Secrets of the Forest

In June of 2023, a film company travelled from Toronto to Pukaskwa National Park to film two episodes for the TVOKids program “Secrets of the Forest.” Created for kids ages 6-9, Secrets of the Forest is an action-packed documentary-style science series hosted by 10-year-old Taviss Edwards.

The first episode, called ‘The Mystery of the Forest Flames,’ has young Taviss exploring how fire can help the forest. This concept is contrary to what Taviss, and many people, have been taught when it comes to fire. She speaks with Basil Goodchild from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, who explains that thick undergrowth both chokes out other species and adds fuel to the forest. Anishinaabe people and other Indigenous cultures have been using fire to maintain and strengthen the land for centuries.

Next, Taviss talks to Mike Small, Fire Management Officer at Pukaskwa, about how the park prepares for a prescribed fire. A lot of thought, care, and planning go into ensuring the forest, species at risk, and ideal weather conditions are considered prior to a prescribed fire. Mike, with the help of Fire Officer Alex Sinkins, then put Taviss through some training before setting up a hose line for her to spray.

In the second episode filmed at Pukaskwa, called “Going Remote,” the host explores how the Resource Conservation team keeps tabs on a forest that’s so big! With the help of Courtney Irvine, Ecologist at the park, Taviss explores the Ecological Integrity Monitoring Program. Courtney explains that monitoring the forest gives us an overall picture of ecosystem health, and that if we didn’t monitor, we wouldn’t know when problems develop or what actions might be needed.

Together, Taviss and Courtney install and check-in on some remote monitoring devices that the park uses to monitor songbirds, bats, and wolves (three of the fourteen monitoring programs at Pukaskwa). That information, on its own, shows only the individual species being monitored (which is helpful!), but taken as a whole, this information provides a snapshot on the overall health of the forest.

Parks Canada-managed locations frequently serve as backdrops for television shows and movies. Past projects across northern Ontario have included several movies with scenes filmed at Fort St. Joseph and the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Sites, as well as television shows at the canal and Pukaskwa. The “Secrets of the Forest” television program is a 21-part series on TVOKids. Each episode is 12 minutes in length and features great information for children and adults alike! Check out the program (available in English only) on the TVOKids website.