In Canada we are lucky enough to have a lot of national and provincial parks for us to visit. Usually within a few hours drive we can visit a place that has been untouched by humans (to some extent) and it reserved only for the wildlife who inhabit it. While we all know that going to a national park is a great way to get close to nature, not everyone may realize that visiting national parks is also a very green thing to do.
My wife Layla and I love going to national parks and just recently went snowshoeing in Elk Island Provincial Park near Edmonton. In addition, we enjoy back-country hiking the Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, as well as Kananaskis. So, how is this activity green?
Well, first of all the more you interact with nature, the more you learn about it and the more you will want to help save it. After spending a few days hiking in the woods or mountains, you will realize just how beautiful nature is and you will take a whole new perspective on nature as a result. You won’t want to lose what you love and a visit to a national park will cause you to fall in love with nature.
Secondly, when you visit a national park you have to pay to stay in the park. Generally the cost will range depending on the size of the park. For Elk Island Provincial Park it is $7.80 per person, while in Jasper it is around $15 to $20 per person. That money then goes to the park to help it manage its services, grow into new territories and to help educate others about the nature and wildlife that exists within the park’s borders. Therefore, by going to the park and paying to be in the park, you are helping to make the park grow and helping the animals that live within that park. The more national and provincial park space we have, the greater the amount of nature that will be saved for future generations.
So, this year when you go on vacation (if you choose not to do a staycation), forget about Disneyland. Go spend a few days out in a national park and help that park grow into the future.
