Paddle Canada Wilderness Camping – May 14-16, 2021

Wilderness Camping

Wilderness Camping is an intermediate camping program aimed at those who already have some frontcountry camping and paddling experience but would like to learn the competencies necessary for wilderness travel as well as develop basic leadership and risk management skills.

Throughout the course, students will be expected to lead the group in various activities including navigation, meals, and camp set-up and take-down.

At the end of this course the successful student will have a strong camping skill set and can plan and participate in camping trips up to a week long in a wilderness setting. They will be able to provide peer leadership and navigation skills while on trip.

Prerequisites

• Camping Skills Certification:
  • Camping Basics certification or equivalent skill and knowledge at the discretion of the course director.
• Paddling Skills Certification:
  • A Paddle Canada skills course appropriate to the vessels used and conditions on which the camping course takes place, as outlined by the course director, or equivalent skills and knowledge at the discretion of the course director.
• Other Training:
  • Wilderness first aid (minimum 16 hours) is strongly recommended.
• Camping Experience:
  • A log demonstrating a minimum of 4 camping trips with a total combination of 8 nights or more camping. It is not necessary that these trips involve paddling.

Typical Course Length

Course Dates: May 14-16 2021

This course can be taught to private groups throughout the summer, please inquire if you are interested in a private course option for 2021

If this course is offered as a stand-alone program, then the course length will be 3 days including a 2-night camping trip. If this course is offered in conjunction with another Paddle Canada paddling course (e.g. Lake Canoe Intro, Moving Water Intro) then the course length will be the total length of the two courses combined. For example, if the other paddling skills course is normally 2 days long then the total teaching days would be 5 days.

General Learning Topics

This course focuses on intermediate campcraft skills in a wilderness setting and covers the following general topics:

Kitchen & Cooking

• Wilderness Cooking
• Safe Drinking Water
• Campfires
• Personal and Camp Hygiene
• Management of Trip Garbage
• Food Preparation and Packing for Trips
• Menu Design for Longer Trips

Campsite & Gear

• Campsite Selection and Set-up
• Tent & Tarp Set-up
• Choosing Camping Gear and Clothing
• Field Repairs and Maintenance for Gear and Vessels
• First Aid Kits

Camping Skills

• Packing a Vessel
• Vehicle Vessel Tie-down
• Knots
• Portaging Techniques
• Trip Logs

Theory

• Navigation Skills
  • Maps and Charts
  • Navigation Techniques
• Trip and Route Planning
• Impact of Camping on the Environment
• Weather Interpretation & Basic Forecasting
• Heat and Cold Issues
• Leadership and Decision Making
• Risk Assessment, Management and Evacuation
• Camping Locations and Resources
• Respect for Wildlife
• Regional Travel Knowledge
  • Lake travel
  • River travel
  • Ocean travel
    • Introduction to Tides and Currents