This educational package starts off with an introductory in-class session at your school of “meet the staff and ask the questions!” The outdoor program itself is two days and one tenting night. The tenting is at the Deer Creek Conservation Area below Tillsonburg. Your group may have exclusive use of the Conservation area. This area has a sheltered lake and will be used as the base from which all the programs will be launched. Staff background includes… certified ORCA instruction, native history, wilderness tripping & survival, medicinal and edible plants, forestry, first aid and people dynamics.

The objective is to learn wilderness survival skills and canoe/kayak tripping. This is “hands-on”, a real taste of the determination and skills required for survival and fun in the outdoors.

The backdrop for this program is Big Creek & Long Point Marsh in conjunction with Deer Creek and Backus Conservation Areas. The class is broken into four groups, and over the two days will rotate through 4 teaching sessions (3 hours in length).

Canoe Trip: Training & review of canoe strokes will start on Deer Creek. Lake. From there the group moves to Big Creek. The uniqueness of paddling this Amazon-effect river is a lesson in itself. This lazy narrow river is full of twists & turns, an excellent “teacher” for learning how to maneuver canoes. The trip is about 2 hours.

Forestry Hike:  This resource teaching is done via hike through the Backus Mill tracts.  Emphasizes will be on edible & medicinal plants. We want to show students that the fauna of the Carolinian forest is so rich that you could easily live off the land and not starve. We will discuss how to identify plants with recognizable features. Teach proper conservation forage techniques. Show what parts of the plants to prepare and cook for a wholesome meal. We will have some pre-collected wild herbal teas and food samples prepared for tasting.

KayakLake Paddle: The Long Point Marsh is a biosphere to explore with the kayak. Gliding through the long reeds and exploring the narrow channels teaches maneuvering. The shallowness of the waters allows good bottom visibility of life below. But it is the “duck” effect of paddling around this marsh that sticks in the mind. Overall it is an excellent environment in which to experience the kayak and explore Long Point.

Survival: This is a field-craft experience that will be conducted at Backus Mills. The purpose is to teach the basics of what a person needs to do and have if stranded in the wilderness. It covers cooking, hygiene, shelter, safety, navigation and first aid. Learn the five types of outdoor fires and the use of natural reflectors for heat. Discover how to build survival tools, make rope and use a drills & flints for starting a fire. Learn different techniques for collecting drinking water… learn how to stay alive!!!!