Our first camping trip of the season! We have 3 sites reserved for one giant social and quality time together in the outdoors. Bon Echo is a particularly beautiful park and Victoria Day marks the start of camping season in Ontario.
There'll be a bit of everything on this adventure:
- Restorative time in the outdoors
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Camping skills education
- Time on the water and at the beach
- Hanging out around a campfire
And if we get really lucky, some epic star gazing.
We're spoiled for options over the weekend. We'll spend the first day setting up camp and orienting ourselves before spending a night around the campfire with a shared dinner and games.
Day 2 is for group activities for those who want to join. There are a few great hikes around the park that we'll settle on day of. There's also the option to rent canoes and we'll be bringing a few of our own boats so we can explore the incredibly beautiful Mazinaw lake.
Day 3, choose your own adventure. Go hiking, get out on the water or lie in a hammock and read a book!
Sleeping Arrangements
We've got 2 adjoining campsites and a 3rd, that's very close. Each campsite accommodates 6 people and allows a total of 3 tents.
If you reserved gear: You'll be sharing a large tent with others of the same gender. We're reserving everything you need for a comfortable night's sleep.
If you didn't reserve gear: Between you, there are currently more tents than we have space for (3 per site/nine total). Some of you will need to share with others to accommodate everyone. There's no cost to do this if you're otherwise bringing your own gear.
Washing facilities
Toilets - There are pit latrines throughout the camp. These are effectively a toilet over a deep hole in the ground and they are stocked with toilet paper.
Water - There is drinking water on tap available throughout the camp
Comfort stations - There are also heated comfort stations with indoor, plumbed toilets, hot showers and sinks with both hot and cold water. These are a bit more of a walk.
Saturday 20th May
08:45 - First pick up at the PetroCanada by Keele Subway Station
09:00 - Second pick up outside the front of Union Station. We're in the red van, directly outside the front of the Station on Front Street and opposite the Fairmont Hotel.
09:00 - Head off to Bon Echo. It's approximately a 3 hours drive and we'll stop for lunch en route.
13:00 - Meet with self-drivers at the Bon Echo Provincial Park Gatehouse
13:30 onwards - Set up camp, settle in, explore
Dinner time TBD
Sunday 21st May
Open day of activities TBD on the day
Monday 22nd May - Victoria Day
Packing up camp and free morning
15:00 - Return to Toronto
19:00 - Anticipated return to Union Station
19:30 - Anticipated return to Keele Station
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Check back here to see how the weather is developing.
Clothing:
Pack according to the weather. This is a suggested packing list:
Close-toed shoes and/or hiking boots
Gear:
Personal Stuff:
Cooking
If you're not getting the gear rental, make sure you bring your own cookware, dining set and a method for cleaning them.
Random Stuff:
Got games? Bring em! Ditto anything else you think the group might enjoy.
Everyone will get their own lunch on the way to the park on Saturday and is responsible for bringing their own snacks and drinks.
If you asked for food: We'll be serving delicious, hot, vegan dinners Saturday and Sunday. Sunday and Monday we'll serving both a vegan and non-vegan hot breakfast. Sunday and Monday there'll also be a cold lunch with vegan and likely, non-vegan options. We will provide cutlery and crockery.
If you didn't ask for food: You'll need to bring your own cook kit and a way of washing your cutlery and crockery afterwards.
It's not too late to sign up for the meal plan. If you'd like to change your registration, ping Isaac on Discord.
Rented camping kits contain the following:
Self-drivers will need to purchase parking on arrival at the Bon Echo Gatehouse. There are two free passes included with our booking so wait for the main group to arrive prior to purchasing your permit.
Water based danger: If you can't swim, keep out of the water. Only those who've completed their Tandem Canoe course will be able to use the canoes on site.
Bon Echo is on the traditional territories of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. The park has a rich Indigenous history that dates back thousands of years.
The Algonquin Anishinaabe people have lived in the region for generations, and they have a deep connection to the land and the waterways that flow through it. They have a rich oral tradition, which tells stories of their creation and their relationship with the land.
In the park, there are several Indigenous rock art sites that date back over a thousand years. These rock art sites are known as Mazinaw Pictographs, and they are found on the steep rock face of Mazinaw Rock, which is a prominent feature of the park. The pictographs were created using red ochre pigment, and they depict various images, including animals, humans, and geometric shapes. These pictographs were likely created for ceremonial or spiritual purposes.
The Algonquin Anishinaabe people also used the land for hunting, fishing, and gathering. They would hunt moose, deer, and small game and fish for bass, pike, and trout. They would also gather berries, nuts, and other wild edibles. The park is also home to several medicinal plants, which the Algonquin Anishinaabe people would use for traditional healing practices.
Today, the park is still a significant site for the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, and they continue to have a deep connection to the land and the waterways that flow through it. The park works closely with the local Indigenous communities to ensure that their cultural heritage is respected and preserved for future generations.
If you're interested in learning more, the Algonquin Anishnaabe have a great website with a lot of further background that's highly recommended.
Our first camping trip of the season! We have 3 sites reserved for one giant social and quality time together in the outdoors. Bon Echo is a particularly beautiful park and Victoria Day marks the start of camping season in Ontario.
There'll be a bit of everything on this adventure:
- Restorative time in the outdoors
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Camping skills education
- Time on the water and at the beach
- Hanging out around a campfire
And if we get really lucky, some epic star gazing.
We're spoiled for options over the weekend. We'll spend the first day setting up camp and orienting ourselves before spending a night around the campfire with a shared dinner and games.
Day 2 is for group activities for those who want to join. There are a few great hikes around the park that we'll settle on day of. There's also the option to rent canoes and we'll be bringing a few of our own boats so we can explore the incredibly beautiful Mazinaw lake.
Day 3, choose your own adventure. Go hiking, get out on the water or lie in a hammock and read a book!
Sleeping Arrangements
We've got 2 adjoining campsites and a 3rd, that's very close. Each campsite accommodates 6 people and allows a total of 3 tents.
If you reserved gear: You'll be sharing a large tent with others of the same gender. We're reserving everything you need for a comfortable night's sleep.
If you didn't reserve gear: Between you, there are currently more tents than we have space for (3 per site/nine total). Some of you will need to share with others to accommodate everyone. There's no cost to do this if you're otherwise bringing your own gear.
Washing facilities
Toilets - There are pit latrines throughout the camp. These are effectively a toilet over a deep hole in the ground and they are stocked with toilet paper.
Water - There is drinking water on tap available throughout the camp
Comfort stations - There are also heated comfort stations with indoor, plumbed toilets, hot showers and sinks with both hot and cold water. These are a bit more of a walk.
Saturday 20th May
08:45 - First pick up at the PetroCanada by Keele Subway Station
09:00 - Second pick up outside the front of Union Station. We're in the red van, directly outside the front of the Station on Front Street and opposite the Fairmont Hotel.
09:00 - Head off to Bon Echo. It's approximately a 3 hours drive and we'll stop for lunch en route.
13:00 - Meet with self-drivers at the Bon Echo Provincial Park Gatehouse
13:30 onwards - Set up camp, settle in, explore
Dinner time TBD
Sunday 21st May
Open day of activities TBD on the day
Monday 22nd May - Victoria Day
Packing up camp and free morning
15:00 - Return to Toronto
19:00 - Anticipated return to Union Station
19:30 - Anticipated return to Keele Station
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Check back here to see how the weather is developing.
Clothing:
Pack according to the weather. This is a suggested packing list:
Close-toed shoes and/or hiking boots
Gear:
Personal Stuff:
Cooking
If you're not getting the gear rental, make sure you bring your own cookware, dining set and a method for cleaning them.
Random Stuff:
Got games? Bring em! Ditto anything else you think the group might enjoy.
Everyone will get their own lunch on the way to the park on Saturday and is responsible for bringing their own snacks and drinks.
If you asked for food: We'll be serving delicious, hot, vegan dinners Saturday and Sunday. Sunday and Monday we'll serving both a vegan and non-vegan hot breakfast. Sunday and Monday there'll also be a cold lunch with vegan and likely, non-vegan options. We will provide cutlery and crockery.
If you didn't ask for food: You'll need to bring your own cook kit and a way of washing your cutlery and crockery afterwards.
It's not too late to sign up for the meal plan. If you'd like to change your registration, ping Isaac on Discord.
Rented camping kits contain the following:
Self-drivers will need to purchase parking on arrival at the Bon Echo Gatehouse. There are two free passes included with our booking so wait for the main group to arrive prior to purchasing your permit.
Water based danger: If you can't swim, keep out of the water. Only those who've completed their Tandem Canoe course will be able to use the canoes on site.
Bon Echo is on the traditional territories of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. The park has a rich Indigenous history that dates back thousands of years.
The Algonquin Anishinaabe people have lived in the region for generations, and they have a deep connection to the land and the waterways that flow through it. They have a rich oral tradition, which tells stories of their creation and their relationship with the land.
In the park, there are several Indigenous rock art sites that date back over a thousand years. These rock art sites are known as Mazinaw Pictographs, and they are found on the steep rock face of Mazinaw Rock, which is a prominent feature of the park. The pictographs were created using red ochre pigment, and they depict various images, including animals, humans, and geometric shapes. These pictographs were likely created for ceremonial or spiritual purposes.
The Algonquin Anishinaabe people also used the land for hunting, fishing, and gathering. They would hunt moose, deer, and small game and fish for bass, pike, and trout. They would also gather berries, nuts, and other wild edibles. The park is also home to several medicinal plants, which the Algonquin Anishinaabe people would use for traditional healing practices.
Today, the park is still a significant site for the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, and they continue to have a deep connection to the land and the waterways that flow through it. The park works closely with the local Indigenous communities to ensure that their cultural heritage is respected and preserved for future generations.
If you're interested in learning more, the Algonquin Anishnaabe have a great website with a lot of further background that's highly recommended.
