I am looking forward to another season in the snow. This year I hope to have larger school groups out for overnight adventures.
Arctic bags will complete the equipment and then perhaps two 10 man tents.Depending upon interest I may try to get a group out before the snow flies.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Learning Experience
July 10-12th
I had a small group of outdoor education teachers out for a weekend. After arriving Friday night and a few hours around the campfire getting aquainted we turned in.
Over the next 2 days we spent some time on tools and care of them knife craft, fire starting, falling trees (for fire wood) larger group camp site selection, and a few basic bushcraft lessons. The knots we did were a big hit. We did a very basic intro to GPS which was not really on the schedule.
They were more experienced than I had expected and picked up on everything very quickly. I will definitely adjust my questions to better identify the skill level of participants in the future.
We enjoyed the evenings (once the bugs were gone) and had a good show from the Northern Lights.
A huge thanks to Chris, Jeff and Marty for their help taking down the big tent and getting it stowed away for the season.
After reflecting on the weekend myself I think I will likely have people do more with meal prep. I did the meals and menu planning myself this time and it was a little clumbsy. Lesson Learned.
Hopfully they will return in the fall for a weekend of GPS and navigation practice.
I had a small group of outdoor education teachers out for a weekend. After arriving Friday night and a few hours around the campfire getting aquainted we turned in.
Over the next 2 days we spent some time on tools and care of them knife craft, fire starting, falling trees (for fire wood) larger group camp site selection, and a few basic bushcraft lessons. The knots we did were a big hit. We did a very basic intro to GPS which was not really on the schedule.
They were more experienced than I had expected and picked up on everything very quickly. I will definitely adjust my questions to better identify the skill level of participants in the future.
We enjoyed the evenings (once the bugs were gone) and had a good show from the Northern Lights.
A huge thanks to Chris, Jeff and Marty for their help taking down the big tent and getting it stowed away for the season.
After reflecting on the weekend myself I think I will likely have people do more with meal prep. I did the meals and menu planning myself this time and it was a little clumbsy. Lesson Learned.
Hopfully they will return in the fall for a weekend of GPS and navigation practice.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Visit from Toronto school group
Friday May 6th,
I had a class from Toronto on an exchange to Winnipeg come out for the day. Fifty students in all with Four teachers.
They all seemed to have a good time. The tent was a big hit. They were full of questions first about wild animals and then about the plants and trees.
After briefing them on the area with the aide of a blown up aerial photograph with the ski trails on it and showing them poison ivy as a plant to avoid I let them know about wood ticks.
When I described ticks and how to deal with them it didn't take long before someone got the idea to take a piece of big bluestem and start tickling anothers neck causing shrieks and lots of laughter.
I took two groups of twenty five on an hour long hike to look at different trees, flowers, prairie grasses and talk about the topography and the history of the area. Then switched to map reading and using a compass.
We had a lunch of hotdogs and cookies.
In all they walked about four miles around the ski trails. No complaints from the kids at all.
The teachers that escorted the group had some questions and enjoyed the chance to get out of the classroom themselves. To my surprise none had ever see a Prairie Crocus before. There are a lot on Reggies run and all over Ken's Prairie.
The weather was great. We got a few drops as we were walking back to the parking area. Other than that it was sunny and warm. A perfect day for wandering around.
The next course planned is a teachers instructional weekend going over basic camping and other related bush craft skills for taking groups out.
I had a class from Toronto on an exchange to Winnipeg come out for the day. Fifty students in all with Four teachers.
They all seemed to have a good time. The tent was a big hit. They were full of questions first about wild animals and then about the plants and trees.
After briefing them on the area with the aide of a blown up aerial photograph with the ski trails on it and showing them poison ivy as a plant to avoid I let them know about wood ticks.
When I described ticks and how to deal with them it didn't take long before someone got the idea to take a piece of big bluestem and start tickling anothers neck causing shrieks and lots of laughter.
I took two groups of twenty five on an hour long hike to look at different trees, flowers, prairie grasses and talk about the topography and the history of the area. Then switched to map reading and using a compass.
We had a lunch of hotdogs and cookies.
In all they walked about four miles around the ski trails. No complaints from the kids at all.
The teachers that escorted the group had some questions and enjoyed the chance to get out of the classroom themselves. To my surprise none had ever see a Prairie Crocus before. There are a lot on Reggies run and all over Ken's Prairie.
The weather was great. We got a few drops as we were walking back to the parking area. Other than that it was sunny and warm. A perfect day for wandering around.
The next course planned is a teachers instructional weekend going over basic camping and other related bush craft skills for taking groups out.
Monday, April 18, 2011
New season
I have been busy lately evaluating the needs and designing specific survival courses for a northern airline.
Early in May I have 50 students coming out to Ken's Prairie for a day of hiking, simple bushcraft and a bonfire complete with hot dogs and marshmallows. Half of the students are from Toronto and have never been out of the city. Weather cooperating they should have a blast.
The winter season was fun but I am looking forward to more groups and teaching different outdoor skills.
Early in May I have 50 students coming out to Ken's Prairie for a day of hiking, simple bushcraft and a bonfire complete with hot dogs and marshmallows. Half of the students are from Toronto and have never been out of the city. Weather cooperating they should have a blast.
The winter season was fun but I am looking forward to more groups and teaching different outdoor skills.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Loppet Post EX
The loppet on the whole went very well. For my part in it the tent worked very well and provided heated visiting space for 45 people. Peak numbers were approx 35 at one time.
Valuable lesson learned. DO NOT BURN CARDBOARD IN THE WOOD STOVE! I burned a cookie box in the woodstove without thinking anything of it. The wax and colorings in the cardboard formed a deposit in the spark arrester partially blocking the stove pipe and reducing the heat generating capability of the stove. The warm cosy atmosphere in the tent was reduced partly due to the stove malfunction.
The entry way for the tent was also an issue as constant opening and lack of effort closing of the velcro flap released a lot of heated air which was not being replaced. Next year I will build a door way which should reduce the heat loss and be easier to use.
Over all I was happy with the way things went and with some minor adjustments I will be able to support large group outings and activities in remote or difficult locations.
Valuable lesson learned. DO NOT BURN CARDBOARD IN THE WOOD STOVE! I burned a cookie box in the woodstove without thinking anything of it. The wax and colorings in the cardboard formed a deposit in the spark arrester partially blocking the stove pipe and reducing the heat generating capability of the stove. The warm cosy atmosphere in the tent was reduced partly due to the stove malfunction.
The entry way for the tent was also an issue as constant opening and lack of effort closing of the velcro flap released a lot of heated air which was not being replaced. Next year I will build a door way which should reduce the heat loss and be easier to use.
Over all I was happy with the way things went and with some minor adjustments I will be able to support large group outings and activities in remote or difficult locations.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Feb 11 and 12th
With the help of Pam,Ross and Laura we got the tent moved for the Loppet.
The weather was too warm for my taste.
Striking and setting the tent up in the new location took a little under 4 hrs. Over all everyone put in a good effort and worked together. I only wish we had a little more time to relax and have a beverage afterwards.
The next day the continuing warm weather thawed the ground enough that many of the tent stakes got pulled out and needed to be reset.
The weather for the loppet is supposed to be around -7 which should be ideal.
Thanks everyone for your help and we will see you on the trails.
The weather was too warm for my taste.
Striking and setting the tent up in the new location took a little under 4 hrs. Over all everyone put in a good effort and worked together. I only wish we had a little more time to relax and have a beverage afterwards.
The next day the continuing warm weather thawed the ground enough that many of the tent stakes got pulled out and needed to be reset.
The weather for the loppet is supposed to be around -7 which should be ideal.
Thanks everyone for your help and we will see you on the trails.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Last week and this week
I had gone out with the intention of building igloos with Don but we were unable to find suitable snow.
I spent the night in the tent again this time without heat. The US sleeping bag worked very well after it was closed properly. Temp went to -30s I slept soundly for 6hrs and stayed in the bag for another 1 1/2 trying to convince myself I didn't have to get up. But the call of nature was too strong. I got up at about 6am and discovered my boots were frozen solid from tramping through snowbanks the previous day. After some difficulty getting them on I snowshoed back to the cabin and made coffee.
Feb 5th
I went out to check on the tent and shovel the snow off the skirts on Saturday. There was about 2 feet of snow which had fallen from the tent creating a really good seal around the bottom. I was very pleased that the ice from the melt didn't stick to the tent and fell off easily as I shovelled the snow off. This as all in preparation for moving the tent on Feb 12th for the BitterSweet loppet in two weeks. Cousin Ross and Laura will be there to help but one or two more people to help would make a difference.
I spent the night in the tent again this time without heat. The US sleeping bag worked very well after it was closed properly. Temp went to -30s I slept soundly for 6hrs and stayed in the bag for another 1 1/2 trying to convince myself I didn't have to get up. But the call of nature was too strong. I got up at about 6am and discovered my boots were frozen solid from tramping through snowbanks the previous day. After some difficulty getting them on I snowshoed back to the cabin and made coffee.
Feb 5th
I went out to check on the tent and shovel the snow off the skirts on Saturday. There was about 2 feet of snow which had fallen from the tent creating a really good seal around the bottom. I was very pleased that the ice from the melt didn't stick to the tent and fell off easily as I shovelled the snow off. This as all in preparation for moving the tent on Feb 12th for the BitterSweet loppet in two weeks. Cousin Ross and Laura will be there to help but one or two more people to help would make a difference.
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