Today’s post comes from the CreateWithMom.com family – a family of four who lives in the GTA and seeks adventure whenever possible!
Our first experience learning how to car camp was with Ontario Parks’ Learn to Camp program a few years ago.
After this, we invested in camping equipment and have gone on many camping adventures in different parks in Ontario.
Camping has become an activity that we love to do as a family.
Stay local
Organizing a camping trip with teenagers and everyone’s busy summer schedule is only possible for us because some of the parks are close to home!
This summer, we stayed two nights at Earl Rowe Provincial Park, since it’s only an hour and a half from the Greater Toronto Area!
Earl Rowe Provincial Park
We loved the fact that it didn’t take long to get to the park and the atmosphere of the park surrounded by trees and lakes was fabulous – it was a much-needed getaway and a chance for us all to rejuvenate.
Book a park ambassador
Earl Rowe is one of 15 provincial parks that offer the Learn to Camp program.
During our camping experience, we signed up for a free 30-minute one-on-one workshop with a park ambassador.
This one-on-one workshop is available to anyone with an RV reservation at participating parks.
As part of this program, they also have group workshops limited to visitors with a valid RV reservation or day use permit on the day of the program at any of the participating parks.
If you would like to learn more about visiting Ontario parks, they also offer free online workshops open to everyone.
To reserve a park ambassadorClick here and then select the Learn to Camp location you have chosen to camp at.
Choose an available time, register with your information and select an individual course topic.
Workshops are a good opportunity to learn:
- about Ontario parks
- about the types of animals that live in parks
- how to cook while camping
- how to make the perfect campfire
- how to set up your campsite
We chose the session on learning to cook while camping.
The same food you would prepare at home somehow tastes better when cooked outdoors!
Learn to cook outdoors
This session taught us about:
- the tools we need
- cooking methods
- recipes to try
- how to pack and store equipment
- how to set up and use the cooking area
- how to keep the cooking area clean and safe
Our ambassador, Megan, had lots of insights, reminders, and tips to share.
She was very friendly and was able to answer all of our curious questions about cooking on the campfire and stove.
These workshops are not only useful for new campers, but also for anyone looking for a refresher.
Getting back to the basic
It is important that everyone who camps and visits Ontario parks follow their best practices so that all visitors can have a safe and fun experience.
It is very important to know simple things like how to clean dishes, how to dispose of dirty water in the vault toilet, and throw trash in the designated area so as not to attract animals.
Park etiquette, such as keeping noise levels down, keeping sites clean, and putting out a campfire properly, may seem simple, but it’s important to do it right so we can all do our part to keep campgrounds clean and safe for everyone. all.
We believe that camping allows us to connect with nature, which is great for our physical and mental health.
Camping is a great way to create lasting memories, so take the time to experience this adventure with your loved ones!