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:

Course name	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Wilderness Survival	*	*	N/A	*
Wilderness First Aid		*	N/A	N/A
Canoe Camping	N/A	*	N/A	*
Backpacking	N/A	*	N/A	*
Orienteering	N/A	*	N/A	*
Edible Plants	N/A	N/A	*	N/A

Electives (select 2), and term offered:

Course name	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Winter Camping	*	N/A	N/A	N/A
Moccasin Workshop	*	N/A	N/A	*
Voyageur Lifestyle Canoeing Programme	N/A	*	*	*
Intro to Search and Rescue	N/A	N/A	N/A	*
Bushwacking	N/A	*	*	*
Advanced Survival & Tracking	N/A	N/A	N/A	*

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.

Course Descriptions

Backpacking (Core Course)

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

Sept 19, 23 – 24; 35hrs; Tuesday 7:00 – 10:00pm, Saturday and Sunday all weekend

$250.11                                     Loyalist College

Canoe Camping (Core Course)

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

Oct. 3, 7 & 8; 35hrs; Tuesday 7:00 – 10:00pm, Saturday and Sunday Thanksgiving Weekend all weekend

$250.11                                     Loyalist College

Orienteering (Core Course)

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

June 4; 7hrs; Sunday, 9:00 – 4:00pm

$119.57                                     Loyalist College

Wilderness Survival (Core Course)

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

Jan 18-20, 26, 27; 78hrs; starts Friday evening 9:30pm - two weekends

$366.00                                     Loyalist College

Winter Camping

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

SITB 8007 4478 Feb 9, 10; 35hrs; Starts Friday evening 9:30pm

$248.15                            Bancroft Campus 

Advanced Survival and Tracking (Elective)

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

Oct. 20 – 22; 35hrs; starts Friday evening 9:30pm continues all weekend.

$250.11                                     Loyalist College

Bushwhacking (Elective)

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

Sept 16 & 17; 35hrs; starts Fridays evening 9:30pm all weekend

$250.11                         Loyalist College

Introduction to Search and Rescue (Elective)

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

Sept 15 – 17; 35hrs; starts Friday evening 9:30pm all weekend

$250.11                                     Loyalist College

Moccasin Workshop (Elective)

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

Feb 24; 8hrs; Sunday, 8:30 – 4:30pm

$119.36                                     Loyalist College

Voyageur Lifestyle Canoeing (Elective)

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

Sept 29 – Oct 1; 35hrs; starts Friday 7:00pm - 10:00pm Saturday 8:00am and rest of weekend.

$250.11                                     Loyalist College

 

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