Wilderness Experience

Wilderness Experience

Wilderness Experience Program Certificate

Loyalist College, Georgian College and Survival in the Bush, Inc. have combined their resources to offer the adult learner a series of dynamic outdoor oriented courses.

The certificate is comprised of six core courses and two electives. Just click on the course name below to get additional information.

Wilderness Experience Certificate Program Article (PDF)

Core Courses and term offered:

Electives (select 2), and term offered:

Please Note: Medical reason notwithstanding, should an individual withdraw from any course within this program, a 25% cancellation fee is automatically deducted from the registration cost. If withdrawing with less than 48 hours notice prior to course commencement, there is no refund. The College reserves the right to refuse student's participation in any course should safety become a factor.

Core Courses

Backpacking

This course addresses the pertinent aspects of lightweight camping as they apply to backpacking into remote campsites. Topics of discussion include ethical considerations, suggested equipment, cooking techniques, food selection, menu preparation, and trip organization.  Safety aspects are presented at the preparatory stage as well as in the field. Participants to supply personal gear, park registration fee, meals, and all transportation.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff 
Loyalist College

Canoe Camping

This course introduces the participant to the most significant aspects of camping, both traditional and lightweight, as they apply to canoe tripping. Topics of discussion deal with preferred foods, environmental impact, cooking techniques, suggested equipment, canoeing skills, campsite selection, camping skills, group dynamics, and sanitation. Pre-trip precautions are highlighted, as well as some post-tripping suggestions. Students supply camping and canoeing items, personal gear, park registration fees, food and transportation to and from the site

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff
Loyalist College

Orienteering

This course will deal with the rudiments of using some of the common types of maps with emphasis on topographic maps, the use of a compass, and wilderness navigation by land and water. The workshop will be practical, and stress Point-to-Point orienteering. Develop your newly acquired orienteering skills by registering in the challenging Bushwhacking course (Sept. 16-17). Ask instructor for details.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff 
Loyalist College

Wilderness Survival (Winter, Spring and Fall)

This seasonally oriented program teaches the student survival skills under drastically changing conditions during this time of year. You will learn how to construct primitive traps and snares, enhance available clothing for greater warmth, shelter construction, direction finding, animal and food preparation, clothing selection, hunting tools, personal survival kits, fire building, dealing with hypothermia, and the psychology of a survival mindset. Fee covers all costs except personal clothing, gear, food, and transportation to and from survival site. Course is two weekends in duration.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff
Loyalist College

Basic Wilderness First Aid

This course is for anyone who spends time in the back country.  It will provide participants with an introduction to wilderness first aid.  Basic topics are covered with an emphasis on practical skills, decision making and dealing with environmental conditions.  Content includes: patient assessment, shock, wound management , burns, fractures/sprains and first aid kits.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff

Introduction to Edible Plants
This is a one-day workshop where you will learn to identify and use edible and medicinal wild plants found in Centreal Ontario.  Dress for the weather, bring a lunch, a fishing or hunting knife for plant work, a notebook and small plastic bags for collecting some plant samples.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff

Electives

Our seminar and the weekend trip will emphasize the special concerns of cold weather camping. Students are responsible for all equipment, including personal clothing, camping fees, food and transportation to and from the weekend site.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff
Bancroft Campus 

Advanced Survival and Tracking

This course is specifically tailored to meet the needs of those individuals, who have successfully completed a winter, spring, or fall survival session. Our focus is to develop, sharpen, and expand the participant’s knowledge of survival skills, including use of the fire bow and tracking techniques. Participants are to supply all personal gear, meals, and transportation.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff
Loyalist College

Bushwhacking

A hands-on course designed for backpackers; wilderness trip leaders; anglers and hunters and other outdoors people. For

people who have mastered basic orienteering and backpacking skills. The focus includes advanced map and compass navigation in a lightweight backpacking situation. Participants will navigate predetermined sites through rugged wilderness, rocky outcrops, gorges, swamps, lakes and dense bush. Participants are to supply all personal gear, food, and transportation to and from instructional site.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff
Loyalist College

Introduction to Search and Rescue

This course will highlight the specific needs, requirements, and activities traditionally associated with wilderness search and rescue skills, including call-out procedures, search techniques, and the psychology of the injured or lost victim(s). Other topics include: dealing with injuries / death; expectations of the search party; statistics / profile / behaviour of the lost casualty; methods of interviewing key personnel, including witnesses and family; as well as map / compass work and dealing with the media.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff
Loyalist College

Moccasin Workshop

This one-day workshop is for individuals interested in mastering the art of making their own leather moccasins. Participants will learn to identify different types of leather and their characteristics; discuss various tanning methods; how to utilize specific tools of the trade; as well as techniques needed to complete a pair of moccasins.  Patterns provided range from children’s size to men’s extra large. All tools, leather and sinew are supplied. Participants are encouraged to register in the Buckskin Coat Making workshop Ask Instructor for details.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff
Loyalist College

Voyageur Lifestyle Canoeing

This course is designed for those individuals who wish to relive the lifestyle of the early voyageurs. Participants will experience an overnight canoeing outing in a North Canoe, sleep under their vessel, cook bannock, make jerky, start fires with flint and steel, and learn about the edible wild. Course is held in the Bruce Peninsula region. Exact location is supplied after registration. Fee covers all costs except personal / camping equipment, food and transportation to / from the weekend site; all canoeing gear is supplied.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff
Loyalist College

Enrichment

Sheep Skin Mittens

This two day workshop where winter enthusiasts will construct a cozy, beautiful pair of sheep skin mittens.  Sheep skins at $35.00.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff

Fringed Buckskin Jacket

This two weekend workshop for individuals insterested in making their own beautiful and rustic style fringed buckskin jacket.  Learn to identify leather types and characteristics, tanning methods, tool usage, sewing techniques.  Tools are supplied and leather is available for purchase at $5.00 per sq. ft (+ tax).  Approx 55. sq. ft. of leather is required.  Bring a lunch and an old loose fitting, long sleeved, buttoned skirt to cut and use as a pattern.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff


Leather Dress Workshop

Design and craft a luxurious t-styled leather dress in our 2 day work shop.  Ideal for dancing in Pow Wows or simply for comfortable casual wear.  Leather is available for $5.00 per sq. ft.

 Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff

Dream Catchers, Medicine Pouches, Crafts and Storytelling

A rustic day of crafting dream catchers with semi-precious beads, and medicine pouches.  Relive vibrant stories from our historical and native past.  You'll enjoy 18 century Courier de Bois ambience and sample delicious wild brewed tea.  All materials are supplied.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff

Into Our Canadian Past

The workshop promotes our diverse history, focusing on an interpretive, hands-on experience with vibrant story telling.  Topics in this interactive workshop include: the dichotomy of the Voyaguer/Coureur de Bois, hand crafted wool/cotton ceinture fleches, clothing of the time, edible, medicinal, useful plants, furrier display, knives, arrows, spears, hand crafted rawhide drums, baskets and construction, sampling of bush teas, native drumming and music.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff

Apache Boots

Complete a double soled, comfortable, stylish pair of top grain leather Apache Boots in just 2 days.  Moose hide leather is available at $5.00 per sq. ft.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff

Advanced Edible Plants Workshop

Participants will identify and harvest a variety of wild edibles which will be incorporated into a communal meal on Saturday afternoon.  Clients are responsible for all camping gear, meals and transportation to and from wilderness site.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Surival in the Bush Inc. Staff


Introduction to Wilderness Surivival

This one day programme is ideal for learning the 5 priorities of survival, shelter construction, direction finding, crisis management, trip plans, survival kits and fire starting.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Surivival in the Bush Inc. Staff

Bushwhacking

A hands-on course appealing to backpackers, wilderness trip leaders, anglers, hunters and other outdoors people who have already mastered basic orienteering and backpacking skills.  The focus includes advanced map and compass navigation in a lightweight predetermined sites through rugged wilderness, rocky outcrops, gorges, swamps, lakes and dense bush.  Participants to supply gear, food, all transportation to and from instructional site.

Instructor: Dr. Gino Ferri & Survival in the Bush Inc. Staff