With so many digital distractions at our fingertips, it’s easy to forget that entertainment can be as simple as a walk in the park. The Canadian Parks Council knows this - and they’ve written a handy Nature Playbook to give you fun and innovative ways to get outside and play.

The Playbook offers 7 great strategies for connecting with nature, and we happen to think New Brunswick is the perfect place to put them into action. With diverse provincial and national parks, you’ll find unspoiled natural spaces that are ripe for exploration any time of year - sun or snow, rain or shine.

Here’s how to put those strategies into action at NB Parks:

#1: BRING CHILDREN INTO NATURE AT AN EARLY AGE

Play like a kid again in a New Brunswick park. You little ones will see nature through your eyes, and that’s fun for everyone.

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Summer: Pack up your swimming gear and sunscreen and treat your kids to a fun day at the beach that they’ll love! Take a swim break to explore the trails Mactaquac has and look out to make animal friends!

Winter: Bring on the frosty fun with skating, skiing, sliding and more at FROSTival celebrations in Mactaquac Provincial Park.

#2: FIND AND SHARE THE FUN IN NATURE

Fun can be found in unexpected ways, especially when you’re outdoors. Think beyond hiking and camping to all the adventures you can have in a park.

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Summer: Go for gold at the ever-popular Sand Sculpture Competition at New River Beach Provincial Park.

Winter: Try something new at Kouchibouguac National Park. Rent a winterized fat bike or give winter camping a shot.

#3: USE THE URBAN GATEWAY TO NATURE

If you’re the type who’d rather stay in the city than sleep under the stars, nature’s playground is just a short drive away. It’s a fact: you’ll find a park an hour away from any point in the province.

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Summer: Canada’s warmest saltwater beaches are just 30 minutes from the city of Moncton at Parlee Beach Provincial Park.

Winter: The city of Campbellton is a short 15-minute drive to the slopes at Sugarloaf Provincial Park Ski Resort.

#4: EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY

(App)reciate green space. Use nature apps such as PlantNet, MyNature Animal Tracks, and Google Sky Map to enhance your experience outside. Follow NB Parks on Instagram and Facebook for upcoming activities and outdoor inspiration.

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Summer: Explore our provincial parks while exploring with our Parks Clue Hunt App by Outwit Adventures! Available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Winter: Embrace winter’s mystery with a geocaching treasure hunt through park trails. You’ll be surprised at what you find.

#5: SHARE CULTURAL ROOTS AND ANCESTRY IN NATURE

Deepen your connection with nature by learning about Indiginous philosophy and the traditional ways of life of original inhabitants.

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Summer: Take part in a Voyageur canoe adventure or Wigwam gathering at Kouchibouguac National Park.

Winter: Try your hand at ice fishing in Mount Carleton Provincial Park.

#6: SEEK OUT DIVERSE PARTNERSHIPS

Nature is good for the body and mind, and finding an unexpected companion to enjoy it with can go a long way toward health and happiness.

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Summer: Share lifelong memories with a multi-generational trip to the New Brunswick Botanical Garden at De La République Provincial Park. Everyone will have a blast, from kids to grandparents.

Winter: The Friends of Mactaquac provide free use of snowshoes and cross-country skis at Mactaquac Provincial Park each winter. Go ahead, give them a try!

#7. EMPOWER A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS

Meet the young naturalist leaders of the Get Outside! NB program as they lead a wide range of park interpretive programs and events. Who knows, maybe they’ll inspire young adventurers of your own...

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Summer: The sea provides new adventures all summer long with Seashore Explore at Murray Beach Provincial Park.

Winter: Winter Wellness Day at Sugarloaf Provincial Park promises a snow load of wintry outdoor fun.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”-George Bernard Shaw