Wilderness Preparation Course
Exclusively for CBO Guests Only
Envision a canoe gliding silently through tranquil waters. Easing the canoe to the shoreline clearing, the smell of coffee brewing over an open campfire captures your attention. After an afternoon of exploring the trails and waterways of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and Quetico Provincial Park, the sights and sounds of the most pristine wildernesses in North America are all but over. Soon the evening display of stars and northern lights will begin as the haunting call of the loon echoes a good night.
Our ancestors, both Native American and European, learned the secrets of camping and canoeing the north woods centuries ago. The lessons that they passed onto us, have been refined into what today is known as low and no impact camping. We at Canadian Border Outfitters strive to offer our guests the best techniques for enjoying our wilderness area without leaving a mark on our environment.
Several years ago we introduced a new program, designed for both novice and experienced campers alike, called our Wilderness Preparation Course. The course objective is to teach low and no impact camping using hands-on teaching methods. We take you out on the water to practice canoeing strokes, visit a campsite to demonstrate camp set-up, and across a portage trail to show proper portaging techniques.
Plan to arrive at our Moose Lake base between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. the day before your canoe trip begins (or even earlier if you like) to give yourself ample time to partake in our unique wilderness skills course. This course will go beyond our regular routing session that not only instills knowledge and confidence in your camping and canoeing skills but also offers additional learning opportunities. Here are some of the learning topics you may choose from:
| Flat Water Canoeing | Paddling and Portaging | Knot Tying |
| Map & Compass Use | Fishing Instruction | Geology |
| Setting Up Camp | Stove & Lantern Use | Wildlife |
| Basic First Aid | History of Our Area | Plants |
| Campfire Building & Cooking |
You choose the topics which interest you and we will build the learning session around your desires. Come prepared to learn and enjoy our wilderness!