Monday 20 June 2011

Family Fun at Killbear Provincial Park

Fishing For Tadpoles
We decided in January to book a campsite at the very popular Campground in Killbear Provincial Park. We reserved a site in "Beaver Dam" close to the beautiful sandy beach. After stuffing our car up to the roof (you always have to prepared for everything), we were excited to finally leave the city on a Thursday and drive up north with our two children Ava (3) and Ewan (1) to explore the beautiful nature in Killbear Provincial Park. We were a little anxious about how our children would handle 4 days away from home, sleeping in a tent, as it was our first family camping trip, but once arrived we had no doubt that we would have an amazing time there.


Sandy Beaches
The afternoon sun was warm, little birds were singing around us and woodpeckers were working diligently in the trees. Before we had unloaded the car our kids found their way to the beach and it was just a matter of a few minutes until they stripped off their clothing and splashed in the water. It was heaven to see the joy in their faces.  



Ava's Caterpillar Farm
There was so much to discover, we played on the beach, cooled off in the water or explored the wildlife right at our campsite. There were many big and colorful caterpillars, some blue, yellow or green. Ava decided to keep and care for a few of them in her lunchbox; it was her little caterpillar farm.





We found tadpoles in puddles along the shores and a water snake hiding under leaves. Frogs were sunbathing in waterholes and in the evenings a young deer visited our campsite twice not being disturbed by us at all.

On one afternoon we took the "Lookout Trail" which is a short 30-minutes hike with our kids. Our daughter excitedly jumped from rock to rock, climbed down little paths and through the forest, listening to the animal sounds around us. Once we reached the end of the trail we were treated to a spectacular view of the Bay from the Lookout point which sits on top of a huge rock. We had lunch in the shade of the trees before we walked home on a scenic path along the shore of Georgian Bay. 
Watching the sunset was an enjoyment for the whole family.

Sadly we had to leave Killbear Provincial Park on Sunday already. We all enjoyed our break from the city. Besides having lots of fun, the children had the possibility to see and learn so much about Ontario's wildlife and its' beauty.
We are excited to visit Killarney in August for another great adventure.

Exploring
Killbear Provincial Park:
Killbear Provincial Park is located on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, about 3 hours north of Toronto. The park contains a wide variety of geographic formations from the bold granite rocks of the Canadian Shield to the sandy beaches of Kilcoursie Bay. The park contains a diverse ecological system of forests and wetlands.

Killbear Provincial Park is a natural environment park.  These parks protect the landscapes and special features of the natural region in which they are located, while providing ample opportunities for activities such as swimming and camping.

Whether you want to relax on a beach, hike in the woodlands, swim in the clear waters of Georgian Bay, paddle a canoe or kayak, explore the island waterways surrounding the park or take part in one of our educational programs Killbear has something to offer all outdoor enthusiasts.

About the campground:

Seven campgrounds offer 881 campsites, 236 with electricity, all near the water. Each site has a picnic table and fireplace. Vault toilets and drinking water taps are convenient to all sites, and there are comfort stations with hot showers and flush toilets (the facilities are very clean). Each campground has its own character, from the sandy, protective beaches of Kilcoursie and Beaver Dams to the pine and rocky settings of Harold Point, Granite Saddle and Georgian campgrounds.

source: http://www.friendsofkillbear.com/   http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/killb.htm

If you plan to reserve a campsite remember to book ahead of time as these campsites are very popular.

http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/reservations.html