Winter Cultural camp

Gch-gamiing Anishinaabe-aadiziwin kinoomaadiwin ndaawmi, Odawa miinwaa Ojibwe ndaawmi Wikwemikoong Minido-minising ndoonjibaami, ndidaami Baagting. Maheengan ndishnikaaz, Bernadette zhinkaazo nwiijiwaagan. Maamowi ndowaanaanig naanan binoojiinyag. Kwii- kimigoom ji-kendimeg, ji-bi-waabdameg miinwaa ji-mooshtooyig maanda sa Anishinaabe- aadiziwin eji-mnendaagwak.

What is A Winter Cultural Camp Adventure?

We are a group of adventure based educators with a common interest in exploring all aspects of our great outdoors. Our primary focus is on experiential learning. We also coordinate and guide a variety of other outdoor adventures from First Nation Cultural Guided Experiences to traditional games and land-based skills. Our innovative action learning programs are motivational in nature and are delivered in high energy focusing on personal responsibility, celebration of one’s self and the gifts we carry; and the importance of not being afraid to take healthy risks and try new things in life. Our adventure based activities for our programs are practiced in keeping to the “Grandfather Teachings” and are planned to include all abilities and levels of comfort.

Bushcraft Skills & Anishinabe Traditional Skills

Select a specific activity or mix and match options to create your own unique adventure. Choose from adventures, traditional skills and survival skills. Imagine a getaway where you can learn the hands-on skills our Aboriginal ancestors used - fire lighting, shelter-building, navigation, tool making- while learning about the culture and gaining a deeper understanding of the Anishinabe people. You will return home with not only a variety of fascinating skills, but also with new friends and a true Anishinabe experience.

Winter Cultural Camp

For a more intimate Great LakesCultural Camp Experience utilizing our mobile unit, plan a winter retreat facilitated by our adventure educators. Snow shoeing, winter camping and survival programs are popular for groups of all ages. Come and join us for an amazing experience that includes sleeping in a wigwam or trappers-tent and snowshoeing by moonlight. Smell the fresh tamarack bows beneath you while you rest on a hand made goose down blanket. Listen to “nanabush” legends and stories over a of cup tea.

Winter Survival
Do you have what it takes to survive in the winter? If you are an backcountry enthusiast, make sure you are up to date on what to do when things go wrong in Northern Ontario’s cold weather environments. This experiential learning experience includes: snow shelters - fire Lighting - treating hypothermia & frostbite - prevention of falls through the ice - ice fishing - water treatments and much more.

Woodland Skills
Learning should be fun and purposeful, GLCC has gathered an extensive collection of tools and resources from multiple First Nation Tribes! Participants get hands-on history, cultural and science lessons as they learn the basic skills of our Anishinabe ancestors from making cordage snares, useful plants you can find in the winter and tribal hunting tools like the atlatl and spear.

Winter Traditional Games
Have you ever played the game snowsnakes?Along time ago, hunters used spears to hunt game. This game honors our ancestors by throwing the snowsnakes on top of the snow. Participants will learn about cultural history and build their own snowsnake track and have the opportunity to play the game.

Fire Building
The ability to light a fire is a valuable and an under- practiced skill. There is no right or wrong way to do this; these are simply our techniques. Learn both traditional and modern methods of fire lighting.

Traditional Shelters
Learn to build a dug-out, tarp,debris and a hillside shelter. During the winter we also use various snow shelters.

Tool Making
Demonstrating techniques traditional tools and their uses. From knives, arrows and more. Experience tanning a moose hide and the traditional tools that are used.

Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is an national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations. 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.

About Your 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. Our staff to participant ratio is based upon the Basic Canoe and Canoe Tripping Guidelines ranging from 1:5 to 1:10 maximum. Our staff always work in teams of two or three. There are no individually facilitated programs. 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. Rescue equipment, Personal Locator Beacon, GPS, Satellite  Phone etc.).

What To Expect
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!

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.

Personal Equipment List

Come prepared! Please make do with what you have available to your family. If you are unable to find anything, ask family and friends. Take note we are in camp conditions, fire & smoke will leave an odour on clothing. Participants should wear loose-fitting, warm, comfortable clothing that allows for unrestricted movement.  Please consider the weather, and that conditions may change during the program.

-    Signed waiver, medical and release form and hand it in (must be completed 1 week prior to camp)

-    2 pairs of winter boots

-    Shoes or slippers

-    Winter jacket &snow pants

-    3 winter hats, 3 mitts or gloves

-    Hooded sweater or fleece, t-shirts

-    9 pairs of thick socks

-    2 Quick dry pants (no jeans), fleece pants and top

-    Whistle

-    Flashlight or head lamp

-    Sunglasses

-    1 litre water bottle or personal drinking bottle

-    Personal medication in a Ziploc bag (labelled) – pain, cold/flu, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, etc. (THESE ITEMS WILL BE LOCKED & SECURED)

-    1 roll of toilet paper and hand sanitizer

-    2 sleeping bags, pillow, therm-a-rest or thick sleeping pad

-    Heavy duty garbage bags for water proofing

-     Large pack to hold everything

-     Camp Chair

-    Day back pack

KEEPING THINGS dry while you’re in the outdoors is crucial to your comfort, and maybe even survival. There is always the chance of change in conditions so it is best to be prepared for it. Pack your gear in a heavy duty plastic garbage bag and compress it into a large back pack.

Because of unique weather conditions and the nature of the program, we would request that you please leave cell phones, ipods at home.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

Great Lakes Cultural Camps