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~o Wilderness Program has lots to offer by Alison Butlin Ministry of Natural Resources confidence for exploring In search of some _ the great outdoors. winter wilderness A recent addition to frolic? A little unsure of Ontario's outstanding yourself in the back- system of provincial country? Thenheadfor parks, Frontenac--40 Frontenac Provincial minutes' north of Park--the training Kingston--is the first to ground which can build your knowledge and Winter camping Air Cadet Brian Flint was one of a number of local air cadets and sea cadets who spent a recent weekend in Midland's Little Lake Park preparing for winter camping. The young people also spent {ime on more practical matters, such as building winter shelters. SCOUTS CANAIAN by HARRY BROWN Looking around South Georgian Bay District these days, you won't see much Scouting activity, but there's a lot about to happen. The boys are looking ahead to the Snow Frolic on Feb. 10 and on that subject, John Baker hasn't received many calls. Cheques should be sent to him for registration before Feb. 3. There are many expenses to be met and John would like to know if you are going. Scout-Guide Week begins on Feb. 17 this year. Many groups are sharing with the public their activities. First Midland church parade is Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. The Parent and Son Banquet is on Feb. 22. Don't forget, as if you would, the Cub Car Rally on March 2, and the Scout Scooters Rally on March 10. District executive met on Feb. 4. Next general meeting is on Mareh 4, following the pot luck supper at LaFontaine. Plan to attend one of these fun evenings and share in the pot luck supper and the worthwhile meeting. They don't run late. Supper is at 6:30 p.m. Talk to me { ~ about ' Nobody else has a Registered Retirement Savings Plan quite like our Accumulation Annuity. It offers competitive interest rates for convenient periods, an extensive choice of income options, and there is no front-end load or policy fee. Before you buy an RRSP. talk to me. Harry R. Kennedy 526-8689 Mutual Life of Canada offer a comprehensive wilderness _ skills 'raining program. It introduces enthusiasts to the skills necessary to tackle some of the more challenging wilderness provincial parks, such as Killarney near Sudbury or Quetico in northwestern Ontario. "The park is situated on the southernmost extension of the Canadian Shield, and provides an unusual blend of the geopgraphy chararcteristic to both northern and southern Ontario," says Mike Walton, Frontenac's assistant park superintendent and the winter programs co- ordinator. "'It's close to roads and cottages, so it offers visitors a less intimidating --_introdu- ction to the wilds." Following the success of its summer program, Frontenac is now providing 10 sessions of instruction in winter. activities ranging from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to winter camping and photography. The first of these workshops--ice fishing--was_ held January 13. Subsequent courses will be offered on weekends until March 24. Whether your interest lies in a one-day outing, a weekend excursion or series of ongoing visits, Frontenac's winter skills program is for you. For example, a late- January session provided an opportunity for both novices and those with some ex- perience to learn the many facets of snowhoe travel. The workshop began in the morning, with an informal talk on the background, equipment and (.e'c2h ni gcu.e|S). Jot snowshoeing. The participants then put this training to practical use with an afternoon walk on some of the 160 kilometres. of trails withing the park's 70 square-kilometre area. Another session on January 27 was devoted to examining and discussing the latest equipment used in winter camping--an activity Mike Walton refers, todas. <a demanding, but always exhilarating winter experience." As with all courses provided, the in- instructors are volun- teers from local groups and association, or professionals within their field of specialization. ber S.insd ames; crosscounty skiers will be introduced to waxing techniques and advised on the appropriateness of their equipment by representatives from the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors. Later in the season. individuals may wish to return for a_ full weekend of instruction. On February 9, the Canadian Ski Patrol System--Nordic Patrol will conduct a lecture and practical demon- stration on _ cross- country ski safety. The next day, the Canadian Ski Association offers a discussion and tips on single- and multi-day touring. Toward the end -of the month, a cross- country ski day will provide a final review and a testing ground for the skills learned. All participants choose whether to gain this experience in a complete unit of courses or in individual segments. "The ultimate--goal of the program is to prepare people to enjoy a wilderness outing to its fullest and in ways compatible with the natural surrounding," said Natural Resources Minister Allan Pope. The season at Fron- tenac winds up with a winter photography workshop, allowing the trained snowshoer or cross-country skier to capture better the many moods of winter on film. In preparation for this coming summer, the park is offering trip planning for the canoeists as well as a rock climbing clinic-- CHNOLOGY WEEK Ee Sat. FEB. 9 Oren House O 4M. - warm weather wilder- ness workshops that provide a transition to a whole new season of outdoor _--_ experiences. The $2.50 daily vehicle permit fee is the only cost for nine of the 10 sessions. An additional $10 is required for the winter touring session offered on February 10. All the workshops begin at the newly- constructed trail cen- tre--a veritable oasis amidst the vastness of its surroundings. The centre's concrete structure houses a comfortable, friendly, _ trails carpeted interior, adorned with pine fixtures. A fireplace at the base of a _ semi- circular amphitheatre provides the hub of activity for all workshops, as well as a rest stop for skiers and other outdoor recreationists. Information on the and park highlights are outlinged on the 10 colourful display panels and cases surrounding the fireplace area. In the theatre, visitors can be treated to an audio- visual _ presentation tsb a-e:S 2 OO. to Wilderness," which captures Frontenac Provincial Park in all its seasonal splendor. The Wilderness Skills Program at Frontenac is a_pioneer within the field of teaching outdoor recreational skills to tenderfeet. Whether the park's facilities are used as a stepping stone to more challenging natural environments, or simply a source of weekend fun, Frontenac Provincial park offers an experience which shouldn't be missed We're still waiting for the groundhog The only animal to surface in North a brief glimpse of his shadow (six EERING TECHNOLOGY AN Simcoe on Groundhog Day, Saturday, Feb. 2, was this deer on Dianne - Maynard's front lawn in Wasaga Beach. Maynard reports the buck got 3PM... TECH IN ACTION. C7 G D OLLERS. COMPUTERS YT yh ; C Georgian Co ppc' (am lege IC more weeks of winter) before being buried under another 18 centimetres of.snow over the weekend. Eee, TRAT DI wit Tr Os Page 10, Wednesday, February 6, 1985