School Programs
Great Lakes Cultural Camp develops and provides high quality programs that recognize the value of being active in the outdoors can bring to people's lives. Contributing to the growth of an active and healthy community is an important part of what defines our organization. Access to active outdoor recreation programs helps to build vibrant and strong communities. We are committed to opening doors and decreasing barriers to healthy active living. Our fundamental values are defined by access to inclusive recreation, responsible and safe delivery, positive and safe learning environments and strong community contribution.
We will custom fit any of our unique programs to meet your own personal and professional needs including: Group Size, Location, Time, Private Instruction, and unique personal requests. It’s your choice! Make your experience one to remember. We look forward to meeting you and sharing our rich First Nation history, heritage and culture with you! We use only top line equipment and set the highest standards for all our journeys from meals to camp selection to guidance through the wilderness. Our mobile unit can travel and deliver our unique year round programs almost anywhere.
Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is one of the most effective tools available for helping individuals learn and apply knowledge. Solid facilitation, opportunities to process learning and real life experiences ensure a unique way of learning. Whether the focus is team building, leadership, cultural enrichment, science, survival or skill building, we promote hands-on learning. This approach to teaching acknowledges and meets the needs of participants' varying learning styles.
First Nation, Métis and Inuit
Indigenous Education Strategy
Over the last 9 years we have worked with several school boards across the province of Ontario. Give us a call to discuss our successful change initiatives.
Our program helps First Nation, Métis and Inuit students achieve their full potential.
Our school programs are based on Ontario Ministry of Education “Aboriginal Perspectives” curriculum expectations.
Explore how Aboriginal Land Based, Adventure Based Learning and Outdoor Education accelerate learning through:
-Giving back the land based skills to our young people through education;
-Successful change initiatives;
-Understand how unresolved intergenerational issues have impacted or are impacting Aboriginal students and families;
-Gain knowledge of the cultural teachings and protocols.
School Programs 2023
Classroom Visit - Learn | Play | Explore
Tribal Games with Great Lakes Cultural Camps
An Introduction to Anishinaabeg Traditional Foods and Back Country Cooking
Anishinabeg Traditional Knowledge and Winter Survival Skills
Snowshoeing For Fun, Fitness and Good Life
Healthy Kids, Communities & Environments
Interactive School Display
Trapping – We Come From a Tribe of Hunters, Trappers and Gathers
First Nation, Métis and Inuit Series
Native Student Leadership Series - FNMI (First Nation, Métis and Inuit)
Interactive School Display - Elementary
What is Your Correct Name?
Aboriginal 101
True or False? What do you know about First Nation, Métis and Inuit History?
Great Lakes Cultural Camps Stewardship Project
Traditional Hunting Skills and Subsistence Harvesting
Classroom Visit
Call For Pricing
Native Student Leadership & Mentorship Program
Our programs are motivational in nature and are delivered in high energy focusing on personal responsibility, having dreams and consistently following through to reach them; celebration of one’s self and the gifts they carry; and the importance of not being afraid to take healthy risks and try new things in life. The messages also affirm the importance of cultural pride and spiritual grounding in one’s life.
Five Module Series
Give us a call to discuss our current and past projects
Day Camp and Overnight Programs
This has become a very popular program for schools. We are 100% mobile! Our TEAM will travel to your location with our canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards and adventure equipment to facilitate one of our unique outdoor programs.
Great Lakes Cultural Camps offers high quality field trips that align with academic standards and school curricula for a growing number of schools from around the region. Groups of up to 80 students can participate in a rotation of outdoor and Aboriginal cultural activities. Our school sampler can include traditional tribal games, interactive cultural experience, forest history and snowshoe naturalist hike and/or team building. Our fall, spring and summer sampler can include a inland lake canoe, stand up paddleboard, and kayak certification, plant identification, survival skills, orienteering, and GPS certification. We also offer outdoor education programming for youth agencies, camps, corporate groups, birthday parties, and special events.
Day Programs
$65/person/day
Over Night Programs
These all inclusive programs are either expedition-based or camping-based. They include all your adventure activities & eco ed programming, plus full camping gear and instructors. Expedition programs visit National and Provincial parks in the Great Lakes.
$115/person/day – Camping-Based
$145/person/day – Expeditions
15 students required
Learn About Crafts & Traditional Skills
Select a specific activity or mix and match options to create your own unique adventure. Choose from adventures, traditional skills and crafts. Your individual combination of activities can be presented as a half-day, full-day or multi-day package. Imagine a getaway where you can learn the hands-on skills our First Nation ancestors used - fire lighting, shelter-building, beading, moccasin making and crafting - while learning about the culture and gaining a deeper understanding of First Nation People.
You will return home with not only a variety of fascinating skills, but also with new friends and a true First Nation experience.
Options and Add-On’s
Anishinaabeg Kwe Huntress
Homesteading: Hunting | Trapping | Fishing | Farming | Gathering
Traditional Hunting Skills and Anishinaabeg Subsistence Harvesting with GLCC
Trapping: We Come From a Tribe of Hunters, Trappers, and Gathers
Building Traditional Anishinaabeg Tools of the Great Lakes
Medicine Walk Trails and Medicinal Plant Identification
Fish Out of Water: Woodland Skills
Winter Cultural Camp
Bush Craft and Survival Skills: Fire Lighting and Shelter Building
Bush Craft and Survival Skills: Tracking Skills and Smoking Fish
Bush Craft Skills: Wilderness Survival
An Introduction to Anishinaabeg Traditional Foods and Back Country Cooking
Traditional Food Cooking Demonstration and Feast Preparation
Tribal Games with Great Lakes Cultural Camps
Snowshoeing For Fun, Fitness and Good Life
Healthy Kids, Communities & Environments
Great Lakes Cultural Camps Stewardship Project
ORCKA Certification - Safe Canoe Program
ORCKA Certification - Safe Kayak Program
Pictograph Walk and Paddle
Canoe Excursions
Leave No Trace – Community Service
Whitewater Canoeing | Whitewater Kayaking | Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Great Lakes Interactive History and Display
Science Cultural Camp
Moccasin Making
Beadwork
Drums and Songs: Hand Drum Making
Young Men’s and Young Women’s Traditional Teachings
Clothing and Equipment - What You Need To bring
A portion of our program may take place outside. Participants should wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothing that allows for unrestricted movement. Please consider the weather and that conditions may change. Activities are planned to include all abilities and levels of comfort. Great Lakes Cultural Camps provides all the equipment such as canoes, pfd’s, paddles, throw bags, safety equipment, etc. You bring your personal gear. See our packing list.
2020 Outdoor Education Certification Programs
Our TEAM will travel to your location with our canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards and adventure equipment to facilitate one of our unique outdoor programs. We are 100% mobile!
ORCKA (Ontario Recreational Canoeing Kayaking Association) Certification
ORCKA (Ontario Recreational Canoeing and Kayaking Association) is the provincially and nationally recognized provider of recreational canoeing and kayaking programs and instruction, helping the people of Ontario to become safe, competent and knowledgeable recreational paddlers!
Our team is friendly, skilled and take pride in sharing their cultural heritage. Our team has received intense and formal training in Adventure Based Learning, ORCKA Certification(Ontario Recreational Canoeing Kayaking Association) Wilderness First Aid, Swift Water Rescue, and are instructors in all of the ORCKA disciplines of paddling including : Basic Canoeing, Canoe Tripping, Moving Water, Canadian Style Paddling and River Running and are National Green Check GPS Instructors. We use only top line equipment and set the highest standards for all our journeys from meals to camp selection to guidance through the wilderness.
ORCKA Flatwater Kayaking
This program provides the first-time paddler with basic safety information relative to kayaking. By the end of this 2 day session it is expected that the paddlers with have enough skill to successfully get in and out of a kayak and to be able to go recreational kayaking with others in the calm conditions close to shore for an hour or two. It is an ideal program for first time paddlers who want enough information and skill to paddle around the cottage or other local water way. The emphasis is on a safe and enjoyable introduction to kayaking.
ORCKA Moving Water 1A Canoe (tandem)Certification - Whitewater Canoeing
This provides an introduction to whitewater paddling for those with little or no experience in whitewater paddling. The emphasis is on tandem canoeing skills, understanding whitewater principles, and river safety. It opens up a whole new avenue of paddling skills and fun to the canoeist. After these 2 days on the river, your thirst for real adventure will be quenched and you will take home a powerful set of whitewater skills for future adventures in the backcountry!
ORCKA Moving Water 1B Canoe (solo / open canoe) Certification - Whitewater Canoeing
Paddlers have always played on rivers and play boating is the evolution of this desire to master their fluid environment. This provides an introduction to whitewater solo paddling for those with little or no experience. Emphasis is on solo canoeing skills, understanding whitewater principles and safety. The course involves instruction on topics including safety, theory and skill development. There is ample time to practice moving water paddling skills such as: eddy outs, peels, "S", turns, ferrying, front & side surfing and lining. You'll be opening up a whole realm of whitewater playing possibilities.
ORCKA River Running 1A Canoe (tandem) Certification - Whitewater Canoeing
The object of this course is to have participants paddling comfortably and safely in both the bow and stern positions in a loaded tandem canoe. As this is an introductory white water course participants will work in Class I and Class II rapids focusing on building confidence in controlled yet challenging conditions.
Course highlights include: retrieving a swamped canoe, canoe over canoe rescue, canoe outfitting, river first aid, back ferry, portaging, lining, tracking / wading and more.
ORCKA Basic Canoeing Certification
Our introductory program provides the first-time paddler with basic safety and performance information relative to canoeing including: entering and exiting the canoe, paddling position, stopping, landing, and more. By the end of the session paddlers will have enough skill to safely enjoy recreational paddling with a partner close to shore in calm conditions. There are no pre-requisites for this course.
ORCKA Canoe Tripping Certification
Our Canoe Tripping course provides an introduction to canoe tripping for those with little or no tripping experience. Emphasis is on wilderness canoe camping skills and safety. It prepares candidates to be safe, skilled and knowledgeable participants on short duration canoe trips lead by more experienced canoe trippers. It is expected that successful graduates of this course will progressively build their canoe tripping experience.
Learn about: trip planning, canoe tripping gear, weather interpretation, campsites / shelters, knots, fires / stoves, personal / camp hygiene, navigation, and more.
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is about respecting and caring for wildlands, doing your part to protect our limited resources and future recreation opportunities. Once this attitude is adopted and the outdoor ethic is sound, the specific skills and techniques become second nature.
Click on our Canoe Lessons, Kayak Lessons, or Stand Up Paddle Boarding tab for additional options
Cultural Diversity Training with Great Lakes Cultural Camps
Our program is designed with the intention of group challenges and opportunities for personal growth and development. We provide innovative and unique training solutions and energized team building. Our programs build upon diversity and differences as plus factors in achieving common visions. These are highly-interactive workshops. A series of experiential exercises that promote affirmation of participants. Teambuilding activities include relationship dynamics, problem-solving, skill- building, meaningful communications exercises to increase “talking-skills” and celebration of participants. With our Cultural Diversity package there is something for everyone. For anyone who wants to learn a new skill, or to take their skills to a new level, our instructors can do it! Your instructors are fully trained and specialized in teaching all of the outdoor pursuits and activities available. There is something for everyone and all skill levels are welcome.
Exploring Cultural Diversity with Great Lakes Cultural Camps
Our program promotes the awareness and education of First Nation customs and traditions It provides insight into First Nation worldviews, perspectives and ways of knowing and being. Learn about First Nation Culture, Terminology and Benchmarks in History. Build new skills and enhance existing strengths in working with First Nations people." Our program is delivered in a no blame approach, which allows us to explore how to create effective relationships and gain insight into First Nation families and communities.
Inspirational Challenge with Great Lakes Cultural Camps
Would you like an experience that truly stimulates creative, critical thinking and trust among your staff? Join us for our hands-on, fun and highly successful experiential learning program. This session is designed using adventure based learning as the vehicle to help participants draw upon the characteristics of trust, self-discovery, cooperation, skill- based learning, and non-competitive team-play using tribal games, the outdoors, and First Nation Culture.
Anishinabeg Cultural History Tour
Experience our Anishinabeg Cultural History Tour with Maheengun Shawanda, an Odawa-Ojibwe tribal member, noted cultural educator and outdoor adventure guide. Who are the Anishinabeg People, and where do they come from? Maheengun makes Anishinabeg history and culture come alive with examples from Anishinabeg oral history and traditions. It is an educational adventure of First Nation Culture you will never forget.
What People Are Saying About GLCC
“GLCC has been so supportive in helping to put together a plan to develop leadership skills with our youth. GLCC conducted a series of four workshops for our youth that helped them to build relationships, understand the importance of listening, being a team player and an effective problem solver. Students were involved in fun interactive activities that allowed them to get to know each other better and build confidence and self-esteem. At the same time, GLCC workshops provided the students with knowledge about who they are as Anishinaabe people and to be proud and confident of who they are. I would highly recommend Great Lakes Cultural Camps if you are looking to develop leadership skills and cultural competence with your youth”
Kathy Dokis-Ranney, Principal, First Nation, Métis & Inuit Education Rainbow District School Board
“My principle and I selected Great Lakes Cultural Camps because we had heard great things about what they were offering. I fully recommend GLCC and their team to anyone looking to offer programs in outdoor education, leadership and culture. I will continue to to use GLCC to provide programs for my students”
Nicolas Harfield, Teacher - Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute
“The Algoma University students and staff had an amazing time and the response to the activities planned by GLCC was phenomenal!!!!! Great job to Great Lakes Cultural Camps!!!! Algoma University will definitely be having both of you back for more events in the future”
Melissa Ouimette, First Generation Project Algoma University
“Maheengun, shares his varied skills and encourages the students to accept the challenge and participate in activities he has planned for them. His leadership supports the students but also allows them to learn from doing. As Maheengun shares skills he also makes the connection between his culture, the land and history. The Algoma District School Board will continue to enlist Maheengun’s expertise and knowledge as we work to providing the best possible programs for our students”
Kime Collver, Superintendent of Education, Algoma District School Board
“Thank you much for organizing this wonderful day. We laughed, we learned, we worked together and had fun! This group: Great Lakes Cultural should be going into each school! Their knowledge and how they teach it is nothing like anything a regular teacher can do. It is so needed in our schools, not just for FNMI (First Nation, Métis and Inuit) kids but for all kids. I would love to have them come to mine.Thanks again. If you do another learning opportunity of any kind sign me up!”
Joanne, Grade 5 teacher, St Mary's French Immersion
“The impact you and your organization has made on our community has been tremendously positive. I feel very fortunate that Temagami First Nation has had the opportunity to work with GLCC, you guys rock! Keep up the great work, I look forward to working with you again in the near future. All the best to you and your wonderful family.”
Chief Roxane Ayotte, Temagami First Nation
What You Can Expect
What You Can Expect From Great Lakes Cultural Camps
Our adventures are fun, exciting, and challenging because they involve the active participation of each individual. If you wish to participate, you should be aware that very little will be done for you. Our friendly staff will take the time to share their knowledge and skills on how to live on the land. Consequently, your satisfaction will be enhanced knowing that it is your effort that leads you through the wilderness and your determination that helps your team. You will also derive satisfaction knowing that it is through your cooperating spirit that everyone in the group is able to accomplish their day-to-day goals. You can expect a safe environment, wonderful snacks, awesome pre-cooked meals, and a unique experience to remember!
It is mandatory participants and parents/guardians sign a waiver and fully completed. In addition, participants must be properly equipped for our adventure. Upon the confirmation fee deposited a gear checklist & waiver / Terms & Conditions will be forwarded. Failure to have the proper equipment will result in you not being able to participate. We adhere to a zero tolerance policy on all our camps.
Our Enthusiastic Participants
The key to a great trip is a group of participants who are highly motivated to participate. Great Lakes Cultural Camps is not the type of program where participants are sent against their own will. We only accept participants who express a strong desire to join our expeditions and contribute positively, which assures everyone of having the best possible group experience. You will return home with not only a variety of fascinating skills, but also with new friends and a true First Nation Cultural experience.
Safety Practices
All of our staff hold current first aid & CPR certificates, have experience working with children and youth, and have taken part in our extensive staff training. In addition, we ensure that staff carry a knapsack containing a fully stocked first aid kit, participant information, bear deterrent, a whistle, sunscreen and extra clothes. All staff facilitating adventure programs, have related qualifications, training and experience. Proper safety equipment for all of our programs is used and regularly inspected (i.e. first aid kit, PFDs, water rescue equipment, personal locator beacon, GPS etc.).
Medical Training of Our Instructors
Great Lakes Cultural Camps requires all instructors to be trained at a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). Industry standard medical training for backcountry instructors is a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. Wilderness First Responder certification means the instructor has passed an 80 hour intensive course, focused first on prevention and treatment of back country emergencies.
Instructor Student Ratio
For a backcountry adventure trips, the maximum instructor to student ration should be 1:6. Lower ratios mean a safer experience, better supervision, more opportunities to learn, and better interaction with role models. In our water activities our staff to participant ratio is based upon the industry standard established by ORCKA (Ontario Recreational Canoeing & Kayaking Association) certification guidelines. Our student ratio is 1:5 in solo boating, 1:6 in kayaking, 1:8 canoe tripping. Our staff always work in teams of two or three. There are no individually facilitated programs. We have 2 instructors on all our programs and additional support staff larger groups.
Experience Level
The complex responsibility of leading wilderness trips and the maturity needed to work with people is best handled by older, more mature instructors who have been working in the outdoor adventure industry. It takes several years to gain the wealth of experience needed to become an expert wilderness instructor. Great Lakes Cultural Camps maintain program continuity, safety, quality and consistency by having seasoned staff.
Equipment - Great Lakes Cultural Camp Adventure Equipment
Great Lakes Cultural Camps uses high performance gear. All guests are outfitted with Coast Guard approved PFD’S (personal flotation device) Wetsuits, splash jackets and helmets are all included in the price . Our gear is top of the line and in great condition. We wash and air the gear after every trip
Customize Your Program
We will custom fit any of our unique programs to meet your own personal needs including First Nation Cultural Education, Workshops, Corporate Team Building, Cultural Dance Performance, Group Size, Location, Time, Private Instruction and unique personal requests.It’s your choice! Make your experience one to remember!
