Ontario Camp Staff Training Programs

Camps are incredible places. They create a powerful culture that stays with campers and staff members for the rest of their lives. Camps in Ontario change lives, there’s no question about that. Our question is: How can camps be EVEN BETTER?

What is your camp doing about Nature Deficit Disorder?

In an age when Camps in Ontario are waving the banner of Nature Deficit Disorder and connection to nature, our experience tells us that few camp staff have much beyond a basic knowledge of the ecosystem around camp. How well do your staff embody nature connection and knowledge of the ecosystems they teach in? How does nature fit into your camp culture? How does this effect the connection of campers to nature?

From what we’ve seen (we grew up at camp too) a large percentage of Nature Programs at camps are either non-existent, or a second tier program. We’d like to change that. Nature can be the coolest activity at camp. We’d like to help that become true for your camp.

We can help your camp to make nature-based mentoring a vital part of camp activities, canoe trips, and your camp culture!

Wilderness Skills and Naturalist Knowledge Staff Training Weekend (none currently scheduled)

This program is designed to give camp staff the skills, knowledge and experience to implement powerful nature based mentoring and programming at their camp, on canoe trip, or anywhere you find nature. The course acts as a model for participating staff, providing opportunities to experience highly effective tricks and techniques to deliver nature based education and mentoring. Curriculum includes wilderness living skills, naturalist knowledge, and tools and inspiration to continue to grow personally, and grow a powerful program at Camp. The course is hosted at Camp Kandalore, just North of Minden, ON along Highway 35. Room and Board is included.

The weekend will focus is on four key areas:

• Nature Based Mentoring techniques and creating a powerful learning environment
• Wilderness Living Skills and Inspiring “Bush Craft” skill sets
• Building Naturalist Knowledge and Awareness of Place
• Nature Based Games, Activities, Songs, and other fun ways to engage with Nature

We find that programs like these are are far more successful when multiple people can go back to camp together having shared the same experience. It allows for support, promotes team teaching, and gives new ideas and skill sets a small community to flourish in, and then spread. To support this, we offer group incentive pricing.

Number of Staff            Price

1                                   $195.00

2                                   $370.50 (5% off)

3                                   $526.50 (10% off)

4                                   $663.00 (15% off)

Custom Staff Training Courses – call to book!

Custom programs, tailored specifically to your Camp’s needs are the best way to get value for your investment, specifically designed to meet the needs of your camp culture and environment. These programs vary in length and curriculum, depending on the interests of your Camp. We can include 4-16 Staff, for as little as a day, or as much as four days of training. We also offer all-staff activities and talks on “Nature Connection in Camp Settings” with tips and tricks for staff to use.

Custom programs allow choice from a variety of topics including:

• Fire and Friction Fire (Can your staff get a fire going every time in any conditions?)
• Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants
• Traditional Structures: Shelters to keep you warm and dry in any conditions!
• Nature Observation and Wildlife Tracking
• Nature Awareness and Activities to develop awareness
• Natural Fibres and Container Making
• Nature Based Crafting
• Nature Based Mentoring principles and techniques
• Games, songs, resources and activities to integrate nature into camp in a dynamic way

We’ll come in to your camp to work with your staff in the place that they are familiar. They’ll develop an incredible amount of knowledge of the area and gain to tools to continue to learn and teach about the ecosystem around camp in really cool, fun ways.

The structure of any program is based around four key areas, which become easier to teach with the length of each program. These include:

• Nature Based Mentoring techniques and creating a powerful learning environment
• Wilderness Living Skills and Inspiring “Bush Craft” skill sets
• Building Naturalist Knowledge and Awareness of Place
• Nature Based Games, Activities, Songs, and other fun ways to engage with Nature

Call or email for more specific information regarding custom training programs and for our rates: 647 991 7463  or  info@pineproject.org.