The Strategic Plan of the Friends of
Charleston Lake Park
2015-2018
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the opening of
the Park and the 20th Anniversary of the founding
of the Friends.
The Friends
of Charleston Lake Park
Dedicated to helping people enjoy this unique and beautiful place and to
keeping it that way
Who are the Friends?
We are volunteers dedicated to the preservation and sustainability of the Park, its visitors & its wildlife
residents. We add value through our activities in the areas outlined below. Come help us.
What We Do
Trail Monitoring
& Maintenance
Supporting
Awareness
&
Knowledge
about the Park
We need you
-You can
make a
difference!
Support to the
Park by
fundraising,
special projects
& resource
equipment
Support Park
Users through
our website
&
Special Events
Programs
• Become a Member of the Friends.
• Actively work on the Board or as a Trail Monitor.
• Contribute to our programs of research, park
support & special projects.
• Help our fundraising - Buy a Canoe Raffle
ticket!
www.friendsofcharlestonlakepark.com
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2015-2018 Plan on a Page
Support to Park Infrastructure
•Support educational projects for Park users
•Slim Bay: Complete all phases of replacement
•Support Redevelopment of Discovery Centre
•Long-term focus on building support for Boardwalk Refurbishment
Trails
• Monitoring Program
• More information on Trails on website - new media
• More pictures and social engagement on Pinterest and Friends website
• Water Trail design and publicity
Blue Mountain
•Parking Lot
•Singage
•Huckleberry Hollow review
•Engage local support
•Guided Tours
•Guidemap and pamphlet
Research
•Research Plan
•Research section on website
Outreach
•Engagement with community
•Special event days
•More information on events to community
•Facebk use: link to Friends' community
•Virtual tours of Park facilities
Membership
•Target increase in membership
•Create new member activities
•Signs inviting memberships
Special Events
•Broaden publicity
•Increase number
www.friendsofcharlestonlakepark.com
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The Plan Forward
It is our intention to work on these broad goals over the coming years. We will be
discussing them at our meetings and getting more specific as we move along. We
believe that a Strategic Plan is about aspiration and direction, not a detailed roadmap.
We also believe that we have the capacity to deliver in most areas, although there are
stretch targets where we need help and engagement.
The Friends Contributions to the Park
We commit our time, we raise funds for various activities and we seek other sources of
support for the Park. As a sample of our contributions, the following chart shows our
direct funding assistance to various Park activities over the past five years (and 2015 up
to time of publication). In total, since 2003, we have contributed approximately
$110,000 directly to Park activities.
Friends Direct Support to Park Activities
Special Events
Taxidermy
Equipment/Electronic
Biological surveys
Property acquisition
Trail guide printing
Slim Bay bridge
Blue Mtn. Trail
Trails
Friends website
Amphitheatre equipment
Books for NHE
Videos for NHE
Portable Radio
Camera, accessories
GPS
NHE Props
Total
*With funding partners
2015
1600
2014
800
400
2013
650
800
13,800**
2012
650
820
520
1000
2000
12,500**
2011
650
2010
1020
11,200
3700
13,700*
2200
200
150
150
5190
4500
26,070
300
500
16,200
100
16,300
1150
We want to take special note of the great support from the Charleston
Lake Association over the years, especially on the purchase of land and
the replacement of the Slim Bay Bridge
www.friendsofcharlestonlakepark.com
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In addition to direct funding, the Friends provide in-kind services to support the Park,
mostly through their volunteer time. Some of those activities are:
 Trail monitoring and reporting,
 Trail maintenance,
 Special repair and maintenance projects,
 Ticket sales at various local events
 Sponsorship of a student to the Environmental Youth
Summit.
The Objectives of the Friends
The objectives of the Friends are written into their agreement with Ontario Parks. They
are:
 Undertaking specific projects and initiatives such as providing educational /
interpretive publications, maps, audio-visual materials, and other appropriate
items related to Charleston Lake Provincial Park
 Encouraging and supporting public spirited research of Charleston Lake
Provincial Park's natural, historical, and cultural resources with a view to
disseminate such research findings to the public
 Supplementing and enhancing existing Park educational / interpretive and
recreational programs by offering periodic special events and activities for the
benefit of the public and
 Stimulating community interest and understanding of Charleston Lake
Provincial Park to help ensure the protection of its natural and cultural
resources.
It is the view of the Board that these objectives serve us well. We support the Park. We
look forward to maintaining and building our collaborative relationship with the Park.
www.friendsofcharlestonlakepark.com
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