Guided experiences
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
Reconnect with the land as you learn about local Mi’kmaw culture, explore the gentle waterways, and experience the depths of the Dark-Sky Preserve in the company of our skilled interpreters.
Guided experiences are offered from July until September.
Registration opens on May 17, 2024 at the Visitor Centre or call 902-682-2772.
Some programs have limited space and require pre-registration.
Many programs are free with admission and some programs require a fee per person. See prices
On this page
Programs
Kejimkujik interpreters are passionate about sharing their knowledge and love for this spectacular place. Get swept away on one of the many adventures they have prepared for you.
On the water
Cultural connections
Family programs
Program descriptions
Big Lake, Big Canoe, Guided Paddle
Paddle a giant 38-foot Mi’kmaw-style canoe out into Kejimkujik Lake. With skilled and talented guides at the helm, you will safely paddle in among the islands that dot Kejimkujik Lake.
This unique experience merges an active paddling adventure with intriguing morsels of cultural and natural history. Come and experience the same waters as the Mi’kmaq and early settlers.
A 2.5 to 3-hour program.
Where: Meet at the Parks Canada Boathouse at Jake’s Landing. Please come a bit early to get suited up!
Registration: Registration required. Limit of 18 people.
Cost: See prices
Ages: Visitors 16 and under need adult accompaniment. Not recommended for children under 12.
Pets: No pets, please.
Equipment: PFDs and paddles provided.
Birch Bark Canoe Building with Todd Labrador
Witness the ancient craft of birch bark canoe building in person! Watch Todd Labrador and family at work building a Mi’kmaq-style birch bark canoe right before your eyes!
When: Thursdays to Sundays, between 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm, from June 27 to September 7, 2024.
Drop in!
Where: Birch Bark Canoe Shop at the south end of Merrymakedge Beach. Follow the signs.
Registration: Drop-in experience. No registration required.
Cost: Free with admission
Ages: All ages.
Pets: Pets are allowed if they are quiet, leashed, and controlled.
Creature Feature
Visit us at the beach and discover some of the amazing creatures that live at Kejimkujik, such as birds, reptiles, mammals, insects, and fish. Different flora and fauna will be featured throughout the summer!
Drop in!
Registration: No registration required.
Cost: Free with admission.
Where: Merrymakedge Beach Area. If raining, meet at the canteen overhang area.
Ages: All ages.
Pets: Pets are allowed if they are quiet, leashed, and controlled.
Experience the Petroglyphs
Join a Parks Canada interpreter and learn about Mi’kmaw culture by experiencing the wonder of the petroglyphs on the shores of Kejimkujik Lake.
These fascinating stone-carved depictions make up one of North America’s largest collections and have been vital clues for reconstructing regional history.
The petroglyphs are in a restricted area and the tours are the only way visitors can access them.
The petroglyphs are located on the shoreline and may be hidden when water levels are high.
A 90-minute program.
Cancellations: This program is cancelled if it is raining.
Where: Merrymakedge P1 parking lot. Meet at the Mi’kmaw Monument at the far end.
Registration: Pre-registration required. Maximum 20 people. No exceptions.
Cost: Free with admission.
Ages: Visitors 16 and under require adult accompaniment. Not recommended for children under 12.
Pets: No pets please.
Healing Hemlocks Mindfulness Hike
Let yourself be guided into an ancient hemlock forest that took root here over 300 years ago. The trees still stand tall today, threatened by an intensifying climate of change.
Be still with these stoic and enchanting lifeforms and feel their healing energy on this transformative journey with a certified Mindfulness Meditation and Breathwork Instructor.
Where: Hemlocks and Hardwoods Trail
Registration: Pre-registration required.
Cost: See prices
Ages: Not recommended for young children.
Pets: No pets please.
Potential barriers to accessibility: 5 km hike on gently rolling terrain.
Kejimkujik Campfire Experience
Sharing stories and making connections around a campfire is a timeless tradition and an essential part of the Kejimkujik camping experience. Cozy up next to some flickering flames and be immersed in stories, songs, games, trivia, activities, and theatre, led by dazzling Parks Canada's interpreters and visitors!
A 1-hour program.
Where: Campfire Circle in Jeremy’s Bay Campground, parking lot P2.
Registration: No registration required.
Cost: Free with admission.
Ages: All ages.
Pets: Pets are allowed if they are quiet, leashed, and controlled.
Weather: Cancelled if raining.
Knowing Nature Guided Hikes
Explore and experience the diversity of wild flora and fauna found along various trails at Kejimkujik. Travel with your guide from one ecosystem to the next and learn to identify the natural world around you!
Various lengths.
Where: Various trails. Call the Visitor Centre for more information: 902-682-2772.
Registration: Registration recommended.
Cost: Free with admission.
Ages: All ages.
Pets: Pets are allowed if they are quiet, leashed, and controlled.
Potential barriers to accessibility: Some trails have inclines.
Mersey Magic Voyageur Canoe Paddle
Climb aboard our voyageur canoe for a tour of the Mersey River with two skilled Parks Canada Guides. Slow down to the flow of the river as you dip your paddle into the dark waters of the lake and get the inside scoop on all things Kejimkujik!
Your personal guides are treasure troves of essential natural and cultural history knowledge and may even share a humorous story or two as they serve you a delicious treat and refreshing Mersey Tea.
A 90-minute program.
Where: Meet at the Parks Canada Boathouse at Jake’s Landing. Please come a bit early to get suited up.
Registration: Registration required. Limit of 8 people.
Cost: See prices
Ages: Visitors 16 and under need adult accompaniment. Not recommended for children under 10.
Pets: No pets, please.
Equipment: PFDs and paddles provided.
Refreshments: A delicious treat and refreshing Mersey Tea provided.
Petroglyph Paddle
Paddle together in a big canoe with your guides! Go out onto Kejimkujik Lake and into a restricted petroglyph site. See and touch the petroglyph carvings and feel the presence of the Mi’kmaq on this cultural landscape since time immemorial.
The petroglyphs are in a restricted area and the tours are the only way visitors can access them.
The petroglyphs are located on the shoreline and may be hidden when water levels are high.
Where: Meet at the Parks Canada Boathouse at Jake’s Landing. Please come a bit early to get suited up.
Registration: Pre-registration required.
Minimum 8 people, maximum 18 people.
Cost: See prices
Ages: Visitors 16 and under need adult accompaniment. Not recommended for children under 12.
Pets: No pets please.
Equipment: PFDs and paddles provided.
Plant a Tree, Save a Forest!
Join Parks Canada interpreters and ecologists in planting a tree or trees and putting down your own roots. Your hands will help to increase the biodiversity of the Jeremy’s Bay Campground forest and improve its resilience to climate change events and invasive species infestations. A snack will be served.
A 60-minute program.
Where: Jeremy’s Bay Campground.
Registration: Registration required.
Cost: Free with admission.
Ages: All ages.
Pets: No pets.
What to bring: A water bottle.
Stories of the Stars Dark Sky Program
For years, humans have been inexplicably drawn to the mystery and beauty of the stars. Our ancestors embedded the fabric of their beliefs and culture into the sky by projecting their heroes and symbols onto stars and made the very first constellations. Join our dark sky guides to hear some of the intricate stories behind these stars and constellations.
A 60-minute program.
Where: Sky Circle in Jeremy’s Bay Campground, parking lot P1.
Registration: No registration required.
Cost: Free with admission.
Ages: All ages.
Pets: Pets are allowed if they are quiet, leashed, and controlled.
What to bring:
- Red lights only.
- A blanket or camp chair as this program takes place in the field.
Wejisqalia’ti’k Mi’kmaw Encampment
Wejisqalia’ti’k means “we grew up from the earth” in English. For the Mi’kmaq this word incorporates thousands of years living and respecting their homeland, Mi’kma’ki.
Join us at the Mi’kmaw Encampment Site and check out the new L’nu longhouse. Cultivate your connections while Cultural Interpreters share their unique skills and knowledge of this land.
A 1-hour program.
Where: Merrymakedge parking lot P2 – Encampment site.
Registration: No registration required.
Cost: Free with admission.
Ages: All ages.
Pets: Pets are allowed if they are quiet, leashed, and controlled.
Refreshments: Cold tea will be served.
Registration and cancellations
Registration
Register at the Visitor Centre or call 902-682-2772.
Cost: See prices
Cancellations
Cancellations are fully refundable if you cancel 24 hours before the program start time, or if the program is cancelled by Parks Canada staff due to severe weather or low registration.
Tips
Arrive to programs five minutes prior to the start time listed.
Be sure you understand the age requirements for each program offer.
Check to make sure your furry friend is welcome during the program. If pets are allowed on the program please be sure to keep them on a leash at all times and clean up after them.
Come prepared with the appropriate gear and equipment for the program.
Make the Visitor Centre staff aware of any special needs and requirements.
Bring any needed medical equipment or medications to programs.
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