Outdoor Skills

Outdoor Skills

Canoeing

Recommended for grades 4 & up

Offered late spring and early fall, this program provides basic instruction in flat water canoeing skills. Participants will learn small craft safety, equipment use, and paddling techniques while exploring a portion of Wolfe Lake. Groups may be assigned either 25-foot voyageur canoes or traditional 17-foot tandem canoes. Keep your eyes open as sightings of loons, turtles and other wildlife are common.

Fire Building

Recommended for grades 5 & up

Students work in small groups to design their own pit and build a fire. Technique and safety precautions in choosing a campfire location are covered.

Outdoor Cooking

Recommended for grade 2 & up

IAWAH staff instruct students in the art of outdoor cooking and students learn the specific characteristics of a cooking fire by preparing a snack over an open flame.

Shelter Building

Recommended for grade 2 & up

Whatever the season, whether snowy, wet or dry, participants can learn how to construct a usable shelter with minimal supplies and resources. This activity involves creative thinking and group cooperation.

Orienteering

Recommended for grade 6 & up

Orienteering is a recognized sport that uses a compass and map to navigate through a series of checkpoints. Participants learn the parts of a compass, how to take bearings and read a map, along with other related skills. IAWAH’s orienteering courses offer a range of challenges for varying skill levels.

Archery

Recommended for grades 7 & up

Students learn about archery equipment, technique and safety guidelines prior to target shooting in the indoor or outdoor archery range. IAWAH offers the use of compound and olympic recurve bows.

Pond Study

Recommended for grades 2 & up

Students look at the complex relationships between animals and their environment and the diversity found in a pond ecosystem. Discover life forms of all shapes and sizes— aquatic macro-invertebrates, reptiles, birds, amphibians and mammals. This hands-on experience is sure to bring science to life.

Nature Hike

Recommended for grades 2 & up

IAWAH staff guide participants along one of several beautiful, natural* trails, highlighting points of interest which explore the diversity of nature. Discover beaver ponds, northern mixed hardwood forest, seasonal flowers, rocks and minerals and poisonous and edible plants. Watch for animal tracks to discover the wildlife living nearby. Hikes are tailored to match your classroom curriculum on request.

*All IAWAH trails are preventatively maintained. Please direct any trail maintenance or forest management questions to the office.