Parks Day Activities

Historic re-enactments, hiking, nature walks and presentations are only some of fun activities and events available to visitors to provincial parks during Parks Day, Saturday, July 15.

Park patrons will have the opportunity to enjoy park features and facilities, experience outdoor Nova Scotia, and get in touch with and appreciate nature.

"Our provincial parks are preserved for Nova Scotians to enjoy all the wonderful features that this province offers to all," Natural Resources Minister David Morse. "They promote a place to learn about the flora and fauna that make up habitats and the biosystems, and a place in which to simply enjoy nature."

The third Saturday in July is set aside as Parks Day for national, provincial, territorial and municipal parks. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the importance of parks and historic sites, and to encourage active living.

Some of the events planned for Parks Day, and the parks that are participating, include:

• Cape Breton County: enjoy French and English battalions in periodic costume, Mi'kmaw presentations, a scavenger hunt and games for youth at Mira River Provincial Park;

• Cumberland County: walk across the Cobequid-Chebucto Fault Zone at Cape Chignecto Provincial Park;

• Halifax Regional Municipality: make art from nature with artist Julie Adamson Miller at Taylor Head Provincial Park; and see fly-tying and fly-casting, learn the basics of canoeing, and outdoor navigation at Dollar Lake Provincial Park;

• Kings County: enjoy kite-making at Blomidon Provincial Park;

• Pictou County: learn about insects with entomologist Eric Georgeson at Caribou-Munroes Island Provincial Park;

• Lunenburg County: participate in a treasure hunt and a kite-flying contest at Graves Island Provincial Park.

For more information on these events and other park activities, see the Department of Natural Resources website at parks.gov.ns.ca/pr4p/parksday.asp or visit a local Natural Resources office.