Introduction to Backcountry Camping series

Everybody comes to Wilderness Union with different outdoor experience. Some have been doing backcountry trips for years but no longer have a group to go with. Others get their first taste of the wild after joining one of our adventures. What all of us have in common is a drive to explore and experience as much of it as we can.

Ontario has so many incredible wilderness activities that we're going to experience this summer and we wanted to make sure that everybody could safely enjoy them, no matter what experience they join us with. Hence, the Introduction to Backcountry Camping Series!

We've planned a series of adventures over the coming months that together, will give you the comfort to tackle a summer of backcountry trips. Each is a self-contained adventure that is equally suitable for those with plenty of experience as those who are newer to the outdoors.

How we chose the activities

We asked our members what concerns they have about exploring the backcountry -we'll answer them all during the series. The top concerns?

• Animals! Will I get eaten by a bear?
• Navigation. How do I avoid getting lost in the woods?
• Hygiene. How do I wash and poop in the woods?
• How do I start a fire?

On top of these, there are other things you need to know that aren't obvious until you're in the situation. We'll be learning these through real world practice.

What's planned?

Between April and June, you'll learn to navigate, learn to canoe, learn wilderness first aid and learn to camp over the following program:

Learn to Navigate - Level 1 and Level 2

We're joined by the Canadian Army's former top navigation instructor, Captain Robert Buckingham (RETD) to learn the art of navigation. Level 1 will be taught in Toronto where we'll learn to read a map and compass before a practical exercise in High Park.

In Level 2, we'll put those skills to use in an unfamiliar environment outside of the city for a real-world navigation exercise.

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Wildlife Safety Session

We'll be joined by one of Ontario's top Bear experts with a lifetime of real world experience dealing with wildlife in the Ontario Park system. In this session, we'll learn all about Bears, Moose and Wolves and why you needn't be afraid of them when spending a night in the wild. We'll cover:

- General wildlife safety and etiquette
- Black Bear Encounters, moose encounters, wolf/coyote encounters
- Proper wildlife attractant management
- How to observe wildlife without harassing them
- Best practices for human-wildlife coexistence

By the end of it, you'll feel confident that you can safely spend time outdoors without worrying about animal danger and really enjoy your next camping trip!

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Wilderness First Aid Course

We'll learn Wilderness and Remote first aid techniques over this weekend course, taught by experience Canadian Red Cross instructors. The course is taught partially in a remote setting, giving us a realistic environment to build our confidence dealing with any medical emergencies that could arise in the wilderness.

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Learn to Canoe - Levels 1 & 2 ORCKA tandem canoeing certification

In this intensive one day course, we'll learn the basics of safe canoeing from an ORCKA certified professional instructor. The course is taught on a lake where we'll learn tandem canoe control, how to rescue yourself in case of things going wrong and the skills needed to have a successful canoe camping trip. Note that you'll need to get this certification if you don't have prior paddling experience and want to join our canoe camping trips later in the season.

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Front-Country Camping

After we've got the basic skills down, we're off for our first camping trip of the season. Front-country camping (or, car camping) has you driving up to your camp site and with a few extra amenities like easily accessible drinking water and hot showers, is a soft introduction to camping. On this adventure, you'll learn to set up camp, start a fire, cook outdoors having a blast while you do! Over the weekend, we'll take canoes out on a lake to put our skills to the test and roast s'mores over a campfire at night.

Our first camping trip is already sold-out so keep an eye on the Upcoming Adventures page for the next one that's announced.

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Hike-In Backcountry Camping in Algonquin Park

A less-intimidating intro to a full-on multi day backcountry trip, we're hiking in for a one night stay on a lake in Algonquin Park. Algonquin defies easy description - it's the size of a small country and spending a night in this vast wilderness for the first time is a life changing experience.

We'll set up camp on a gorgeous lake, learn how to store our food safely away from bears and have a memorable night under the stars. On day 2, we'll tackle the highland backpacking trail, one of the most famous hikes in the park. By the end of this adventure, you'll have all the skills you need to tackle more ambitious backcountry trips.

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Looking towards the rest of summer

We've been booking up campsites and have some of the most iconic spots in Ontario reserved for trips. Multiple trips in Alqonguin, Tobermory and Bon Echo have all already been reserved and will be announced in the coming weeks. It's going to be an unforgettable summer!