Do you love to get out in the great outdoors for a weekend of camping, but you don’t have a ton of camping gear or a lot of time to get organized? How to solve this dilemma, you ask? How about Yurt camping!?

WHAT IS A YURT?

A “Yurt” is a Mongolian style semi-permanent tent, customarily used in Central Asia by Nomads. Traditionally, the tent-like structure is circular in shape with a wooden lattice frame.

WHERE CAN I FIND YURT CAMPING?

Select Ontario Provincial Parks in Northeastern Ontario are now offering Yurt camping as an alternative to traditional tent or trailer camping. The Ontario Provincial Park Yurts are modern, aluminum-framed, eight-sided insulated tents, 16 feet in diameter, constructed on large wooden decks. Each Yurt is remotely located and furnished with a dining table and sleeping room for six people.

The modern Yurts are also equipped with lights, electric heat, 2 GFIC outlets, and 4 windows for your comfort. Outside on a private deck, you’ll find a BBQ with a shelter, a picnic table and a metal bear-proof food box. A cooking surface is also provided along with a second picnic table near a fire ring. Now that’s camping in style!

WHEN CAN I GO?

The best part? These hybrid tent/ cottage lodgings can be enjoyed year-round! Experience camping in the winter months for a weekend of snowshoeing, cross country skiing or ice climbing!

Explore Ontario From The Trees This Spring

What is zip-lining?

Zip-lining is best described as close to flying through the trees with the birds as it comes. Participants don a harness with a carabiner that is attached to a wheel on a cable strung between trees. You push off from a platform on one tree and zip along the cable to a platform on another tree. You can be anywhere from 20- to 80-feet off the ground and, literally, flying between the trees at a height where birds hang out.

The thing about zip-lining is, in contrast to the idea that it’s an extreme sport it’s very much geared for a wide range of ages and abilities. There are a few different options available in Ontario – from straight lines running down hill, to multi-platform full canopy tours.

Spring is a season of transition, as we move from our favourite winter activities into gearing up for fun outdoors in warmer weather. It’s a time when we put our waterproofing to the test for the last few thrills in the snow and bit of chill in the air.

One of the best activities to get you out of the slush and feeling that exhilarating high of adventure is zip-lining. The event gained a lot of attention this winter in Vancouver at the Olympics, but there’s no need to go west for the experience. In fact, Ontario is home to several zip-line courses. From tree top adventures, complete with observation platforms and scenic guides, to the sheer thrill of soaring straight down hill at top speeds reaching 50 kilometres per hour.

1 ARBRASKA TREE TOP TREKKING
Location: Horseshoe Valley (Barrie)
Relive your childhood dreams at Treetop Trekking Horseshoe, situated at Horseshoe Valley Resort, an hour’s drive north of Toronto and just minutes outside of Barrie. You’ll discover the park in the Copeland forest located on the resort.

2 EAGLECREST AERIAL PARK
Location: Bracebridge
Billed as the “Ultimate Treetop Experience" for the whole family, teams, groups and corporate training, spend three hours at 10-50 feet in the forest canopy of the majestic pines located along the Muskoka River. The giant 350ft zip-line across water will give you a thrilling ride.

3 LONG POINT ECO-ADVENTURE
Location: St. Williams
Travel high above the forest floor and take in the views overlooking Long Point Bay World Biosphere and Turkey Point Marsh. Between each zip you will be able to enjoy the amazing views from the observation platforms.

4 PINE RIDGE ZIP LINES
Location: Chicopee Hills (Kitchener)
Experience over 300 meters of soaring fun, starting from one of the highest and most scenic elevations that the Chicopee Hills have to offer. Enjoy a breathtaking ride while taking in a spectacular view of the surrounding hills and trees.

5 SCENIC CAVES/NATURE ADVENTURES/ECO ADVENTURE TOUR
Location: Blue Mountain (Collingwood)
High among 200 year-old oak trees, up to 60 feet above the ground, get ready for an experience like no other. Explore the beauty and wildlife of the picturesque forest valley at the top of Blue Mountain, as you become one with the birds, then soar along the new 1,000ft zip line.

6 TREETOP ADVENTURES
Location: Goulais River
Ride the Big Zip, play some paintball or test your agility on the tree-top obstacle course. Trek across cables, beams, and logs, cross wobbly bridges, swing like Tarzan, zip line with speed, and test your balance as you maneuver through many obstacles, all while safely attached with two carabiners.

7 WALK-IN-THE-CLOUDS
Location: Canopy Tour, Haliburton
Take a “Walk in the Clouds" through treetops on the world’s longest canopy walkway at Halliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve. Over half a kilometer long, the canopy boardwalk winds through the treetops some 10-20 meters above the forest floor. A platform suspended from the treetops above, becomes the gathering place where your guide elaborates on the forest environment surrounding you.

For more ideas on Spring Highlight in Ontario, visit www.ontariotravel.net/outdoor

Photography workshops in the wilds of Ontario

Ever wonder how photographers capture the vividness of autumn colours or the raw crisp edges of a rugged coastline?  Ever wish you could capture an extraordinary glimpse of a moose or rare bird? Bring your camera and come discover the nuances of nature photography from Ontario's best.  You can learn all the skills and techniques necessary to produce exceptional photographs; meanwhile taking time to explore some of Ontario's most unique landscapes.

Moose Photography in Algonquin Park

Algonquin Park is one of Ontario's most well known spots for canoeing and viewing moose.  Voyageur Quest offers the opportunity to combine a canoe tripping experience with some hands-on instruction in moose photography. This 3 day and 2 night canoe trip will take you through the Northwest corner of Algonquin with professional photographer Rob Stimpson.  Here, with the help of your skilled guides, you'll have the opportunity view and photograph one of Canada's most iconic animals - the moose.  The trip will take you through gorgeous mixed maple forests and several spectacular wildlife viewing locations.  All accommodations, meals, equipment, park permits, workshops and campsites are included. For more information visit: VoyageurQuest.com

The Best of the Bruce

Looking for luxury?  Come join this small group photography workshop combined with incredible accommodations, fine foods and the spectacular beauty of the Georgian Bay shoreline. Through custom chartered boat excursions, participants will explore landscapes not accessible by foot.  Guided by expert photographer Ethan Meleg, the workshop is hosted at the renowned award winning ecolodge E'Terra.  Rise early to catch the wonderful light of the sunset and learn more about practical lighting techniques in the field, composition and image contrast.  For more information visit: EthanMeleg.com

Birder's Paradise

For the avid birder, an overnight workshop is the perfect way to explore techniques related to nature and wildlife photography in the heart of Presqu'il Provincial Park.  An ideal location for viewing a wide variety of birds, this workshop is guided by experienced nature and wildlife photographer Tony Beck.  Covering techniques specific to this form of photography, participants will explore a region known for being a birding 'hot spot'.  The workshop takes place during peak fall migration and a myriad of different bird species will be encountered. For more details visit OntarioTravel.net/outdoor

Northwestern Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park and northern Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are among North America’s best-known canoe destinations but North of Superior’s lesser-known Wabakimi Provincial Park is as big as those two areas combined, offering some 2000 kilometres of amazing canoe routes.

Wabakimi Park is a true northern wilderness, featuring the world’s largest boreal forest reserves and spectacular views of the Canadian Shield. Home to woodland caribou, moose, eagles and wolves, the park was established in 1983, largely due to the efforts of Thunder Bay/Superior North’s new MP Bruce Hyer as well as many other long time residents of the Town of Armstrong.

Visitors can fly from Armstrong’s numerous fly-in bases in to remote lodges and camps to sport fish or they can enter the 892,061 (2.3 million acre) park by train and canoe. Paddling treks can take as few as three days and are a great chance for novices (with help of guides) to sample variety of types of paddling, from gentle streams, crystal clear lakes (there are 12,000 of them in the park) and long rapids.

Wabakimi is also known for outstanding fishing for trophy walleye and great northern pike along with lake trout and speckled trout. Ask your guide to take you to all the hot spots and be sure to visit www.northofsuperior.org for a long list of lodges and outfitters in the Wabakimi Park area!