New age in camping!

Self-portrait taken with the timer.
Should have seen me boot it across the driveway!

For those who don't know, I am now treasurer for Friends of Murphys Point Park (MPP). Not a hard sell, as I've been treasurer for many other groups, including my teacher union. Both my husbands have been accountants, and I wanted to prove I could do it! Once I mastered it, I figured it was a good skill to share.
Friends of various Ontario Parks, help support the park by fundraising, and getting government grants for tourism and festivals.

Here is our mandate:
The Friends of Murphys Point Park is a registered non-profit charity that formed in 1995. Entirely volunteer run with an elected board of directors and executive, Friends members work to enhance the natural heritage education program at Murphys Point Provincial Park. Our mandate is to further the public’s awareness, education and understanding of the geological, historical/archaeological, cultural and biological resources of Murphys Point Provincial Park.


Also, aside from sharing my skills, my kids camp there, and I bike the 11 km into the park, it being a good goal and the road traffic to get there isn't as bad as on the highway.

McParlan House

What is fun is that we popped into Bon Echo Park on the way back from Muskoka last week. They have boat tours, which is cool, to go see the petroglyphs. They have the same kind of facilities as MPP will have, cabins and soft-sided accommodations. So civilised!

You can rent a Yurt in some Ontario parks, a soft-sided shelter. In the meantime, here is a slide show of the cabin being built. We have travelled in regularly to take photos. I was the official photographer for the Bala, Muskoka Habitat blog build, The Patty Parsons Project, and I enjoyed seeing it rise from lumber to a home. I thought I could do the same here!

New Bridge!

The highlight last year, was fundraising over $10,000 to rebuild the bridge to McParlan House.

Alida, Park Interpreter, speaks to the kids

This Sunday, we will be having a Strawberry Social to officially launch the new bridge. Tobi Kiesewalter, Park Ranger, will lead a walk, after which we will have strawberries and ice cream for sale at Hoggs Bay beach.

Not only that, but it is the launch of our Heritage Mica Festival. There will be boats rides on June 24 and August 19, 2012.

Male Juvenile American Redstart sang for us
during the bird count!

Join our costumed interpreters in a Voyageur Canoe as you paddle your way around Hogg Bay and learn the history of the early settlers of this area. Hear stories of the Lally, Murphy and McParlan families. Learn about homesteading, mining and lumbering in this area in the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. Each canoe takes 18 paddlers and we are equipped for all ages. The Voyageur Canoe tours leave from the main beach area at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on scheduled dates (above) with free parking available. Each tour lasts about 1 hour.