Sustainable Tourism Supporting Conservation on the Peninsula
Get to know EcoAdventures, where local guides are creating exceptional experiences outside of major Saugeen Bruce Peninsula tourism destinations and promoting a more sustainable way to visit.
by Caeli Mazara
In 2018, the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association came up with the idea of developing a tour company that would offer excursions on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula.
The idea behind this venture — later named EcoAdventures — was to encourage local, sustainable tourism, instill visitors and residents alike with a passion for conservation in the beautiful and unique spaces of the Peninsula, and to funnel proceeds back to the projects that the Biosphere Association undertakes.
Since that time, EcoAdventures has been hosting day hikes, night hikes, caving tours, snowshoe treks, fatbiking adventures, canoeing experiences, skiing tours, overnight events, and escape rooms, all in support of the fragile and precious ecosystems of the Saugeen Bruce.
Sustainability is at the core of their operations. Local guides lead tours away from higher-traffic destinations, such as the Grotto, except during the off-season. Shoulder-season experiences are offered to encourage visitation during quieter times of the year.
EcoAdventures also partners with other organizations (such as Bruce Peninsula National Park and Cape Croker Park) to deliver relevant and impactful programming all year long.
On offer this spring is the Cyprus Lake Forest Escape, an escape room experience at Bruce Peninsula National Park. This hour-long challenge, designed for teams of 4-6, will have participants cracking codes, searching for clues, and racing against the clock.
Launching this year is a brand new nocturnal escape experience hosted by Bayside Astronomy, a must for stargazers and puzzlers alike.
Brave the Caves returns in June at Greig's Caves. This is a perennial favourite for all ages, but especially popular with kids. Take a deep dive into the history of the ancient Georgian Bay sea caves and explore the incredible hidden caverns of the Peninsula.
Following the extremely popular Owl Prowl (February to April), EcoAdventures will offer night hikes throughout the spring and summer. These nocturnal tours are an exploration of the nighttime ecology of the Peninsula's forests, wetlands, and shorelines.
Learn more about EcoAdventures at myecoadventures.ca and about the conservation work of the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association at BPBA.ca.