THUNDER BAY – OUTDOORS – Camping is a beloved Canadian pastime, but booking a popular campsite during the peak summer months can be challenging. For more and more families, a great alternative is enjoying camping during the “off” season, when the air is crisp and the woods are lined with pristine layers of white snow.
Add to the reasons that the low Canadian dollar makes planning for a tropical getaway out of reach for many families; winter camping is an affordable way to enjoy adventure outdoors, and time together with loved ones. There is a magical serenity that comes with disconnecting from technology and getting back to nature, no matter what season, but winter camping certainly has its unique benefits.
“There’s something so completely Canadian about camping in the winter,” says Caitlyn Piton, National Youth Commissioner and Chair of the National Youth Network at Scouts Canada. “From identifying animal prints in the snow to ice fishing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, and building a snowman – the activities you can enjoy in the winter are only limited by your imagination. The best thing is, there are no bugs or mosquitoes to swat away!”
Scouts are Canada’s youngest outdoor experts, and they experience winter camping at a young age to learn survival skills and how to work together to safely enjoy ‘The Great White North.’
From the novice camper to the seasoned adventurer, there are a variety of ways to enjoy winter camping for everyone:
GLAMPING
Glamour camping or “glamping” is a global trend that offers the best of both worlds, allowing families to take in the serenity of nature while enjoying the luxuries of a home-away-from-home in a caravan, cabin or yurt. Consider bringing comforts from home to create your own glamping experience.
HOT TENT CAMPING
For families seeking the more rustic experience, there’s hot tent camping. This is achieved by connecting a small stove to an external pipe, so that the temperature in the tent remains cozy and warm – to be able to gather and sing camp songs or tell ghost stories. For safety reasons, extinguish the stove before bedtime.
THE QUINZEE
For the adventurous family that loves the outdoors, consider the quinzee: a shelter made from snow. Building a quinzee is fairly simple but does take time to build safely by packing snow into a mound seven or eight feet high, and allowing the structure to settle, ideally overnight.
