FATHER / SON WILDERNESS TEAM BUILDING
5 days / 4 nights at Trapper Camp

TRAIL OF THE MÉTIS TRAPPER

This program has been fashioned for groups who desire a teambuilding activity lasting one-half day in length. The degree of physical fitness required can be varied to suit the comfort level of the participants. It is also important to note that the activity locations are ‘notional’ or ‘virtual’ thereby offering no risk of injury.

PHASE ONE: The group will be shown a series of Bushcraft lessons that will enable them to complete certain elements of the following tasks. These lessons are based on traditional survival/primitive skills practiced by Métis trappers in the 1800’s.
· Primitive fire lighting techniques.
· Making an improvised backpack.
· Constructing a tripod and primitive winches.
· Primitive weapons e.g. Atlatl, sling shot, Bow and arrow plus rabbit sticks.
· Making Bannock (unleavened bread).

PHASE TWO: This will be a competition between teams where they will complete six tasks. Various challenges will be thrown at each team to test their ability to work together as a cohesive unit. Each of the tasks, if performed successfully, will earn the team a reward that will contribute toward their becoming the winning team. Teams must be vigilant once they receive a reward, as they could potentially lose it at the next task!

Task 1: Canoe Rescue
First you need to rescue your canoe, equipment & supplies on the other side of a notional river by building an improvised bridge. Once across the river the team must build an improvised winch system (learned on arrival). The challenge is not easy since the equipment and supplies used must be put together in a specific way in order to fit across the gap; so logic and team work are imperative.

Task 2: Pemmican and Fur Carry!
Get your pemmican and furs through the forest. To make things complicated, your rival Company has set up booby traps. Trying to carry some heavy sacks of pemmican and furs makes this a challenge! Booby traps here, for your information, are exploding balloons filled with flour!
To transport the sacks you will have to build an improvised backpack that you will carry for the rest of the day.

Task 3: Set Up Camp
Each team sets up a camp according to a drawing given out by the guides. Overhead roofing, logs and various other equipment - such as a tripod to hang a cooking pot - will need to be put together in a timely fashion. At the same time you will be expected to prepare coffee and make Bannock!

Task 4: Rescue the Trapper
Rescue an injured trapper from the mineshaft and get back safely! This requires some ingenious thinking; the teams must work out how to get across a series of fences that are rather high – no going under or around, and no touching them (mock electric fence), this is done to retrieve the injured trapper whom you need for his bush skills. Once rescued, you will need to transport the casualty to a specified location given to you by the guide. This is a logic problem that requires some physical effort. Teams will be required to build a travois to transport the injured Trapper.


Task 5: Killer Bear Hunt!
You’ve worked very hard to earn your furs, and you are on your way to the trading post to trade your ware; but half of your group becomes stranded on a small river island. They are faced with killer bears.

This is a task that requires observation skills and physical dexterity. The teams must use primitive weapons to fight the killer bears; but first the team members on the river bank must find hidden weapons (not so easy) using observation techniques. Then they build a tripod to transport the weapons to their team members who are stranded on the island.

Task 6: Mountain man relay
This is a relay race where the teams, while transporting and carrying any equipment they have gained on route, have to complete the following activities:
· A bow shoot.
· Atlatl dart shoot.
· Axe throw.
· Light a fire.
· Sling shot throw.

This portion of the competition is conducted on a timed course, with one team competing at a time. Points will be given for weapons accuracy and fastest time around the course.

Program Location: Trapper’s Hill Camp (near the Ghost River)

Time Period: 3 to 4 hours. Season: Year round.

Inclusions: All equipment, staff and “Métis Trapper” themed layout.

Group Size: Minimum 10 - Maximum 100


<< back