The Friends of Bon Echo Park celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2008. Incorporated in 1988, the Friends have made a significant impact through their long term commitment to preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Park. Operating under an agreement with Ontario Parks, this team of volunteers has enhanced the programs and facilities for hundreds of thousands of Park visitors.

Fran & Ed In 1987 Superintendent Ed Buck approached the Cloyne Pioneer Club to request that they consider forming a Friends group for Bon Echo. The early minutes of the Friends, under the chair of Fran Sowden, feature a group eager to set up this new organization. Under the leadership of Directors Fiona Schmiegelow, Natural Heritage Education (NHE) Coordinator and Gary Sharman, Assistant Park Superintendent, they established by-laws, gained incorporation and charitable status and selected the Nanabush logo and corporate colours of ochre and buff. A ceremony was held on September 26th, 1988 at the Visitor Centre for the signing of the official agreement between the Friends and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Bon Echo Provincial Park is rich in both natural and cultural heritage. Over 200,000 visitors are attracted annually to experience the diversity of its flora and fauna, the pristine beaches and waterfronts, the grandeur of the stately eastern white pines, the majestic presence of Mazinaw Rock with its geological history, protected plants and animals, and the pictographs left by earlier peoples. The Friends have been persistent in seeking new ways to encourage an understanding of this natural and cultural heritage. Every activity in which they engage serves to fulfill this mission.

captains The Friends have successfully initiated and carried out many enterprising projects to fulfill their mission. Operation of two tour boats presented an excellent opportunity to provide an educational and picturesque experience to Park visitors and to raise funds at the same time. The Friends took over operation of the Mugwump ferry service in 1989. Many volunteers were engaged to provide this valuable service as captains, deckhands and later as interpreters. Friends’ captains provided dedicated service for eighteen years until new government regulations precluded further use of volunteers.

In 1990 the Friends commenced operation of the Wanderer Too, providing a one hour interpretive boat tour alongside the face of the Mazinaw Rock. Ten years later the Friends financed the launching of a new Wanderer Too’r to replace the aging Wanderer Too. The two boats currently provide interpretive excursions for over 16,000 visitors each summer. As another way to allow visitors to approach Mazinaw Rock,for several years the Friends operated the canoe concession with two local business partners.

The Friends opened a gift shop in Dollywood Visitor Centre in 1988. Greystones Gift and Book Shop began operations in its present location in 1990 under Manager Carol Morrow. The Art Gallery was added in 1996 displaying original art of Canadian nature and wildlife. In 2007 the Friends named the gallery the Colin Edwards Memorial Art Gallery in recognition of Colin’s longtime service as Director, volunteer and artist. Most merchandise sold in Greystones relates to nature and Canadiana. In 2007 the Friends made major renovations to Greystones by strengthening the structure and increasing the store area while maintaining the historic ambiance of the cottage. The store is under the direction of Operations Manager Helen Yanch and staffed by students and volunteers.
The Friends engaged Wendy Elliott as their first Executive Director in 1995. The organization was growing and there was a need for structure, coordination and liaison with the Park, the volunteers and the public. The large number of programs and volunteers requires a focal person to provide coordination and leadership and to carry out the decisions of the Board of Directors. Several Executive Directors followed with the most recent being involved with the Friends for eight years.

A strong component of the Friends’ work is devoted to education relating to the Park’s heritage. The Friends have published two books under the editorship of Friends member Dr. Stan McMullin: Massanoga:The Art of Bon Echo (1999) and The Rock: Bon Echo Provincial Park’s Silent Sentinel (2006). The first is devoted to the rich history of the many artists who have painted Bon Echo including the aboriginals, the Group of Seven and the current artists who capture the beauty of Bon Echo. In the 1990’s researchers discovered that The Rock was home to miniature ancient cedars some of which are over 900 years old.

With the aim of providing protection for the cliff and its rare species the Friends launched the “Adopt-an-Ancient Cedar” project inviting contributions to a fund designed to further this goal.

Small plaques were installed in Dollywood Visitor Centre in recognition of the gifts, often in memory of a loved one.ÝOver $10,000 was raised over ten years.ÝThis resource funded the cost of publishing of The Rock: Bon Echo Provincial Parkís Silent Sentinel (2006), a 28 page full colour booklet book designed to preserve the ecosystem of Mazinaw Rock through education.

Other funds have gone into a number of other projects that include producing Trail Guides and educational resources, the peregrine falcon release, the restoration of the Cliff Top Trail, amphitheatre programming, most displays in the Visitor Centre, new Trail Head signs, interpretive cairns and kiosks and the provision of educational bursaries for local high school graduates.

The operation of the tour boats and the gift shop provide the greatest financial resources for the Friends. In addition, the Friends raise funds through activities such as the annual raffle and regular barbecues at the South Beach. All donated raffle prizes relate to Park activity. The Friends apply for selective government grants and corporate assistance increasing their activities and projects.

Much of the money raised by Friends volunteers and staff is put towards supporting the Bon Echo Natural Heritage Education (NHE) staff effectively doubling the staff from seven to fourteen. The staff provides a large variety of programs for young and old impacting over 60,000 visitors annually.

Over fifty volunteers orchestrate this three day event featuring food, live musical entertainment, Sciensational Sssnakes!! and children’s activities. The art is juried and the committee maintains strict guidelines in keeping with the Park’s heritage. The show, now in its 13th year, continues to grow in popularity and attendance and in the participation of many gifted artists.

For six weeks this year the lazy, hazy days of summer turned into a daily forecast of sun, cloud, with the possibility of rain and thunderstorms. Canadians have never let the weather stop them from having a good time. Campers and cottagers still came to the Land O’Lakes by the thousands and their communities buzzed with activities.

Many programs of the Friends of Bon Echo Provincial Park take place outside. The Art Exhibition and Sale, the Boat Tours, and the South Beach BBQs all enjoy the great outdoors. This has been a record year in spite of the weather. The weather cooperated as over fifty volunteers orchestrated the three day Art Exhibition and Sale. Visitors and campers enjoyed musical entertainment, an educational reptile show, various children’s activities and tasty home cooked food. All of this provided a festive backdrop for the many artists showcasing their original work on the theme Canadian Art of Nature, Wildlife and Countryside. The organizing committee under Harold Kaufmann of Denbigh was enthused by the excellent attendance and record sales. (more…)