Pioneer Outdoor Education & Retreat Centre Winter Programming Options

All Outdoor Education trips include two program selections on your first day, and four program selections for each full day you are with us. The last day includes one “last day option”. Trips also include an evening program every other night that is facilitated by our staff (i.e. a two-night trip includes one evening program, a three-night stay includes two evening programs).

Daytime Program Options

Broomball

The purpose of this activity is to have fun! Broomball is a very popular winter sport similar to hockey in regards to the rules but not requiring the same amount of equipment. If the students are not familiar with hockey, or are a younger group of students, the instructor may chose to spend some time doing stick handling and passing drills before beginning the game. We are encouraging team work and participation.

Cook-Out

Students will have the unique experience of returning to the days of cooking over an open fire. Participants will have the opportunity to personalize their meal from a selection of precooked food choices, packaged in tinfoil and cooked over an open fire, giving students a reconnection to the ‘pre-oven’ days. This option requires two activity periods over lunch.

Cross Country Ski Lesson

The purpose of this class is to provide students with a basic knowledge of cross-country skiing technique to enable them to competently ski our trails. This class is designed for beginners, but also provides some practice time for more experienced skiers. Basic movements in skiing that enable the students to travel across flat terrain, up hills and down hills will be covered. At the end of the class, the students will be given some time to practice their newly acquired skills.

Cross Country Ski Tour

The cross-country ski tour provides students with the opportunity to apply the skills taught during the ski lesson to Pioneer’s Adventure trails. Pioneer operates trails with different levels of difficulty. The amount of time spent on the trails will depend on the length of the activity period. The quarter day tour combines nicely with the ski lesson as a half-day option.

Guided Hike

This activity provides students with the opportunity to explore part of the 1000 acres of beautiful mixed woodland surrounding Pioneer. Our instructors will make the hike as leisurely or challenging as you would like. This activity provides an excellent opportunity for your students to practice their photography, creative writing or sketching skills.

Initiative Games

Students are encouraged to become more self-confident as individuals and more cooperative as members of a group. In a small group setting, they are given a task to complete. The group may have to ‘untie’ themselves without letting go of each other’s hands. The group may also have to verbally negotiate a blindfolded group-mate through a ‘mine field’ without being able to physically touch the blindfolded person. To be successful, students must communicate, cooperate and take responsibility for themselves and each other.

Maple Syrup Production

The sweet taste of pure maple syrup has been a joy for generations, what pancake breakfast is complete without a side of maple syrup? Students will have the chance to see the progressive change of maple syrup manufacturing over the years. Starting with aboriginal methods, through pioneer methods all the way to modern evaporators, students will try there hand at making maple syrup from scratch. (Available from mid march through mid April)

Quinzee Building 

Survival in the winter depends on maintaining body heat. One way to do this is to use the insulating properties of snow and construct a snow shelter, or Quinzee. In this class, students will be shown the correct way to build a snow shelter. With the use of shovel and sticks, the group will build and use their Quinzee. Students will also gain an appreciation of the work necessary to live and play in the outdoors.

Snowshoe Hike

Thousands of years ago, after observing animals living in the same habitat, the native North Americans developed and perfected this unique method of traveling over deep snow. This activity begins with a brief history and introduction to the snowshoe; then students will head out for a short hike through the forest, discovering a new world of fresh snowfalls and crisp winter air.

Snowshoe Survival

Snowshoe survival is a combination of a snowshoe hike and survival skills like fire and shelter building. This activity provides students with the opportunity to explore some of the area around Pioneer Centre, and possibly see some of the wildlife (or signs of the wildlife) that live on Pioneer property. After hiking to a suitable location, the students will help gather material to build a fire large enough to boil a pot of water for hot chocolate. Students will then have the opportunity to make their own fire.

Toboggan Physics

Tubing and tobogganing are a very popular winter activities that can be both educational and enjoyable. With the use of toboggans, tubes & crazy carpets, the students will use the Tubing Hill to conduct experiments on variables effecting velocity. Predictions and conclusions are recorded in small groups and presented to the class.

Tubing

Tubing is a fun activity for all, with access to our fully lit tube hill with the use of inner tubes, crazy carpets and toboggans.

Wilderness Survival

Can you name three things that you need to survive in the wilderness? After this class your students will be able to tell you. From camp a small group of survivors set out into the wilderness. Working together, they must construct a shelter, build a fire, and boil water for a hot drink.

Woodland Discovery

Trees of different types can be found in several different environments, and are often taken for granted. Through a discussion of the role trees play in the woodland environment, and what they provide for people, students may come to realize how important trees truly are. Students will become amateur dendrologists as they test their tree ID skills on our challenging ID course.

Evening Program Options

Night Hike

Wolf calls across the lake, the hoot of an owl, a peep from a spring peeper, are these sounds only heard at night? How loud is silence? Can you really see at night without a flashlight? Going for a guided walk at night at OPC will answer these questions and more.

Astronomy

The night skies have long fascinated humankind, knowing what the universe is beyond our limited vision has captivated people from the time of creation. What do we see when we look into the black of the night? What star is that? Where is Mars? How did it all begin? Through simple-to-use telescopes and binoculars students will have the ability to have some of these basic astronomical questions answered. Groups will look into the star filled skies and will have the chance to see through time.

Flame Battlers

Adapted from ‘Capture the Flag’. Two teams will test their fire building skills (under supervision). Each team will have the chance to build a fire and attempt to survive a full water assault from the other team. Once the fire has been built, team members will have a chance to put out the other team’s fire using only cups of water.

Mission Impossible

The age old battle of staff versus campers: will the campers be able to transmit the vital information cards across enemy lines without being caught by the staff? There will many challenges in relaying the information.

Survival Game

In the natural world, there are no grocery stores, no Wal-Marts, and no convenience stores. Animals must use each other to stay alive. There is a fine balance between herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore all vying for survival. Through a role playing game participants will assume the role of an herbivore, carnivore or omnivore, and will collect ‘food’ and water (through tagging other participants or finding food stations) in an attempt to stay ‘alive’.

Last Day Program Options

Amazing Race

Modeled after the popular television show, the OPC Amazing Race will challenge participants to race in teams against other teams in attempt to be the first to cross the finish line. Through various activities, some previously taught, some not taught at OPC, teams will need to work cooperatively to win.

Olympics

Begun over 2000 years ago, the world has come together to celebrate excellence in particular sporting skills. Through adaptation of the skills learned at OPC teams will be competing against each other for the title of gold, silver, and bronze placed teams.

Ultimate Scavenger Hunt

Based on the age old game of finding missing articles, the ultimate scavenger hunt will challenge teams to find articles hidden around the camp. It is a race against time and against the creativeness of other teams.

{mospagebreak title=Winter Selections Sheet}

 Please download and return with your contract, 3 weeks after booking.

 Winter Program Selections