Junior Canadian Rangers - Summer Training

Summer programs are currently offered to Junior Canadian Rangers who reside in Northern Quebec and Northern Ontario. These non-permanent camp settings allow deserving Junior Canadian Rangers from a variety of communities to come together for 10 days of diverse training and challenging activities. The emphasis during these sessions is on the practical implementation of skills learned during the year and on having fun in a natural, outdoor setting.

For some Junior Canadian Rangers, going to camp means seeing trees for the first time, or meeting other young Canadians of differing ethnicity and backgrounds. For some, camp marks an opportunity to practice their second language, or to learn and practise traditional skills as well as enhance the Ranger skills that they have been taught at their JCR patrols.

Regardless of what activities and experiences are offered, the success and popularity of these summer sessions is unquestionable.

Camp Okpiapik

Since 1996, Camp Okpiapik has been hosted each year in Northern Quebec. The camp is held in a different location each summer, allowing participants to practice their skills in a different geographical area.

Camp Okpiapik 2000 was held from July 10 to 18, near Umiujaq on the coast of Hudson Bay. Approximately 200 Junior Canadian Rangers from across Quebec participated in a variety of adventure training and traditional activities, under the supervision of 55 Canadian Rangers. Activities included mountain climbing, first aid, topography lessons, marksmanship, life skills, and the always-popular Inuit games and challenge.

Okpiapik means “snowy owl” in Inuktitut.

Camp Loon – Makawa Kapeshiwin

The first annual Junior Canadian Ranger summer camp in 3 CRPG (Ontario) was held in Constance Lake from August 06 to 12, 2000. Camp Loon or Makawa Kapeshiwin in Cree, was the setting for a week of outdoor training for more than 100 enthusiastic Junior Canadian Rangers and their leaders.

While at camp the Junior Canadian Rangers participated in ATV (all-terrain vehicle), canoe and James Bay Freighter canoe training. These young Canadians had an opportunity to socialize with their peers and to learn practical skills such as navigation, with an emphasis on map and compass. They also spent a full day immersed in traditional skills training, featuring a series of discussions with Elders from across Northern Ontario.