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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
A group of junior high students recently spent four days on the land learning survival skills, including how to build shelters and use maps.

Logan Gargan snared the only rabbit caught during a four-day Junior Canadian Ranger winter camp for Deh Gah School junior high students. - photo courtesy of Mike Leishman

The winter camp was organized by Deh Gah School and the Junior Canadian Ranger patrol in Fort Providence. The school had originally planned to offer a junior high winter camp when members of the Canadian Rangers volunteered to help run the event, said teacher Mike Leishman.

On March 13, 12 students, four Canadian Rangers, Warrant Officer Danny Ring, who is a Junior Canadian Ranger instructor from Yellowknife, Leishman and two other community members made the roughly 70-km trip by snowmobile to Falaise Lake, where a series of established cabins are located.

Each day, the students spent about four hours on school work, focusing mainly on how to use a map and compass to navigate through the bush.

Junior Canadian Ranger Sgt. Brandon Thom, 15, said he learned how to determine latitudes and longitudes and how to use a map scale to find out the distances between different points.

The Rangers taught students that knowing how to use a map and compass is important in case GPS units lose power, said Thom.

Thom and nine of the other students were already Junior Rangers before the start of the camp. Three 12-year-old students applied to the program so they could also participate.

Students enjoyed interacting with the Canadian Rangers and because of their involvement the camp was more structured, Leishman said.

Despite cold temperatures – daytime highs measured approximately -24 C – students also participated in outdoor activities.

"It was fun checking beaver traps and stuff," said Thom.

Students checked existing traps and also set rabbit snares. They also split into groups and worked with a Ranger to gather natural materials including spruce boughs to build shelters.

"It was one of the funnest parts of the trip," he said.

After making their shelter with the help of Ranger Eric Nadli, Thom's group lit a fire and enjoyed their creation.

Leah Baptiste, 12, one of the new Junior Rangers, said she also enjoyed building a shelter. Baptiste's group worked with Ranger Stewart Nadli to create a structure that Baptiste described as looking almost like a teepee. It turned out great and blocked the wind, she said.

Baptiste also enjoyed the less structured activities including a bonfire on the second night, during which students made up their own lyrics to popular songs. On the following night, they entertained each other with scary stories.

"It was great, I had a lot of fun," she said.

Students also helped with camp chores including gathering firewood.

The students kept busy and dressed warmly, so the cold did not affect them, said Leishman.

"The kids all enjoyed it," he said about the camp.

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