We are excited to announce that Nature & You will be setting up shop this winter at YMCA Camp Tillicum from February 6 to March 7 offering fun, engaging, winter outdoor education programs for Grades K to 4.  This beautiful property on the south shore of Lake Nipissing is located 25-30 minutes from most North Bay schools, and boasts a beautiful pine-covered shoreline with a distant view of the city, diverse forests and outdoor play spaces, and a brand new large building with heated indoor eating space, washrooms, and boot room.  Site photos taken recently can be found below.  The address is 774 Tillicum Bay Rd. A pin can be found here.

    Classes can come for a half day or full day.  Below you will find an example schedule for the day, our winter program pricing, and list of our winter programs.  Please email me to book ([email protected]).  An availability calendar can be found here.
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Je serai heureux de proposer des programmes en français. Pour les visites à deux classes, j'essaierai de trouver un deuxième éducateur bilingue. Cependant, cela n'est pas toujours possible et il se peut que je ne puisse proposer qu'un des deux programmes en français lors de votre visite.

Example Schedule:
~9:30 - Arrival on site
9:35-9:50 - Quick Snack and washrooms
9:50-11:45 - Morning Program
11:45-12:15 - LUNCH
12:15-2:10 - Afternoon Program
~2:20 - Departure


Winter Program Rates at Tillicum:
One Class
 - Half Day (one program) $230 + HST
- Full Day (two programs) $360 + HST
Two Classes
- Half Day $380 +HST
- Full Day $540 + HST


Programs: Each visit will include student use of Nature & You snowshoes for at least one of the two programs.


Welcome to Forest School (K - Gr. 1)

• Students will have an opportunity to self-explore outdoor learning centres in our outdoor forest school area.  These winter-focussed centres for younger learners include snow experiments and observations, snow and ice art, fairy gardens, snow kitchens, and snow home construction.

Animal Tracking Adventure (K-Gr. 1)
-It’s time to put on snowshoes (provided), move like an animal, then follow some of our mystery animal track trails.  Students will discover animal-specific clues along each trail eventually leading to the animal discovery at the end.


Life Below Freezing (Gr. 1-4)

• Students will put on snowshoes (provided) and depart on a winter hike adventure to learn about animal tracking and winter adaptations.  A series of games and activities will teach students how many of our local animals live and thrive in this extreme season.

Seasonal Switch-Up (Gr. 1-4)

• Why do we have seasons?  How do trees and other plants adapt?  Where did most of the wildlife go?  Why can’t I eat snow when I’m thirsty?  These and other questions are explored through a series of hands-on games and activities.

Let’s Keep Warm (Gr. 2-4)

• Students will experience a hands-on introduction to proper winter quinzhee (shelter) building.  They will also learn the components and construction of a basic survival fire during the winter months.

*This program is ideal for full-day visits during the afternoon block to allow proper sintering of the quinzhee snow pile.


Instincts for Survival: Winter Edition (Gr. 2-4)

• The classic food web tag/scavenger hunt game…in winter!  Students are transformed into herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores, and placed in an arena where they must hunt and search for food and water to survive.  Winter edition offers opportunities to jump into snow banks and use it for cover, and the option of wearing snowshoes to simulate large-footed animals well-adapted for deep snow.