Summer trips

Heading camping for the May long weekend and have 3 more trips booked after that. Watch for excitingly random camping stories from Algonquin Park throughout the summer months. Hopefully pictures also!!

S

Thinking about planning a canoe trip this summer? What you need....

Hey - so go out on a limb this year! Book a short canoe trip.....

This list is a good start in knowing what to bring along if you are simply going along for the ride - with an already avid camping friend who will bring the kitchen, food supplies and tent!

Per person:
30 litre dry bag
1 pr long pants (no denim)
1 long sleeve shirt
2 tshirts
1 pr shorts
1 bathing suit
underwear
1 fleece jacket or sweatshirt
1 rain coat/pants (to guarantee no rain)
2 pairs of socks
shoes (1 wet, 1 dry - sturdy for portaging)
quick dry towel
PFD with whistle
sleeping bag that rolls small
thermarest wrapped in plastic bag (luxury item - only if space allows)

Other items:
water bottle (1 litre, nalgene or equivalent must attach to waist pack i.e. with a d-ring)
insect repellent
sunscreen
very small bag with toiletries
flashlight
fanny pack
pocket knife
camera (be careful if you bring one - no guarantees that it will stay dry)
hat with brim
sunglasses
journal/book/cards

At some point I will add other necessary gear - but this is a start.
So now, good luck finding a friend who is a strong tripper to take you along on their journey.

Happy trails.

Parks Canada on Cross Country Checkup - CBC

Today on Cross country check up the topic is the debate between commercialization of parks and sustainability of the environment/minimizing human impact....


I have emailed my contributions to cbc. My comments include the following:

• Protecting their ecological integrity is the first priority for Parks Canada in managing our national parks.  This is what makes us a world leader in parks management. It must remain our priority for the next 100 years, so that our parks will be there for future generations.
• People who visit our national parks should be offered experiences that increase their appreciation for nature and the parks’ unique ecological features.
• Commercial development within our national parks should be strictly limited, to minimize human impact on park ecosystems.

For more information on this topic, see CPAWS "Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society".

A favorite site.

The following is great website called "The Science Behind Algonquin's Animals". I love it because of its pictures, educational information and stories from within the park.

http://www.sbaa.ca/

The Mental Health Benefits of Summer Camp

In addition to the sheer joy of attending summer, camp there are several mental health benefits built into the experience of such outdoor experiences. On so many levels, there is evidence that summer camp promotes social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth.  The camp experience offers new social opportunities, situations that foster the development of life skills, confidence, courage, and success in trying new things. Camp offers exposure to new activities and thus an introduction to potential interests or recreational outlets. The predictable, structured environment of summer camp offers opportunity to live with in a group, form productive relationships, recognize benefits of good choices and experiences consequences to poor choices. Reconnecting children to humanity and the planet through outdoor education provides a chance for children to rejuvenate themselves. On a spiritual level camp brings rest and relaxation that a busy soul requires to remain stable.

Several research endeavours have demonstrated the significant benefits of camp. In his paper, Social Justice Summer Camp: Critical Pedagogy in Action, Jim Shee(M.Ed) found that camps can assist in the development of citizenship and hope, and work toward the development of personal agency, creating a society of greater justice, freedom and dignity.

Research completed by Stephen Fine (PhD) demonstrated that camp, or “residential outdoor experiences” (ROE) lead over time to an affirmation of self that is inclusive of society and the environment. He reports that ROEs contribute to the learning of self-concept, self-regulation, self-efficacy, peer teaching, cooperation, team building, modeling, celebration of social-cultural diversity, and respect for the environment. Fine found that these lessons have been shown to transfer successfully to later life situations, making camp a long term beneficial experience for children of all ages. Fine’s article is titled “Contextual Learning within the ROE: A Case Study of a Summer Camp in Ontario” and can be found by googling his name or by visiting the Ontario Camping Association website.

Finally, PhD candidate Gaven Watson of Toronto, Ontario found that summer camp and environmental education significantly facilitate and assist in developing campers’ relationships with nature. As several children’s mental health professionals have come to report, nature works to settle and ground children in their world.

Consider sending your children to camp. There are several options with various cost points both in Canada and the US. There are also several organizations which work to financially support children to attend at camps all over the country. Visit the Ontario Camp Association for more information.

Rock Lake 2011

So, mid June amidst bugs, storms, and cool temps i paddled into Rock Lake on a "portage-free" canoe trip with my less-than-eager, less-than-camper, friend. Fortunately, for her benefit, we were only visited by a chipmunk, a racoon that we didn't actually lay eyes on, a snapping turtle, loons, ducks and mergansers, rather than the bigger-sort (bears, moose, etc).

With bellies full of various dried food groupings, we paddled over to the remaining native pictographs. The Kipawa Swift canoe handled well - with no tipping/rescues required. Our food barrel looked pretty hanging in the trees in the evening, despite the wall of bugs which enveloped it at times. Fortunately the rain and bugs let up enough for us to cook supper....didn't however let up long enough to use the island potty without getting attacked by the onslaught!

Thus, a relatively non-eventful, relaxing outing....which makes me concerned about the next one....stay tuned.

Help protect!

http://www.thebigwild.org/act

Help protect the Caribou, grizzly and more. Please petition against their threatened status.
SHC