Once again we had beautiful weather for our latest Super Kids In Parks session at Murphys Point! This week we set out to learn how to safely build campfires, do some outdoor cooking and build a quinzhee. Thanks, Mother Nature, for that great dump of snow earlier in the week to make our program perfect!

Interpreter extraordinaire Alida Lemieux started us off with her expertise in fire building – demonstrating different techniques and emphasizing safe practices.

Alida making sparks with a magnesium stick.

Next we broke into two groups, switching partway through so everyone could try things out. The girls started off worked on building the cooking fire, and everyone had a chance to try Alida’s nifty magnesium stick, which made sparks to set the tinder alight.

Trying it with matches, too!

Building the cooking fire.

Meanwhile the boys set off with volunteer Phill Brackenbury, who had spent the morning making a big snow pile and allowing it to settle so that we could hollow it out. The kids placed flags in the back wall that were about 30 centimetres long, so they knew when they dug in and hit the sticks they’d gone far enough.

Opening up the door of the quinzhee.

Hello in there!

Digging out the entrance.

Everyone took turns at the various activities, and soon we had a toasty fire ready for cooking! A contingent worked together to assemble the ingredients for maple popcorn, which cooked perfectly and was a tasty treat to go with hot chocolate.

Food and shelter.

Assembling the maple popcorn.

Taste test!

Digging into…popcorn!

We successfully completed a cosy quinzhee, complete with a couple of carved “bunks” and a ventilation hole. Grown-ups even tried it out!

From inside the quinzhee.

Bunk mates!

Thanks to everyone who participated and to all of our volunteers for another fantastic afternoon: Alida, Phill, Dave Kent, Lynn McFarlane, Judy Buehler, Pat Batchelor, Linda McLaren and Stephanie Gray.

The last program in the winter/spring series is a Pond Study set for Sunday, April 28. Watch this space for details. Registration information will be posted on the SKIP page soon.