Whitehorse, Yukon

* Adventure and skills-training for children and youth *

2010 March Break Winter Adventure Camp

Ages 9-13

Session 1: Monday, March 8th- Friday, March 12th, 2010 - Fee: $285.00

Session 2: Monday, March 15th- Friday, March 19th, 2010 - Fee: $310.00

Both weeks of camp include a progression of 5 ice climbing lessons, as well as afternoon programs including - snowshoeing & GPS instruction, campfire cooking, atlatl golf forest adventures and ice fishing. Daily transportation to and from Shipyards Park is provided.

To hold a space for your child, please phone: (867) 456-7846

    Please click on the following links for full information and registration forms:

Winter Camp Activities
Safety Practices
Transportation
Lunch Option
What to Bring
Who we Are...
Registration

March Break Winter Adventure Camp:

Adventure Rox Day Camps have been providing children & youth with top-notch instruction in adventure based programs since 2004. Our goal is to expose campers to a variety of activities in a safe and structured environment and to encourage them to try new things and expand their skill base. All activities are designed to allow individuals to learn at their own rate while being part of a team environment. Campers have the opportunity to focus on skill development while working on increasing self awareness and confidence, learning new leadership skills, setting individual goals, working as a team, and working on problem solving and communication skills.

Adventure activities include:

Ice Climbing: Campers will participate in ice climbing lessons each morning during their week at camp. We begin the week getting ‘geared’ up for ice climbing with our “Ice 101” lesson - an introduction to ice climbing safety and skills. Instruction will focus on equipment use, tying climbing knots, belaying skills and general safety practices. Camper’s first exposure to this unique winter sport will be going on our ‘ice trek’. Using crampons and safety equipment they will follow their instructors along an ice path of traverses, bridges and tunnels to the top of the towers. As the week progresses, campers will take part in additional, more in-depth lessons where they will learn to use ice axes and rope to climb the ice towers.

Snowshoe GPTeaming Quest: We will spend an afternoon enjoying snowshoeing and learning how to use a GPS. Using games and activities, campers will learn how to walk, run, climb, and descend hills while wearing snowshoes. Once everyone has mastered these skills, the group will then participate in our “GPTeaming Course”. This exciting program utilizes GPS technology (electronic navigating tool) to create a new twist on teambuilding. Campers use GPS units to locate mystery caches located around the area. The caches contain a variety of rewards, puzzles, and problem solving activities.

Campfire Cooking & Shelter Building: Campers will spend an afternoon learning how to build a safe cooking fire and then put it to good use by cooking up some treats – e.g. apple crisp cooked in tinfoil, muffins in orange peels, homemade ice cream. Once everyone is fueled up, they will head into the forest for some hiking, ‘forest games’ and shelter building. Campers will learn how to build their own winter shelter – quinzees and snow shelters. During the 2nd week of camp, campers will actually be sleeping out in their winter shelters (…with a heated cabin close by just in case). We will supply all the group gear and food for dinner, breakfast and lunch during the overnight experience. Please print of the list of what to pack for this fun adventure.

Atlatl Golf Forest Adventures: (At-La-Tle) is a traditional spear throwing system found in most primitive societies around the world. It is the precursor technology that led to the development of the bow and arrow. Today, after thousands of years of obscurity, it is enjoying a renaissance as a popular hobby and is rapidly becoming an international sport. Campers will make their own Atlatl throwing boards and then play a game of “Atlatl Golf”. Similar to disc golf, campers will spend the afternoon traversing our course through the forest from beginning to end, with the goal of trying to throw their dart at targets with the fewest number of throws. Hot chocolate traditionally follows a good game of Atlatl Golf.

Ice Fishing: We will spend the final afternoon of each week drilling holes through the ice of a local lake and testing our luck at catching a fish! Campers will make their own fishing jigs and enjoy an afternoon of fishing and hot chocolate around the campfire.

Closing Exercise: The final activity at camp will allow campers the opportunity to reflect on their week - the skills they gained, the goals they accomplished and challenges they overcame. The group will take part in a few debriefing activities and say farewell to the friends they spent the week with.

---

Safety Practices

All of our staff hold current First Aid & CPR certificates, have experience working with children and youth, and have taken part in our extensive staff training. In addition, we ensure that staff carry a knapsack containing a fully stocked first aid kit, camper information, winter survival gear, a whistle, sunscreen and extra clothes. Our staff to camper ratio is 1:6 maximum. Our Camp Staff always work in teams of two or three. All staff facilitating adventure programs have related qualifications, training and experience. Proper safety equipment for all of our programs is used and regularly inspected (i.e. certified ice climbing gear and helmets, etc.).

---

Transportation

Transportation to and from programs is provided by Tom´s Touring Service, a fully insured transportation service. All drop-offs and pick-ups are from Shipyards Park, on the waterfront in downtown Whitehorse.

Campers should arrive each morning at 8:30am and be picked up each afternoon at 4:30pm.

Campers & parents MUST BE ON TIME for drop-offs and pick-ups! If for any reason there is a last minute change of transportation arrangements for a camper, please leave a message at both 393-3848 (Tom´s Touring Service) and 456-7846 (Adventure Rox Camp Office) BEFORE the scheduled pick-up or drop-off time.

It is the responsibility of the parent / guardian to supervise their child until the staff arrives at 8:30am and to be on time to pick up their child at 4:30pm when the staff finishes for the day.

---

Lunch Option

Lunch will be eaten in the Mt. Sima Chalet each day. Campers have the option of brining their own lunch, or purchasing lunch from the “Snow Pit Café”. Their menu includes soup, pizza, lasagne, hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, french fries, muffins, cookies and cold or hot beverages.

---

What to Bring:

Adventure Rox Campers should wear or pack their knapsack with the following items every day:

• A three layered clothing system - the first layer should consist of long underwear (preferably made from polypropylene or wool, not cotton), the second layer should be insulating items to maintain body heat (i.e.: polar fleece), and the third layer should be something to block the wind and provide extra insulation (i.e.: warm snow pants and snow jacket).
• A very warm hat, pair of waterproof mittens and a warm scarf / neck warmer
• An extra sweater for when the temperature drops
• Warm Boots and an extra pair of wool socks
• A few sets of instant hand and foot warmers for those prone to cold extremities
• Lunch and snacks
• 1L bottle of water or juice juice (or a thermos with hot chocolate / tea)
• Sunscreen & Sunglasses (those winter rays can be bright!)
• A keen sense of Adventure!

Week 2: For those participating in the overnight campout, you will need to pack:

- Winter Camping Trip -     Please pack ONLY the following!! Lunch for Thursday (we will supply all other meals) Snacks & 1L bottle of juice (or thermos of hot drink) Warm Sleeping bag Camping matters (i.e. blue foam pad or thermarest) Long underwear x 1-2 (polypropylene or wool is best) Long sleeve shirt x 2 (turtle necks are nice!) Warm pants x 2 (No Jeans!! And preferably no cotton pants b/c they take too long to dry – fleece works great!) Extra warm sweater x 2 (again, fleece or wool is best) Insulated and waterproof jacket & snow pants A very warm hat x 2 (one is to sleep in) Waterproof & warm mittens x 2 A warm scarf / neck warmer Warm winter boots Warm socks x 3 (wool or fleece is preferable) Underwear x 2 Warm pyjama’s x 1 (a set of long underwear work well) 3 pairs of instant hand warmers 3 pairs of instant foot warmers Sunscreen & Sunglasses Flashlight Minimal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste and hair brush is all you really need)

---

Who we are...

Christopher and Ellen Gishler each have over 18 years of experience working in the camping and outdoor education field.

  Christopher's background includes working for the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School and teaching adventure education on high ropes courses and climbing walls that he has built throughout North America.

  Ellen's experience comes from the residential camping and outdoor education community of Ontario and British Columbia. She has worked as Program Director, Waterfront Director and Leadership Training Director.

  Christopher and Ellen are working towards their dream of starting their own Camp & Outdoor Centre. They have put together a top-notch leadership training program and have built Yukon's only Outdoor Climbing Wall and Zip Line, which is located at the Takhini Hot Springs.

  All members of the Adventure Rox Staff Team come with extensive experience working with children in outdoor adventure programs. All staff members have current first aid and CPR and have completed our staff training.

---

March Break Winter Adventure Camp Registration

Please contact us for a registration package, or download the PDF version of these forms online:
2010 March Break Registration Package (100 kb)

Holding Spots
We recommend that you call our office at (867) 456-7846 to confirm that there is space available in your preferred session. We will be happy to hold a spot for 7 business days, to allow time for the receipt of the necessary forms and payment.

Deposit & Final Payment
Registration forms must be accompanied by full payment OR by a $100 deposit, together with a post-dated cheque for the balance.

Refund Policy
Camp fees will be refunded only if a cancellation is made a minimum of 10 days prior to the session starting date. Refunds or reduction of fees will not be offered for days missed in a session.

Please note: All refunds are subject to a $25 administration fee.