2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Programs & activities are subject to change.
(several documents linked from this page require the free Acrobat reader, available here)
July & Aug 2012 – Tuesday Two For One Mini Putt
Putt through tree trunks, around rocks & under the ground on this unique & challenging 18 hole miniature golf course set in the shade of a cedar grove. Have a mini putt challenge – bring your brother, bring your sister, bring your family & bring your friends!
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
7.00 + tax per adult, 6.00 + tax kids 12 and under
July & Aug, 2012 – Thursday Nights Are Astronomy Nights
Every Thursday night in July and August at 9 PM, Gordon’s Park offers a program that includes an orientation into astronomy, a review of planets, northern lights and solar systems, as well as instructions on the use of a planisphere (star map) to find objects in the night sky. Participants will learn how to star hop, view with the naked eye, & have the opportunity to try Bausch & Lomb wide-angle binoculars & observe through the Parks 8″ Dobsonian Telescope.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
15.00 + tax per person
July & Aug, 2012 – Sunday Afternoons “Walk A Fossil Reef”
Join us for an exciting & educational “Walk a Fossil Reef” every Sunday afternoon at 2 PM during July & August at Gordon’s Park with palaeontologist and Algoma University Professor, Sharron Valli. The park is located on a Drumlin & is a featured stop in the University of Waterloo’s book “Manitoulin Rocks”. Discover and see actual fossils on the reef including invertebrate corals [tabulates (colonial) and rugose (solitary)], stromatoporoids, bryozoans, and echinoderms (crinoids), molluscs (nautiloids, bivalves, gastropods, cephalopods), brachiopods, echinoderms (crinoids) and more.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
15.00 + tax per person
June 22 – 24, 2012 – Women’s Outdoor Weekend
All Inclusive Women’s Outdoor Weekend at Gordon’s Park on Manitoulin Island including two nights camping (other accommodations available), all food, supplies and workshops including a Welcome Campfire, Ice Breaker Games, “Focus on Nature” Guided Hike, Facials & Foot Bath, Nut Hatch Birdhouse, Solar Heated Swimming Pool, Putt-Putt Challenge, Open Mike Campfire, Nia – The joy of movement, Reiki Mini Course, Wind Up Luncheon and more. Optional And By Advance Appointment Only (25.00 per half hour) – Swedish Massage (Bev Lynch 705-859-1317 or firefly@amtelecom.net) and Tea Leaf Readings (Sharon Alkenbrack 705-282-0193 or alkens@manitoulin.net)
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
190.00 + tax per person
June 29 – July 2, 2012 – Geocaching Manitoulin (Canada Day Long Weekend)
Enjoy incredible geocaching on the world’s largest freshwater island. Search for 30 hidden geocaches in the park and over 25 scattered about on beautiful Manitoulin Island. Includes three nights of camping, a pot luck supper, social campfires, putt-putt challenge, geocaching murder mystery, campfire meet & greet and fabulous prizes.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
45.00 + tax per person per night
75.00 + tax per night per family (2 Adults, kids under 16)
15.00 + tax per person day pass
25.00 + tax per family day pass (2 Adults, kids under 16
July 14, 2012 – Murder Mystery Orienteering + Book Launch & Signing
Join us for a murder mystery orienteering event at 2 pm on the trails at Gordon’s Park using a compass and a map to find clues along the trails and in the park, that will help “Freddy the Firefly” solve the mystery of the day. Bring your own compass or rent one of ours (5.00) and plan to join us for the release & signing of “Freddy the Firefly” by a local author.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
15.00 + tax per person
35.00 + tax per family (2 adults, kids under 16)
July 20 – 23, 2012 – Stargazing Manitoulin
Excellent Star Party held in the RASC designated dark sky preserve at Gordon’s Park with 360 degree viewing, no light pollution & the darkest skies in Ontario. Activities include a Welcome Wine & Cheese Reception, Public Observing Sessions, Laser Guided Sky Tours, Guest Speakers, Nature Interpretive Centre, Guided Fossil Hike, Mini Putt Challenge, Children’s Playground, Wind up Campfire & Saturday Night Potluck Supper. Presenters for 2012 include Ray Khan of Khan Scope Centre in Toronto, Jeffery Deans from the Sault Ste Marie Astronomy Club with “SLR Techniques For The Astronomer”, and Terry Trees with “Are You Stuck in An Observing Rut? Here’s How To Get Out of It!” & “Observing Smaller Solar System Moons” and Malcolm Park of North York Astronomy with “Exploring the Atacama Desert” and “Adventures in Astrophotography” Slide Show.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
38.00 + tax per person per night
75.00 + tax per family per night (2 adults, kids under 16).
July 20 & 21, 2012 – Public Observing Sessions & Laser Guided Sky Tours
An excellent introduction into Astronomy, these sessions are open to the public during the Stargazing Manitoulin Star Party and are held in the dark sky preserve at Gordon’s Park. The evenings include looking through telescopes & observing with binoculars and an incredible laser guided sky tour.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
15.00 + tax per person
July 28, 2012 – Moonlight Hike & Wolf Howl
Gordon’s Park Moonlight Hike & Wolf Howl includes calling for wolves and an educational guided nature hike with a focus on wolves and their habitat. Participants will use Parabolic Ears and Bausch & Lomb Binoculars to hunt for evidence of wolves, wolf tracks and other signs of wildlife. A social wolf howling competition around the campfire with really great wolfy prizes follows the hike.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
15.00 + tax per person
35.00 + tax per family (2 adults, kids under 16).
Aug 4, 2012 – Saturday Night Astronomy (Civic Holiday Weekend)
Special Saturday Night Astronomy Session (Civic Holiday Weekend) that includes an orientation into astronomy, a review of planets, northern lights and solar systems, as well as instructions on the use of a planisphere (star map) to find objects in the night sky. Participants will learn how to star hop, view with the naked eye, & have the opportunity to try Bausch & Lomb wide-angle binoculars & observe through the Parks 8″ Dobsonian Telescope.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
15.00 + tax per person
Aug 5, 2012 – Moonlight Hike & Wolf Howl
Gordon’s Park Moonlight Hike & Wolf Howl includes calling for wolves and an educational guided nature hike with a focus on wolves and their habitat. Participants will use Parabolic Ears and Bausch & Lomb Binoculars to hunt for evidence of wolves, wolf tracks and other signs of wildlife. A social wolf howling competition around the campfire with really great wolfy prizes follows the hike.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
15.00 + tax per person
35.00 + tax per family (2 adults, kids under 16).
Aug 10 – 12, 2012 – Perseids Meteor Shower Party
Come watch the fabulous natural “fireworks” observing the Perseids Meteor Showers from the RASC designated dark sky preserve at Gordon’s Park. Participants can expect to see over 60 colourful meteors per hour beginning at 9:30 pm during the weekend and growing more spectacular in the early morning hours until dawn. The event includes camping in the dark sky preserve, public observing sessions, laser guided sky tours and more.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
38.00 + tax per person per night
75.00 + tax per family per night (2 adults, kids under 16)
Not staying overnight – Cost is 15.00+ tax per person for the evening, 25.00 + tax per family (2 adults, kids under 16)
August 17 – 20, 2012 – Manitoulin Star Party
Our magnificent premier Star Party is held in the RASC designated Dark Sky Preserve at Gordon’s Park with 360 degree viewing, no light pollution and the darkest skies in Ontario. Activities & Workshops include a Welcome Wine & Cheese Reception, Astronomy Art Show, Guest Speakers, Guided Public Astronomy Sessions, Laser Guided Sky Tours, Nature Interpretive Centre, Guided Fossil Walk, Mini Putt Challenge, Children’s Playground, Wind Up Campfire & Saturday Night Pot Luck Supper. Presenters this year include Steve Pellarin, Windsor RASC with “Weird Variable Stars” and “Plutoids, Centaurs & KBOs: Dwarf Planets of the Outer Solar System”, Klaus Peltsch with “Kepler Discoveries of Habitable Zone Planets”, Heather Theijsmeijer with “Observing the Life Cycles of A Star”, Mick Rice with “Theories of the Universe” and Aaron Top, Astrophotographer with an Astrophotography Slide Show.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
38.00 + tax per person per night
75.00 + tax per family per night (2 adults, kids under 16).
Aug 17 & 18, 2012 – Public Observing Sessions & Laser Guided Sky Tours
Excellent Introduction into Astronomy, these sessions are open to the public during the StarGazing Manitoulin & the Manitoulin Star Party and are held in the dark sky preserve at Gordon’s Park Eco Resort. The evenings include entrance to the RASC designated Dark Sky Preserve, guided experience looking through telescopes & observing with binoculars and an incredible laser guided sky tour.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
15.00 + tax per person
August 26, 2012 – “Focus on Forests” Guided Hike
Join us for a guided hike through the fabulous forest at Gordon’s Park with a focus on the five different eco systems in the park and an emphasis on trees, mushrooms, edible wilds, animal tracks, birds, wildlife and much more.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
15.00 + tax per person
35.00 + tax per family (2 adults, kids under 16).
Aug 31 – Sept 3, 2012 – Drumming & Astronomy Weekend (Labour Day Long Weekend)
Drumming, Camping and Stargazing all weekend long, this fabulous retreat offers drumming by the light of the moon, sunrise drumming, public observing sessions with telescopes and binoculars, laser guided sky tours and camping in the RASC designated dark sky preserve at Gordon’s Park. Bring your drum (drums), binoculars and camping gear.
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
55.00 + tax per person per night
110.00 + tax per family per night (2 adults, kids under 16).
Sept 7 – 9, 2012 – Meteors, Northern Lights & the Heavens Above
Presented by “Wilderness Astronomer” and contributing editor of Sky Magazine: The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing. This Star Party is held in the RASC designated Dark Sky Preserve at Gordon’s Park with 360 degree viewing, no light pollution and the darkest skies in Ontario. Activities & Workshops include “Wilderness Astronomy: Campsite Stargazing in our Nation’s Wild Spaces”, “Space Tourism for Kids Ages 9 – 99″, “2012: A Space Entrée”, Northern Lights Photography and a Celebrity tour of the Night Sky
rita@gordonspark.com 705-859-2470, www.gordonspark.com and “like” us on www.facebook.com/gordonspark
62.00 + tax per person per night
99.00 + tax per family per night (2 adults, kids under 16).
Gordon’s Park Activities
Outdoor Solar Heated Swimming Pool, 18 Hole Mini Golf in Shaded Cedar Grove Interpretive Center with Nature & Canadian Wildlife Interpretation, Educational Hiking Trails Through Five Different Ecosystems in the Park, Archery with Bow & Arrow Rentals, Horseshoes, Children’s Playground, Cycle Tours, Four Routes Beginning & Ending at Gordon’s Park, Star Parties, Dark Sky Sanctuary, Observatory & Night Sky Viewing, Fossil Walks, Orienteering, Night Hikes with Parabolic Ears, Bird Watching, Birding Map & Tour, Wildlife Viewing, Women’s Weekend & Eco Retreats Scavenger Hunts, Nature Crafts, Summertime Events Calendar, Schools, Birthday Party Packages, Church Groups & Senior Outings
18777 Hwy 6, Tehkummah, Manitoulin Island, Ontario P0P 2C0
705-859-2470
rita@gordonspark.com www.gordonspark.com
