Send us Fan Mail

Ontario camping can be magical right up until the black flies find you. We get honest about what really happens from May to mid-July and beyond, then lay out a simple, workable bug plan you can actually use on your next canoe trip, backcountry route, or family car-camping weekend.

We start with a few shout outs from the broader camping community, including a lightweight carbon fibre paddle we’re excited to test on an upcoming Spanish River trip, and an epic Canada By Canoe challenge aiming to break the world record for the longest single-season canoe trip while raising money for True North Aid. We also recap a presentation-heavy backcountry canoe symposium at the Canadian Canoe Museum and a Camp Kitchen gathering where food, gear, and good people all collide in the best way.

Then we dig into Ontario bug season survival: when black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies, horseflies, ticks, and midges tend to peak, what attracts them, and what helps most. We talk DEET vs icaridin (picaridin), why physical barriers like bug shirts, head nets, and screened shelters often beat gimmicks, and why dense fabric, tight cuffs, and even pants tucked into socks can save your sanity. We also share campsite selection lessons, from avoiding calm water and deep shade to understanding why that “perfect” empty site might be empty for a reason. We even explore a curious idea about why some people seem to attract more bites than others.

If you’ve ever planned a trip around bugs or had them wreck a campsite, you’ll feel seen and you’ll leave with a clearer strategy. Subscribe, share this with your favourite camping partner, leave a review, and tell us what bug is your personal nemesis.

www.ripplefxpaddles.com

www.canadabycanoe.com

www.traversing.ca

www,canoemuseum.ca

www.campkitchenstore.ca

Support the show

CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.com

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

A good wilderness trip can change your mood in a single day, but planning one can feel like a puzzle: where do you go, what’s realistic with kids, and how remote is too remote? From the floor of the Hamilton Adventure Expo, I’m flying solo while Pamela rides out a storm at home, and I sit down with Robin Sutherland of Northern Skies Resort to talk through a northern Ontario getaway that blends real backcountry energy with practical comfort.

Robin walks me through Northern Skies Resort in Algoma Country, set on spring-fed Chub Lake and surrounded by crown land, rivers, and the kind of quiet that makes you breathe slower. We get into what guests actually do when they arrive: cabin life, lake days, paddling, fishing, and that easy “step outside and you’re in it” feeling that’s hard to find in busier cottage country.

Then we head deeper into the story: their hike-and-paddle backcountry cabin in an unserviced provincial park, accessed by a 7.5 km route with two lake crossings and staged canoes so you don’t have to portage. Robin explains how a wood stove, propane cooktop, and sauna create a rare mix of rugged and cozy, and why that matters for families, first-timers, and anyone who wants the backcountry without the full ordeal. We also talk about taking over a family-run resort during COVID, how Ontario tourism shifted, and what it means to be the fourth generation caring for a place built in the 1940s.

If you’re searching for a cottage resort in Northern Ontario, a backcountry cabin near Algoma, or fresh camping inspiration, this chat is for you. Subscribe, share the episode with a camping buddy, and leave a review telling us your ideal level of “comfort in the wild.”

https://www.northernskiesresort.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Northernskiesresort

https://www.instagram.com/northernskiesresort

Support the show

CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.com

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Your phone shows a dot on a screen until it doesn’t and that’s usually the exact moment the trail splits or the shoreline stops making sense. We’re Pamela and Tim from SuperGoodCamping.com, and we’re on a mission to help families get outside with more confidence. Map skills aren’t old-school trivia; they’re the difference between a stressful guess and a calm, clear choice when you’re hiking, camping, or paddling with no service.

We dig into why paper maps still matter, especially in places where coverage is dodgy or disappears fast. We compare the map types you’ll actually see on real trips: simple Ontario Parks park maps for car camping, trail maps for day hikes, and topographic maps for backcountry travel and canoe routes where contour lines and portages matter. We also talk digital navigation tools like AllTrails, Gaia GPS, maps.me, and Avenza, plus how downloading maps ahead of time and carrying a battery pack turns your phone into a helpful backup instead of your only plan. Satellite imagery can add context too, as long as it supports rather than replaces a proper map.

Then we make map reading feel doable: orienting your map with a compass or the sun, matching landmarks to what you see around you, understanding scale so “not far” doesn’t become a two-hour slog, and using contour lines to avoid surprise climbs. We share practical habits, common mistakes, and a quick pre-trip checklist, plus why good navigation supports Leave No Trace by keeping you from wandering off trail. If you want to feel grounded in the outdoors and teach your kids a skill that makes camping more fun, this one’s for you.

Subscribe for more simple camping skills, share this with a friend who relies on their phone, and leave a review with your best navigation tip or your funniest “wrong turn” story.

As promised - the app suggested by Jeff of Maps by Jeff: ArcGIS Earth

Support the show

CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.com

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping

Support the show