On Your Mark, Get Set, Explore!
Parks Canada's Xplorers Program shows that learning is
exciting! As part of its Centennial celebrations Parks Canada has a
new national program which offers a variety of recreational
activities for young people at select national parks and
national historic sites across the country. Do you want to be
an "Xplorer"? If you are looking to discover our amazing national
parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas Parks Canada
has a fun new way of engaging with these special places.
Since 2010, Parks Canada has launched several exciting
initiatives to help visitors, including young and urban Canadians,
become better connected with their national parks and national
historic sites.
Launched July 1st 2011, the Xplorers Program is aimed
at engaging youth between the ages of 6-11. The program is
primarily designed with activities to appeal to the distinct
interests of these young people but is open to all who want to
participate regardless of age.
The new
program encourages discovery and dialogue through
age-appropriate fun including games, questions and
activities, and is currently being offered across the
country at 43 select Parks Canada locations and will be
launched system-wide in 2012.
Parks Canada, which has always been a great draw for young
families, is now implementing special Xplorer activities that
continue to engage people and promote learning at Parks Canada's
unique natural and cultural heritage sites. The program helps to
convey the importance and meaning of each place and strengthens the
sense of connection for Canadian youth to Parks Canada.
This flexible, site-specific program encourages participants to
discover, engage and connect with the particular place they are
visiting through a variety of activity options. It aims to pique
the curiosity of young visitors, encouraging them to ask questions
and ultimately increase the participant's enjoyment of the
place creating the desire to return and visit other Parks
Canada sites. "Visitors were keen to participate and the
smiles and looks of the children spoke volumes!" explained one
interpreter.
On arrival at a participating national historic site, national
park, or national marine conservation area visitors wanting to take
part receive a free Xplorer activity
booklet. Tailored to each
location, the booklet describes learning activities and guides the
children throughout their visit. For example, learning activities
at the St. Lawrence Islands National Park vary from a scavenger
hunt to searching for symbols on rocks, to trail hikes, species
identification and even guided reptile encounters. The
interpretation activities offered at the Saguenay-St. Lawrence
Marine Park's Marine Environment Discovery Centre asks
attention-grabbing questions such as Sharks: Plankton-feeders
or Man-eaters?
"Booklets have been used up more quickly than
expected," explained one Parks staff, "and parents have
commented that they would have loved to take part in a program like
this when they themselves were small."
Each location offers different activities that reflect its
unique significance and situation, some with interpreters, which
allows interaction between members of the public and Parks Canada
staff. At L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
children are able to interact with a Viking as he builds a small
boat by choosing a tool and helping him out. They can also help a
blacksmith or learn to write using runic script. 
Many of the sites offer engaging activities including exhibits
on exploration, or walking trails, all designed to appeal to
different learning styles. These motivate and provide opportunities
for children to foster new skills, or simply to become more aware
of those skills they already possess. Asking children to use their
senses to discover new and unique sights, sounds and textures has
opened up a new world for them at Parks Canada-adminstered sites
and parks.
Each task is designed to be completed within the time frame of a
normal family visit. Those taking part do not have to finish all of
the booklet activities to complete the program.
At Banff National Park the Xplorer Club for Kids program invites
children to become sleuths and learn by hiking, biking, completing
quizzes and crossword puzzles, or using a GPS to find a mystery
location. After completing at least 6 of the 16 activities in the
booklet, they are eligible to participate in a ceremony where they
receive a souvenir and a certificate recognizing them as official
Xplorer Club for Kids members. Souvenirs appropriate to each
site/park are given out as rewards including cool dogtags
which are offered at participating Parks Canada locations.
The Xplorer Motto used at Waterton Lakes National Park states: As an
intrepid Parks Canada Xplorer I promise to protect, respect and
care for all of the members of our National Parks family. I will
continue to learn about these xtraordinary places, and share what I
learn with my family and friends. I will help to preserve these
places for future generations, and never stop Xploring!
This 'repeat after me' promise was created by one of the
interpreters at Waterton Lakes National Park for new explorers who
have completed their booklet tasks. 
The Xplorers Program is offered when participating parks or
sites are open. Right now, kids can become Xplorers at such sites
as Terra Nova National Park (NL), Forillon National Park (QC), Halifax Citadel National Historic Site (NS), Green Gables Heritage Site (PEI), Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site (MB),
Banff National Park (AB), Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic
Site (NS), Batoche NHS (SK), and Fisgarde Lighthouse National Historic Site
(BC).
The Xplorers program has been warmly received by kids and
parents alike. "It really is a joy to see how excited these kids
are and to present them with certificates and souvenirs," one
interpreter at Waterton expressed. "The Xplorers Program is
awesome!" exclaimed a participant.
Energetic? Can't keep still? If you know of any children who are
curious, active and interested in their natural and cultural
environment - perhaps budding explorers, artists, photographers,
journalists - and they're ready to have fun, then the
Xplorer's program is an ideal way to encourage learning. Do
you have what it takes to be a Parks Canada Xplorer? Become a
Xplorer family today!