We want to help you explore!
Northern Explorers Magazine shares stories, tips, and practical guides for active travellers. Based in Western Canada, we invite you to discover what the North has to offer. While we share stories and tips for international travel, most of our stories, experiences and travel advice are for Canadian exploration.
Learn more about Canadian destinations, find tips and itinerary ideas for extended road trips, weekends away, family vacations, and backcountry adventures and learn more about Canada’s Indigenous people through authentic experiences. We want to facilitate deep connections to nature, promote sustainable travel and create unforgettable experiences. Our stories and travel advice are for families, individuals, groups – whoever is ready to step outside. Whether exploring your backyard or visiting from afar, we welcome you!
We are grateful to be able to live, work, and play on this land and acknowledge it as the traditional territories of diverse groups of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples. Northern Explorers honours these lands and give our thanks and respect to Indigenous people who have lived on it and cared for it since time immemorial. We are grateful to share this journey, as we walk together in discovering truths, culture, language, stories, connections and natural wonders.
Powered by Circlewood Creative Inc.
Northern Explorers Magazine is powered by Circlewood Creative, a boutique communications and content agency based out of Sherwood Park, Alberta. Circlewood Creative helps organizations tell their stories and engage audiences with compelling content and strategic storytelling.
The company was founded in 2022 by Amy Hancock, a professional freelance writer and communications specialist with nearly two decades of experience in the communications and marketing industry. She founded the company to enable it to scale and offer a wider range of services to clients. Learn more about Circlewood Creative’s history and experience.
Circlewood Creative specializes in content marketing, web content development and enhancements, search engine optimization and digital communications. Circlewood Creative has helped businesses grow through communications strategy, optimized web content, website building, blog content, press releases, email marketing campaigns, social media content, and editorial and web content management.
Meet Amy Hancock
Founder and Chief Editor of Northern Explorers
Hi, I’m Amy! I’m an avid outdoors person, and I’ve been exploring wild places and chronicling my adventures for my entire adult life. Now, I enjoy adventuring as a solo parent of a clever and curious little boy. We spend a lot of time exploring the country in our Roadtrek campervan. Camping, hiking, paddling, beach days and downhill skiing are some of the ways we spend time outdoors as a family.
I’m also a professional storyteller, and I’ve been a writer and web content specialist for over 17 years. My specialties and areas of expertise include web content, specifically in tourism marketing and outdoor and nature-based tourism. I have had a long and successful freelance career in this field, and I decided to scale my business and increase my services to clients by creating Circlewood Creative Inc.
I also have experience developing outdoor recreational programs for children and youth, working at summer camps and as an instructor for outdoor activities. While I did this work as a young adult, this experience has been valuable to several clients in this field, and I’ve enjoyed helping them bring awareness to their programming. Over the years, I have witnessed the positive impact spending time in nature has on children and teens.
Combining my professional and personal experience and creating Northern Explorers, a digital travel guide for active travellers and adventurous families (like me!), made total sense. I truly love sharing my experiences and deep knowledge of some of the best places to explore in Canada. I also love helping families with young children get outside by providing helpful tips, itineraries and encouragement. The content on Northern Explorers is for anyone curious about spending time outside and discovering the wonders Canada has to offer.
Northern Explorers Magazine is a passion project and something I hope to grow with the help of Indigenous voices, local businesses, my community and other outdoorsy creators who want others to share the profound benefits of connecting with nature.
Canada is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Join me as we explore it!
Here’s what’s important to us.
Sustainability
We believe that when people connect with nature, they become better stewards of the earth. A love and appreciation for the outdoors leads to sustainable lifestyles and environmentally friendly choices that promote climate action.
Sustainable travel is vital to enjoying, protecting and preserving the natural world.
Reconciliation
We acknowledge and embrace the culture, language and knowledge of Canada’s Indigenous people. This is vital to understanding and connecting with this land.
We want to share Indigenous stories, share immersive experiences, amplify voices and support economic reconciliation by promoting Indigenous tourism.
Community
Outdoor experiences are often best when shared. We commit to sharing relatable stories that connect a diverse and inclusive online community.
In addition, we will promote tourism in local communities throughout Canada that are off the beaten path, attracting visitors and strengthening local economies.
