Top Ten Things to Know When Camping
Lloyd White (rear) and Emeraude Charron (Centre) with their Mom at the helm during canoe races at White Lake Park Family Day (2009). Photo Kelly Sagle for OntarioNewsNorth.com
McGuinty Government Encourages Families To Enjoy Camping This Summer
Fun on the beach at White Lake Provincial Park. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com
Summer is a great time to camp in Ontario’s provincial parks, and whether you’re a new or experienced camper, here are our ten tips that can help make the experience more enjoyable and safe:
- Use the Park Locator to find the park that is ideal for you.
- Make a camping list and check it twice — this will help you better plan your trip.
- Check the camp rules — know what’s expected before you arrive at the park.
- Store your food to keep bear, bees and other wildlife from getting too close for comfort.
- Learn how and where to build a campfire, and properly extinguish it — we want to keep our parks safe for years to come.
- Find out about the many ways you can minimize your garbage and help keep our parks clean.
- Pet lovers can find great ways to make the experience more enjoyable for you, your dog and your neighbouring campers.
- Pack and store your camping gear carefully — to make sure it’s ready to use next summer
- Get tasty recipes that are easy to do on BBQ or over a campfire.
- Try out new games and activities, and look out for park events.
Ontario’s provincial parks offer a range of affordable activities for families and visitors, including hiking, swimming, canoeing and camping. Strengthening tourism is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to strengthen economic growth and support jobs in Ontario.
QUICK FACTS
- Tourism is an important part of Ontario’s economy, supporting 300,000 jobs. In 2008, tourism spending in Ontario reached $22 billion.
- With the new DuPont Provincial Park, there are now 335 provincial parks in Ontario.
- Last year, close to 10 million visits were made by people from around the world to Ontario’s provincial parks, receiving almost 100,000 more visits than in 2009.
- Charleston Lake and Wasaga Beach Provincial Parks have also been newly expanded to give families and visitors more opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy the province’s natural beauty.
- This summer, more than 1.5 million kids will get free admission to stay and play in Ontario with the 2011 Fun Pass.
LEARN MORE
- Get more camping tips through Learn To Camp @ Ontario Parks.
- Visit www.OntarioParks.com for camping, park opening and closing dates, fees and special events in Ontario Parks.
- See the 2011 Ontario Parks Guide or get a printed copy by calling 1-800-ONTARIO (668-2746).
Reserve a campsite, call 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275) between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. EST daily, or book online 24 hours a day at the Ontario Parks website.
