nature and wildlife around them.
When no one was around, I did my own insect catching and identification, and took photos of the beautiful scenery. I brushed up on my plant identification skills and listened for the calls of our feathered friends.
4. Support from my coworkers
I may have been the sole Discovery ranger at White Lake this season, but I never felt alone.
I received an abundance of help and support from park staff in other departments.
The gate attendants were quick to recommend dropping by an Exploration Station to incoming guests, and management took the time to provide me with background knowledge and support.
The maintenance staff also helped me set up.
The best thing about my job was that even though we each had different responsibilities, we all worked together for a common goal: to ensure our park was as healthy as it could be so that everyone could enjoy it.
5. Interacting with youth
Families mostly attended my exploration stations, so I spent a lot of time with kids.
Sometimes kids would find something really cool like a feather or ant hill, and then explain it to their parents or younger siblings. I loved seeing their faces light up because of nature!
One of my fondest memories is a little girl coming up to me to show me a toad she had found. We talked about all the amazing wildlife that can be found in the park.
The fact that she continued to explore the surrounding area even after the exploration station was packed up made me feel like I succeeded in inspiring someone to explore and love nature.
Overall, I am a huge fan of the Discovery program. It has something for everyone! Whether you are interested in amphibians or trees, there’s a bound to be something for you to explore.
The Discovery Pledge
I pledge to:
- Explore parks big and small
- Observe plants and animals
- Discover the wonders of nature
Will you take the pledge?
Learn more about Ontario Parks jobs and how to apply on our careers page.
