Friends of Murphys Point Park

We have another FREE virtual workshop with Helena Neveau this Saturday! Join us for an interesting and informative introduction to drum making on Saturday, March 27 at 11 a.m.! Learn about Indigenous culture from Helena (Walksfar Woman Waasaabiidaasome Kwe Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways). There will be storytelling and a demonstration of how to make the rawhide and hoops for drums. If you find yourself intrigued, you'll have an opportunity to sign up for an in-perso...n drum-making workshop tentatively scheduled for the spring! Register for the virtual session at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-workshop-with-helen-nev For additional information about future activities in this series, visit https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca//friends-hosting-drum-ma/ Hope to see you this Saturday!

Would you like to support the Friends AND demonstrate it with the shirt on your back? You can totally do both! The Friends now have a line of T-shirts available to order! Find all the details on our new T-shirt page: https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca/friends-t-shirts/ Proceeds help to support our operational activities and programs such as hiring students.... Spread the word! Tell your Friends! And look great while doing it!

Chi-miigwetch to Helena Neveau for an interesting and informative virtual introduction to drum making session on Saturday, and thank you to everyone who participated! We have another FREE virtual session planned for Saturday, March 27 at 11 a.m. - join us to learn about Indigenous culture from Helena (Walksfar Woman Waasaabiidaasome Kwe Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways). There will be storytelling and a demonstration of how to make the rawhide and hoops for drums. If y...ou find yourself intrigued, you'll have an opportunity to sign up for an in-person drum-making workshop tentatively scheduled for the spring! Register for the virtual session at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-workshop-with-helen-nev For additional dates and information about future activities in this series, visit https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca//friends-hosting-drum-ma/

We still have lots of room at our virtual introduction to drum making session this Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.! Learn about Indigenous culture with Helena Neveu (Walksfar Woman Waasaabiidaasome Kwe Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways) at our FREE virtual session via Zoom that includes storytelling and a demonstration of how to make the rawhide and hoops for drums. If you are intrigued, you'll have an opportunity to sign up for an in-person drum-making workshop tentatively... scheduled for the spring! Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-workshop-with-helen-nev for this Sat., Feb. 27. For additional dates and information about future activites in this series, visit https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca//friends-hosting-drum-ma/

Are you interested in learning about Indigenous culture? Let us introduce you to drum making! The Friends of Murphys Point Park are hosting a drum-making series featuring Helena Neveu (Walksfar Woman Waasaabiidaasome Kwe Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways). You can attend a FREE virtual session via Zoom that includes storytelling and a demonstration of how to make the rawhide and hoops for the drums. If you are intrigued, you'll have an opportunity to sign up for an in-pe...rson drum-making workshop tentatively scheduled for the spring! See what it's all about by registering for one of the dates below: Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-workshop-with-helen-nev or March 27 at 11 a.m.: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-workshop-with-helen-nev Learn more about the series at https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca//friends-hosting-drum-ma/

"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." - Henry David Thoreau #OntarioParks #HPHP

The beauty of nature is ever changing and November has a lot to offer #OntarioParks

Mica from mines in our area was sent to processing companies in Ottawa and Kingston This photo shows workers who cobbed the mica, trimming away waste rock a...t a mica manufacturing company in Ottawa in June of 1900 Photo credit: National Archives of Canada #ThrowbackThursday

A small flock of Snow Buntings was seen at the Lally Homestead parking lot this morning. This is the first time our Park Biologist has seen them here as they a...re not a common bird in forested areas, more often being found in large open spaces. Their fluttering flight and large white flashes in the wing give them their name. See more

Today is Reptile Awareness Day! To celebrate, here is a beautiful (and harmless) Smooth Green Snake. We don't see these as often as our some of our other 7 spec...ies as, unsurprisingly, they prefer habitat with an abundance of grass where they blend in perfectly. Along with 8 species of snakes, we also have 5 species of turtles at the park. Can anybody name all of our reptiles? See more

Thinking of coming to the park now that we are closed for the season Here are some things to keep in mind: Follow all parking signage (don't park on lawns or ...block access for staff & emergency vehicles) Pets need to be leashed and under control at all times Facilities are closed and/or not maintained - including washrooms, water taps, hiking trails & roadways - so plan ahead and be prepared Keep our park clean. Properly dispose of any and all garbage (including pet waste) - packing out if necessary Camping/campfires, hunting, ATV & snowmobile use is not allowed Park staff continue to be hard at work - please be aware of park vehicles and avoid any areas of work (like tree cutting, painting etc.) Continue to follow all provincial guidelines regarding COVID-19 and social distancing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsxtiA0g2-Y This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Friends of Murphys Point Park. This video showcases a few of the moments over the 25 years.

This summer our Friends students worked hard to bring interpretative programming to our park visitors. One of the most successful interpretive roving programs centred on the birchbark canoe built at the park in 2018 by Chuck Commanda and Coleman Williams. Pictured here are our 2020 Friends students Rachel, Peter, and Emma with the canoe, and two beautifully crafted Gray Ratsnake paddles by Robin Tinney. If you didn’t have the chance to see the canoe and are interested in learning more about the canoes built at the park, be sure to check out the Friends of Murphys Point Park website. There you will find video footage of the harvesting process and the construction of our 2018 birchbark canoe from start to finish. Be sure to check our social media accounts for upcoming Indigenous programming in the park.

A year ago today, we found this baby snapping turtle crossing one of the roads in Murphys Point! Hatchlings are beginning to emerge from their nests this time of year. Make sure to keep a careful eye out for baby turtles crossing the road

Just a reminder that registration for the Birchbark Basket-Making Workshop closes TONIGHT (August 26th) at 11:59 pm EST! Email [email protected] to confirm your spot.

Thank you for all you do, Rachel, Emma and Peter!

The Birchbark Basket-Making Workshop is quickly approaching and there are limited spots left! Confirm your registration by emailing us before Wednesday, August 26th at 11:59 pm EST. We hope to see you there!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-jM_SF8uBg&feature=youtu.be

Today we are wishing our Gray Ratsnakes Gamma and Pi a Happy 7th Birthday! You may have met Gamma in our Visitor Centre here at Murphys Point or Pi at Charleston Lake. Should we serve them cake or ‘pi’? Leave them a birthday wish or memory below.

It's time for species of the week. This week, we focus on a year in the life of one of the species in Murphys Point! Check out https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca to see what it is.

Just a reminder that Chuck Commanda will be at the park on Friday, August 28th for a Birchbark Basket-making workshop. Spots are filling up, so to make sure you don't miss this fantastic opportunity, please email us at ([email protected]) today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwcosboNAN4&t=44s

Our featured species this week is known for their smile. Hopefully, we can put a smile on your face when you visit our website to check it out https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca/

It's time for another species of the week! If you want to find this species in the park you are going to need a microscope. Check out https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca to see what it is!

Murphys Point is home to five different campgrounds Hogg Bay, Ash Hill, Fallows, Group Camp, and the interior sites. We would love to hear about your favourite. Leave us a comment about a memory playing games, at a campfire, or relaxing in a hammock!

It's time for species of the week! It's moth week so that might have influenced our pick for this week. Check out https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca to see what it is!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tNwbnM9GUQ

This Gray Ratsnake is one of a few up for adoption through our Adopt-a-Snake program. He was found today at the Lally Homestead by costumed Friends students during an interpretive program. If you’re interested in ‘adopting’ him and getting to hear updates about his journey in the park, head to our website https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca/adopt-a-snake/ to find out more!

This week our featured location is the Day-Use Beach. Feel free to leave us a message about your favourite experience swimming in or enjoying the view of Noble Bay. At the end of the summer, some of your comments may be written in postcard form on our website!

The species of the week blog post has just been added to our website! You might see this species flying around the park but it also could be hiding out in long grass on a windy day. Check out https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca to see what species it is!

https://youtu.be/u1DrZsokCts