Take a hike! – Ontario Parks Weblog
At the moment’s weblog was written by Discovery Program Challenge Coordinator Jessica Stillman.
We’re not attempting to be impolite; we actually do need you to take a hike!
On Saturday, August 9, 2025, Discovery employees throughout the province are encouraging everybody to discover our provincial park system by taking a hike.
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What’s Take a Hike Day?
It’s a chance!
A possibility for exploration, discovery, marvel, and awe.
Whether or not alongside a path with our educated Discovery employees or by yourself, it’s an opportunity to get pleasure from the fantastic thing about Ontario Parks.
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How can I take part?
It’s easy – go take a hike!
We’d like it in the event you might be part of our Discovery employees for a hike, which is why over 75 provincial parks shall be providing mountaineering packages on Saturday, August 9!
What sorts of packages are these parks providing?
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Guided hikes
A lot of our parks shall be providing a guided hike led by one of many park’s unbelievable Discovery employees.
Whereas the subject of the packages will differ, there are some things which might be assured to be the identical it doesn’t matter what guided hike program you attend:
- One-of-a-kind tales – like all Discovery packages, these guided hikes are designed to share tales with you in significant and interesting methods that can depart you desirous to know extra.
- Breathtaking views – Discovery employees know all the perfect locations to cease alongside a path. Allow them to share their favorite path views with you!
- Reminiscences – thought-provoking, humorous, inspirational, and interesting; Discovery packages are what reminiscences are made from.
From sundown strolls to nighttime hikes, parks are placing their greatest foot ahead for Take a Hike Day and so they need you to strap in your strolling footwear to do the identical!
Try every park’s occasion calendar, see in-park program listings, or communicate to employees for particulars about what packages are being supplied.
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Aware Hike Exploration Stations
Discovery Guides have arrange a self-guided hike with prompts that can assist you tune into your senses. There isn’t any doubt that nature is sweet for our psychological and bodily well being.
Take a second out of your day to be conscious of the sentiments that nature conjures up throughout this Aware Hike program.
These drop-in packages are self-paced and supply a straightforward manner for any age to discover a brand new aspect of the park.
Don’t neglect to seize a free Discovery Exercise guide for added hands-on exploration actions.
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Self-guided mountaineering
Can’t make it to a program on August 9? To not fear, Ontario Parks has over 2,000 km of trails throughout the province that supply self-guided mountaineering adventures.
Many park trails have Discovery merchandise like path guides and interpretive panels that can assist you dive deeper into the heritage of the path.
The one query is: which path will you’re taking?
For youthful guests, some trails have a narrative stroll alongside them. These are indicators or path posts with pages of a narrative that you just work together with as you stroll the path.
Story walks are enjoyable, instructional actions that promote literacy, studying, and outside play — an ideal match for a hike!
Don’t neglect to pack your Discovery Exercise guide or to select one up on the principal park workplace.
Full of numerous nice prompts and actions to encourage exploration, these FREE books flip any path into a spot of discovery!
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Why guided hikes?
Guided hikes have a lengthy historical past inside Ontario Parks. They’re reputed to be the spark that started the Discovery Program, which now reaches over 1 million guests yearly.
Discovery packages like guided hikes are one of many some ways Discovery employees share the pure and cultural tales of a park. These tales transcend time and house, and trails are a good way to discover them!
Trails might be something we wish them to be. A quiet second for self-reflection, an artist’s inspiration, an opportunity to reconcile with our previous, and look to the longer term at what our legacy shall be.
Discovery employees and our park trails assist guests discover and create deeper connections with Ontario’s heritage one step at a time.
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So what’s going to you be doing on August 9?
We hope you mentioned: “taking a hike!”
We all know you possibly can go for a hike any day, however why not select to take a hike with hundreds of different guests throughout the province?
How cool will or not it’s to say you have been a part of the most important group of Ontario Parks guests unfold the farthest aside (throughout an entire province) all taking a hike on the identical day?
Our Discovery group is happy to share the paths and tales of Ontario with you.
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Completely happy mountaineering to all!
Take a Hike Day is an initiative introduced by the Discovery Program.
It’s one other smart way you possibly can take part within the Wholesome Parks Wholesome Individuals (HPHP) program at Ontario Parks through the 30×30 Nature Problem, the place we encourage Ontarians to make time in nature part of their day by day routines by spending half-hour per day outdoors for 30 days through the month of August.
For extra details about Wholesome Parks Wholesome Individuals at Ontario Parks, go to our web site.
