Discovery Programming
Working in partnership with Ontario Parks, Friends of Killarney Park is committed to supporting the Park's educational and recreational endeavours, often through funding the Discovery Program.
The Killarney Discovery program delivers hundreds of programs each year to over 7000 visitors. These programs highlight the ecological importance of Killarney Provincial Park, and provide a form of sustainable recreation to park users. Having a well-funded Discovery program allows interpreters to foster a love and sense of stewardship for the park in those who attend programming.
The Killarney Discovery program delivers hundreds of programs each year to over 7000 visitors. These programs highlight the ecological importance of Killarney Provincial Park, and provide a form of sustainable recreation to park users. Having a well-funded Discovery program allows interpreters to foster a love and sense of stewardship for the park in those who attend programming.
Guest Speaker/Tee-Pee Teaching Series 2025The Tee-Pee teaching series is organized by the Aboriginal First Nation Advisory Committee to the French River Visitor Centre (a registered non-profit organization formed to advise and assist Killarney Provincial Park with Indigenous led educational programing and experiences). The series will consist of programming dates to provide Killarney visitors an opportunity to hear Traditional Ecological Knowledge and historical teachings from local Indigenous Elders.
This educational series serves to help Killarney Campers understand various aspects of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, lived experiences of Indigenous peoples, and insight into the history of Indigenous Communities in the Killarney Area, from local Indigenous Elders. This programming helps Killarney Provincial Park deliver on Truth and Reconciliation objectives and foster positive partnerships with local Indigenous Communities. For 2025, three programs were run at French River, and three programs were run at Killarney Provincial Park. Funding used for Guest Speakers & Tee-Pee Teaching Series: $4990.00 Snake Terrarium 2025The opportunity arose for KPP to permanently adopt two captive-bred Eastern Foxsnakes. The snakes have acted as educational ambassadors for their species during Discovery programs and provided visitors a hands-on experience. Many visitors and locals have a strong fear of snakes, regardless of the species. Reducing these fears and inspiring a desire to protect these species at risk is a main goal of the programming. Additionally, this program directly benefits the conservation of at-risk snake species in Killarney and across Ontario.
Funding used for purchase of Snake Terrarium: $4785.55 Binoculars Purchased For Discovery Staff 2024Nearly $1k was contributed by FOKP to purchase 6 pairs of Vortex Triumph Binoculars from PeleeWings so that each Discovery Staff Member could have a pair to use for their own learning opportunities throughout the summer.
This will also allow the Discovery Team the ability to lend out binoculars when they hold events such as the Colour the Trails event in 2024. 
Waffles the Watersnake Rental 2023 & 2024Waffles the Northern Watersnake was rented from Sciensational Sssnakes for two summers to contribute to Discovery Programming and allow Visitors the chance to meet/hold a snake!
FOKP contributed over $4k to have Waffles be a resident of Killarney for two summers and to have two Sciensational Sssnakes Guest Speakers events each year! Canoes for Paddle Hike Programming 2023Two new Nova Craft Canoes for the Discovery Team to use during the new Paddle Hike Programming in 2023. This program afforded Visitors the opportunity to join an interpretive paddle of George Lake with the Discovery Staff!
FOKP contributed over $6800.00 to this new Program! 
Supplies for Pond StudyFOKP was able to fund the purchase of pond study supplies such as dip nets, butterfly nets, etc.. to support the Discovery Pond Study Programming.
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Astronomer in Residence Funding 2025The funding for Astronomer in Residence Programming breaks down financial barriers for those applying, ensuring that astronomy students and those with economic need can still participate, therefore contributing to the equity of the program.
The funding this year was able to help four astronomers with economic need participate in the program! Their experience in the program can be read about on the Astronomer in Residence Blog from York University. Funding used for Astronomer in Residence Programming: $1600.00 Paddles for Discovery Programming and ORCKA Training 2024Seven new paddles were purchased form Killarney Outfitters in a variety of styles and sizes to ensure that Visitors had the proper equipment for their paddling, and could learn the different uses of paddle shapes and sizes.
FOKP contributed just under $1k to this program upgrade! 
Winter Camping Demo Supplies 2024The project used funds to purchase Winter Camping demo supplies to be used as an educational tool during the Winter Weekend in 2024 and going forward, as well as for future Winter Camping Demonstrations put on by the Discovery Team in the future.
Winter camping is one of the only areas that Killarney Provincial Park had room for growth (with camping opportunities being extremely competitive in the summer months). However, winter camping requires some specialized knowledge and equipment to do safely and comfortably. The purchase of winter camping gear allows the park to present a realistic winter camping demonstration site which allows visitors to look around, and ask questions about how to complete this recreational activity in a safe way. This initiative provides information about doing so in an environmentally conscious way, and expands the recreational opportunities to visitors. FOKP contributed $2.5k to this project to purchase a complete demo set of supplies from The Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co. including a tent, stove and false bottom, central pole and base, as well as a Kindling Cracker from Rittenhouse. 
Observatory Deck Construction 2018FOKP contributed $5k to the construction of the Observatory Deck, as Killarney Provincial Park is dedicated as a Dark Sky Preserve and holds Astronomer in Residence Programming throughout the summer using the Park Observatory.
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