Also happening at Grundy Lake this summer, Ontario Parks is running a “Learn to Camp” program to introduce the curious to one of Canada’s most popular activities. No experience is necessary to join Ontario Parks leaders and fellow new campers on an overnight camping trip, where you or your family learn all you need to know to do your own camping some day. Learn how to set-up camp, how to build a campfire, and get helpful tips from the experts.  If you haven’t tried camping before, this is a great opportunity to find out why so many people enjoy this outdoor experience when visiting the Explorers’ Edge region of Ontario.

For more information on the incredible Parkbus program, including ticket prices and what to bring, click here. Want to learn more about Canada’s most iconic camping destination? The Friends of Algonquin Park website is a great place to start. For additional information on camping in Explorers’ Edge, click here.

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Golf courses

Whether you head north to Muskoka, west to Parry Sound, or further north to the Almaguin Highlands, you’ll find golf courses featuring the varied terrain of the Canadian Shield, including lush forests, granite bluffs and shimmering blue lakes and rivers. Award-winning courses are plentiful, and every level of player, from seasoned pros to learn-to-golf newbies, will find some spots to call their all-time favourites.

For a list of golf courses in the region, click here. For a list of special golf offers in the region, click here. See you on the links!

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Spin the Lakes isn’t so much a race as it is a tour around several of Muskoka favorite waterways that include breathtaking views and spectacular rock cuts.  There’s also a tour distance for riders of every inclination, from the challenging 170km that travels as far as Lake Rosseau, to just a fun 20km ride out to Lake of Bays and back.

This year, Muskoka’s original cycle tour steps it up a notch as GranFondo Canada becomes a partner for the 8th annual edition.  GranFondo Canada is renowned for creating world-class cycling events in world-class locations.

GranFondo also brings a FamilyFundo kids program on Friday May 25th  – a great way to involve the entire clan.  The kids are sure to love this free event with cycling clinics, a fun ride, barbeque and prizes.

Lots of local support also gets behind Spin the Lakes each year, from local bike shops to cycle-friendly accommodations.  Find out more about one of Ontario’s most popular cycling tours on the host website – www.bikemuskoka.ca

Spin the Lakes challenging 170km route

Route Maps, Start Times & Registration Fees:

• 20km Route Map – 11:30 am – Registration $40
• 50km Route Map – 10:30 am – $50.00 early bird, $60.00 after May 4th
• 110km Route Map – 9:30 am – $50.00 early bird, $60.00 after May 4th
• 170km Route Map – 8:00 am – $50.00 early bird, $60.00 after May 4th

Official Website: www.bikemuskoka.ca/events/spin-the-lakes/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/SpinTheLakes

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The race route departs from River Mill Park in downtown Huntsville and follows the Muskoka River through Lake of Bays, Baysville, Bracebridge, Port Sydney; it then returns to Huntsville through Mary Lake.  (Click on the map to the right to explore the route in greater detail.)

Although registration for the Muskoka River X is already filled, there’s a family-oriented race to consider as well. The Big East River X is a fun race that anyone (13+) can participate in.  Also departing from River Mill Park in Huntsville on June 15, 2013, participants have the choice of two distances – 9km or 40km.

Muskoka River X and the Big East River X races – amazing adventuring coming soon to Explorers’ Edge.

• Muskoka River X Website: www.muskokariverx.com
• Big East River X: www.muskokariverx.com/big-east-2013/
• Muskoka River X Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/MuskokaRiverX

180° panoramic of the Duck Chutes on the North Muskoka River, Muskoka River X route

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Last year ice out occurred around March 29, and its arrival has come as late as May 16 (back in 1972, according to the Lake Opeongo graphs on the Friends of Algonquin Park’s website).

So how do you know when to place your bet?

Old timers and outdoor adventures use opening day of trout season (April 4^th this year) as a marker for the moment the frozen white lakes and rivers turn back to sparkling blue.

For others, a more technological approach goes into predicting what date the waters will once again be visible throughout the region.  Referencing “ice out” charts dating back nearly 50 years can help, as well as keeping an eye on upcoming weather patterns. Even daily photos taken on the ground to show the progression (some even using satellite imagery) can help you make an accurate prediction.

Despite all the methods to predict ice out in Explorers’ Edge, Mother Nature can still keep us guessing – like she has done in Spring of 2013.  So those us eager to get our boats, canoes, kayaks and paddle boards back on the water may have to keep guessing for a bit longer. Meantime, have fun on land with an ATV adventure, a mountain or road bike ride, or just by lacing up your hiking boots to hit the trails as they reappear from under their blanket of winter snow.

Start planning your Spring/Summer outdoor adventures in Explorers’ Edge today:  http://explorersedge.ca/business-category/outdoor-adventures/

Sources of Ice Out Information & Contests:
The Friends of Algonquin Park: http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/ice-out.php
Canoe Lake ice-out: http://www.canoelake.ca/iceout/
Algonquin Outfitters ice-out blog reports: http://algonquinoutfitters.com/blog/tag/ice-out/

Satellite imagery of Ontario showing current ice-out conditions:
http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/modis.cgi/modis?region=g&page=1

Algonquin Park weather report:
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/on-29_metric_e.html

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Nestled on her 125 acre forested property just 10 kilometres from downtown Huntsville, The Shutterbug Gallery in the Woods will showcase Kelly’s display of stunning landscape photography, but will also give visitors the chance to awaken their own artistic senses with a walk on one of many trails on site or with a rest by the lake.

Although a member of one of Huntsville’s pioneer families, whose knowledge of the area allows her to uniquely photograph the region, Kelly is also an avid traveler.  Her lens has captured scenes as diverse as a petrified waterfall in Mexico, village children in West Africa or camel wrestling in Turkey.

The Shutterbug Gallery also showcases her global scenes taken with local perspective.

Watch for the grand re-opening of the Shutterbug Gallery this June – and make time for an artistic adventure in the woods.

For more information on Kelly Holinshead’s photography and on the Shutterbug Gallery in the Woods, click here.

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The event is being organized by Bruce Bird of the Wheels of Bloor Cycling Team under the umbrella of the Ontario Cycling Association. Organizers hope to attract 350 – 400 cyclists competing in 13 categories of 9 distinct races. The riding categories are determined according to OCA rules and riders participating will have to have an OCA license or one-day permit.

May 12th is Mother’s Day as well – bring your Mom to the race!

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The new location has a ton of space, great parking, public washroom facilities, and is the perfect spot to grab everything you need for a unforgettable outdoor adventure in the area.

For more information, click here.

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Joining Paikin is guest speaker Dr. Michael Evans, whose video, “23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?” has had almost 3 million viewings on YouTube.

Authors attending include Francesca Grosso, co-author of Navigating Canada’s Health Care – A User Guide.  Grosso will discuss tips and tactics on how to access healthcare that is better, faster and safer.  Mairlyn Smith, professional home economist, alumna of the Second City Comedy Troupe and author of Healthy Starts Here, will get us laughing while teaching us about living healthier lives.  Charlie Wilkins, author of Little Ship of Fools, will share the fascinating story of his journey rowing solo across the Atlantic. Marnie McBean, three-time Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist and Athlete Mentor for the Canadian Olympic team, will talk about her book, The Power of More:  How Small Steps Can Help You Achieve Big Goals.  Also on the list, and in tribute to their historical connections to this area, are Stephen Leacock’s beloved Literary Lapses, with Fred Addis from the Leacock museum, and the highly regarded biography of Norman Bethune, Phoenix: The Life of Norman Bethune, whose authors Roderick and Sharon Stewart will join us. We will finish our day on Saturday with a wonderful dinner featuring Terry Fallis, author of Up And Down, as the speaker.  Sunday’s program and full details of the weekend events will follow.

Full Muskoka Chautauqua Reading List for 2013

Terry Fallis.  Up And Down.

Francesca Grosso.  Navigating Canada’s Health Care: A User Guide.

Stephen Leacock.  Literary Lapses.

Marnie McBean.  The Power of More.

Mairlyn Smith.  Healthy Starts Here.

Roderick and Sharon Stewart.  Phoenix:  The Life of Norman Bethune.

Charlie Wilkins.  Little Ship of Fools.

Muskoka Chautauqua is a not-for-profit, charitable arts and learning organization, providing year-round creative, multi-disciplinary arts-based programming for entertainment, life-long learning and community engagement.  In Muskoka during the 1920s and 30s, summer-long Chautauqua assemblies were held on Tobin Island, Lake Rosseau, where some of Canada’s literary greats of the time spoke, earning Muskoka the title of “Canada’s Literary Summer Capital”.

For further information, call 705-765-1048 / 1-888-311-ARTS, or visit the group’s website at www.muskokachautauqua.ca.

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