We discovered this while we were on Prince Edward Island. I wish we had known about it at the start of our trip because it would have been so nice to have stopped at Canada Parks in each province that we visited! We got pretty close on our way back home, though!
We started with Prince Edward Island National Park. If you read my post about the Cavendish area, you'll remember our experience at Cavendish Beach, learning to make sand castles. This Sand Sculpting program is offered by Parks Canada and is one of the Xplorer activities.
Our next Parks Canada stop was Green Gables National Historic Site which also offers the Xplorer program. To earn our Green Gables souvenir we went on a scavenger hunt to find certain items in the house and the barn, and learned about old typewriters.
Our next visit was to the Halifax Citadel in Nova Scotia. The girls dipped quill pens and fill out an "enlistment" form to join the British Army, dress like a soldier, and stand as a sentry (no smiling!).
We visited Fort Beauséjour in New Brunswick when we drove from Nova Scotia to St. Andrews. Apparently I was too involved with our scavenger hunt there to remember to take any photos!
Our last Canada Parks stop was the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. It was really interesting for the girls to learn about locks and how these strange water elevators for boats work! We were even fortunate enough to see a boat actually using the locks while we were there!
Visiting these locations and gathering a collection of souvenirs had the girls hooked on the Xplorer program, so when we got home we got right to work checking out the website to see if there are any locations near us that offer it! We're excited to add to their collection!
If you live in Canada (or if you'll be visiting), I encourage you to get out and learn more about the country through these Parks Canada locations, and be sure to look up which parks nearby are offering the Xplorer program! This year is a great time to do it with our 150th year and free admission to all Parks Canada locations!
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Oh my goodness. That ALL looks so fun! :)
ReplyDeleteIt really was! I hope we'll get the chance to visit more of them before the year's up!
DeleteWe visited Mt. Timpanogos this summer. It was so fun. They had a Jr. Ranger workbook and if the kids filled it out, they got sworn in as Jr. Rangers. It was adorable.
ReplyDeleteThat's so cute! When we travel to the U.S. we'll have to remember this and watch for programs like it, in the areas we're in!
DeleteOh, Heather! I love this post so much! Your photos bring me back to my trip to PEI two years ago! I had such a great time. The people, scenery, history, culture, FOOD, and of course, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES will ALL live forever in my heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine! I loved it there. I would love to return someday!!
DeleteLooks like such fun! We didn't make it out to any national parks this year but have made it out to some of our local conservation areas and provincial parks. There is always so much to do and see.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you could make it to those! You're right- so many things to do and see in this country :)
DeleteI wasn't aware that Park Canada had a special Xplorers Program for kids and families. That is great, they didn't have that when my children where growing up. Canada is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI agree- there're so many beautiful things to see!
DeleteI was involved in a similar program to this when we used to visit Rocky Mountain National Park every summer while growing up. It was so much fun and i remember really enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteThat's neat to hear that you still remember it!
DeleteP.E.I. truly is a wonderful looking island I have to visit soon.
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous. You'll love it!
Deleteamazing programs to keep the kids busy
ReplyDeleteYes, it was great to have them excited to visit these places!
DeleteI didnt know Parks Canada offer this for children. Thanks for the insightful post!
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling quite jealous, this must have been a wonderful trip. I've always wanted to visit PEI but haven't made it so far, more's the pity.
ReplyDeleteYou can do it! Make a goal & figure out how you can do it! I didn't think it would happen for me for a long time, but I started thinking about it and made a plan. You'll be surprised what can happen!
DeleteWhat an awesome way for your kids to get to actually see what's in the book instead of just reading about it.
ReplyDeleteYes! I loved how it encouraged them to get really involved
DeleteWe have seen and enjoyed Parks Canada programs for kids throughout are kids summer fun. A great program.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an awesome program! I didn't know they did this but will be checking it out now for sure. i love that they get a dog tag to commemorate participating.
ReplyDeletePEI is on my list of places to go
ReplyDeleteThanks We visited PE last summer, great program for children, nice you got to enjoy it
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, did not know this was offered by Parks Canada
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like fun. Scavenger hunts always nice to do with the kids!
ReplyDeleteSounds like alot of fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea!! I've never heard of this but definitely something I can look into! Thanks so much.
ReplyDeletereminders of jerry rangers when my son was young in provincial parks in bc
ReplyDeleteI've never been to the Halifax Citadel, but I see huge history potential in it for my kids.
ReplyDeleteI love all your pictures.They portray so much fun that I wish I could visit there soon too.I enjoyed reading this awesome feature about the parks and think that is a really fun idea too for the kids.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such a great program! I love anything that inspires families to get out and do things together!
ReplyDeleteAww - looks like such a great time! Thank you for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so fun for the young explorer, I would love to go on this asventure myself!!
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that a Sand Sculpting program is offered at Cavendish Beach by Parks Canada.
ReplyDeleteI love the Parks program for the kids , gets them excited and in to learning ! We did something similar at the parks and it was so fun , even us adults got in to it
ReplyDeleteWhat a great program. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! I would especially love to go to Green Gables.
ReplyDelete