Village Squire, 1976-09, Page 27Travel
September delights in Canada's Parks
BY TONY SLO' N
Si•, ..I. 1 • (IUn.I. 41111 .iso in
Cana(.. national parks. , uI1-.August
crowds have vanished with the passing of the
Labor Day weekend and the hiking trails
through wooded glades to sheltered lakes and
valleys once again revert to game trails for
the resident wildlife.
The leisurely appreciation of parkland
scenery enhanced by early autumn colors, the
more frequent sightings of wildlife and
identification of seasonal flora are all known
as "quiet time" activities to park visitors; a
tour conducted by a staff nature inta'i I)reter is
even more enjoyable.
The popular nature interpretive programs
were normally discontinued after the Labor
Day weekend in past years, but now efforts
are being made to extend these services on a
reduced scale where interest warrants.
A park's interpretive prograrn is based on
the- identification and analysis of a park's
ecological structure which is then conveyed to
park visitors through a variety of methods
including informative literature, slide presen-
tations, self guiding trails and conducted
tours. The program is an excellent aid to
amateur naturalists and outdoors people to
enlarge their range of knowledge and
appreciation for the park's environment with
the assistance of trained -observers.
Late summer naturalists will find staff
interpreters available on request at Fundy
and Kouchibouguac Parks in New Brunswick
as well as for the fascinating seashore nature
tours on Prince Edward Island.
Quebec's La Mauricie, • north of Trois
Rivieres and Forillon on the tip of the Gaspe,
offer guided tours by staff naturalists by
prearrangement in addition to their on-going
school program.
Ontario and midwest national parks are
primarily confined to school oriented
programs and outings associated with winter
activities. Elk Island Park, 30 miles north of
Edmonton, • Alberta, will accommodate
groups of eight or more in September on a
prearranged basis.
The mountain parks of British Columbia
and Alberta continue a modified summer
program past the Labor Day weekend but
conducted tours are usually on a prearranged
basis at the request of a group. Kootenay
Park in British Columbia schedules an
evening slide presentation at the Red Streak
Campgrou.id every Tuesday, Wednesday and
Saturday until the end of September.
Revelstoke and • Glacier Parks have no
scheduled program except for a roving
naturalist on the summit of Mount
Revelstoke.
Pacific Rim on the west coast of Vancouver
Island schedules weekend tours throughout
September. Late season .visitors to Yoho in
Briti;h Columbia and Waterton Lakes in
southern Alberta are left to wander at will as
the interpretive programs are discontinued
after Labor Day.
Jasper Park remains active into the autumn
months and features daily presentations at
the Whistler or Wapiti Campgrounds until
Thanksgiving (Oct. 11). Daily conducted
walks, weather permitting, are advertis, i on
park bulletin boards.
The gleaming light gold of trembling aspeh
in the valleys contrasts with the deep golds of
mountainside alpine larch as the crisp
September days descend on' Banff. Guided
tours are prearranged for groups of eight or
more as the Banff program emphasizes
wintertime tours on snowshoes or cross-
country skis. No matter; who really needs a
guide to enjoy hiking some of the most
beautiful areas in Canada when even the flies
have gone and the tranquility of September is
all yours to enjoy.
For further information about Canada's
national parks contact Parks Canada, 400
Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Canada K1A
OH4.
For general information about Canada as a
travel destination contact the Canadian
Government Office of Tourism, 150 Kent
Street, Ottawa, Canada K1A OHb.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/SEPTEMBER 14'6. t,