Today’s blog was written by Jessica Stillman, Discovery Program project coordinator.
Exploration stations are all about your connection to nature!
You are the person these programs are designed for. We want to inspire your curiosity about and connection to the natural world.
You will observe, explore, and discover with the help of a Discovery guide and nature journal.
You are encouraged to share your discoveries and experiences with others.
You will walk away from these programs feeling fully present, your senses engaged, and your mind noticing things that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
So, what are YOU waiting for? Find out which parks offer exploration stations now and plan to attend a program during your next trip!
Can I participate in an exploration station?
YES! Connecting with and exploring nature has no age limit and neither do exploration stations.
Do I need any prior experience to participate?
NO experience required!
Discovery guides have a variety of tools and engaging prompts to help you get started. Participants are all given a nature journal to help you explore on your own, with your group, or with the help of the Discovery guide.
You can finish it at the program and/or continue to use it back at your campsite, backyard, or another park.
Find the exploration station that is right for you
We are excited to offer two different formats to our newly revamped and highly engaging exploration stations!
Drop-in sessions: flexibility meets exploration
These stations are set-up for two hour time periods; allowing you to stop in and start connecting with nature when it works best for you.
A Discovery guide is available throughout the session to help you explore, connect, and engage with nature using the FREE nature journals, tools, and activity prompts at the stations, but you are ultimately in charge of your own experience.
Drop-in session topics include:
- Aquatic Wildlife
- Birds
- Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
- iNaturalist Photo Scavenger Hunt
- Insects
- Landscape Detectives
- Mindful Hike
- Trees
- Wildflowers
Click on a session title to learn more!
Guided sessions: embrace the awesome
These stations are 1 hour guided programs. We ask that participants show up at the beginning of the program as you will be guided through a variety of exercises before setting off to explore.
Guided session topics include:
Click on a session title to learn more!
Parks offering programs
Click on the park name to see their event calendars to help plan your next exploration station experience!
- Algonquin Provincial Park
- Algonquin Provincial Park – Achray
- Arrowhead Provincial Park
- Balsam Lake Provincial Park
- Bass Lake Provincial Park
- Bonnechere Provincial Park
- Chutes Provincial Park
- Craigleith Provincial Park
- Darlington Provincial Park
- Driftwood Provincial Park
- Earl Rowe Provincial Park
- Emily Provincial Park
- Esker Lakes Provincial Park
- Fairbank Provincial Park
- Ferris Provincial Park
- Finlayson Point Provincial Park
- Fitzroy 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
Session descriptions
Aquatic Wildlife — 2 hour drop-in program
Dive into the wonders of aquatic life! Grab a net and explore alongside Discovery staff as you search for creatures big and small.
From tiny fairy shrimp to majestic Great Blue Herons, every discovery is worth celebrating.
Bear Aware — 2 hour drop-in program
Campground or Black Bear Habitat? You’re standing in both! Join us for a meaningful conversation about living alongside Black Bears and discover practical tips to keep your campsite safe—for people and bears.
Bird Appreciation — 2 hour drop-in program
Birds are a joy to watch and listen to, from their graceful flights to their beautiful songs. Join us to experience the joys of birdwatching.
Record and celebrate your discoveries in the nature journal provided.
Colour Study — 1 hour guided program
Nature is bursting with incredible colours!
Take a moment to pause, engage your senses, and explore the vibrant palette around you. Use the watercolours provided to complete your own colour study.
Gratitude Search — 2 hour drop-in program
Research shows that gratitude is deeply connected to happiness.
Take a moment to pause, engage your senses, and reflect on the wonders of nature you’re grateful for.
iNaturalist Photo Search — 2 hour drop-in program
Up for a challenge? Become a community scientist by turning your nature observations into valuable data!
Using the iNaturalist app, see how long it takes you to complete the challenge.
*To prepare, download the iNaturalist app onto your smartphone before the program. Don’t want another app? A camera works too!
Insect Investigation — 2 hour drop-in program
Insects come in an amazing variety of shapes, colours, and sizes, and they outnumber all other animals on Earth!
Join us in searching for, observing, and appreciating our insect kin with the equipment provided.
Invertebrate Tracking — 2 hour drop-in program
All living things leave signs of their presence on the land, and it takes a keen observer to notice and interpret them.
Join us in discovering and interpreting the signs left behind by some of our smallest kin: insects and their relatives.
Mindful Hike — 2 hour drop-in program
It’s clear that nature is beneficial for both our mental and physical health. Take a moment to be mindful of the feelings nature inspires.
Tune into your senses as you follow the prompts on this self-guided hike.
Nature in Watercolour — 1 hour guided program
Put your “art eyes” on and join us in seeking out and celebrating nature’s beauty.
Use the frames provided to focus your attention – zoom in on a leaf or zoom out on a landscape -and then paint what you see. Nature’s beauty knows no limits!
No watercolour experience necessary.
Nature Observation — 1 hour guided program
Attention is one of the most generous gifts we can give. Take a moment to pause, observe, question, and connect with the natural world.
Use the “I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of” observation routine to explore a single leaf – you’ll be amazed by what you discover.
Ontario Parks Giant Floor Map — 2 hour drop-in program
Explore Ontario on a miniature scale with Canadian Geographic’s Ontario Parks Giant Floor Map.
This 10m x 10m map highlights Indigenous treaty areas, ecozones, the Ontario Parks system, waterways, highways, and communities. Bring a pair of socks, hop on the map, and experience Ontario from a whole new perspective. All ages are welcome – socks required!
Tree Appreciation — 2 hour drop-in program
Every tree has its own story to tell. To ‘”hear” it, all you need to do is pay attention.
Take a moment to pause, appreciate their presence, their gifts, and the feelings they inspire.
Wildflower Appreciation — 2 hour drop-in program
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but it’s hard to deny the beauty of wildflowers.
Get up close and personal with these tiny wonders – examine their colours, count their petals, and admire their shapes.
Take your time, breathe in the fresh air, and let their beauty spark your creativity.
Add some exploration into your next trip!
You’ll be amazed how much inspiration and connection can be found in the simple act of observing, exploring, and discovering with exploration stations.
We hope to see you out at an exploration station at one of our many participating parks this summer!
