Les Intrépides en-route

This French camp program is offered to students in French immersion or Francophone schools graduating from grade 3 to 6. It is developed for students who like discovering new places and making new friends. This is a short “away from home” trip to give campers a taste of adventure and independence… all in French. You will spend 2 days in our French day camp program to get to know each other and then go on a 3 day /2 night overnight trip to an exciting destination. This program is supervised by a French teacher and the ratio of counselor to campers will be 1 to 8. This is offered only a few weeks in the summer so be sure to book early. A maximum of 32 campers will be accepted but a minimum of 20 campers is required to run the french overnight camp program.

We only offer 3 sessions of “Intrépides-en-route”.

• the week of July 16th: Midland, Ontario,
• the week of July 30th: Lake St-George, Ontairo
• the week of August 7th: Claremont, Ontario (fee will be reduced for the 4 days week)

It is available for all campuses operating those weeks, however there must be a minimum of 5 campers at a campus for bus pick up on Wednesday morning to be available.

All meals and activities are included. You will drop off your child on Wednesday and pick them up on Friday at the campus. Campers are not guaranteed to be back on time on Friday to make the daily bus service so please plan accordingly.

For all our trips, transportation is provided from each campus by school buses.  All trips are supervised by an experienced teacher who acts as a Chef de mission.  She or he is assisted by experienced Tournesol counselors of both gender.  Their goal is to encourage your child to speak French in a fun and safe environment.  As for all Tournesol camps, all counselors must submit a police background check and be trained for CPR and first aid. Campers are in rooms of 4 –  gender specific.  Counselors are in rooms adjacent to the campers.

Following registration in mid-May, campers will receive a package which includes a detailed itinerary, address of accommodation and a list of things to bring. Any further questions can be directed to us once you have reviewed the package.

Read the description for our trips below and contact us if you have any questions.  We would love to talk to you about it !!  You can also view our video from previous french overnight camp years here!

 

Sainte-Marie-amongst-the Hurons, MIDLAND

Week of July 16th

The week of August 13th, our destination is Midland Ontario.  We will stay in the historic Wye Valley at the Wildfire Outdoor education centre, Wildfire is nestled in beautiful central Ontario, better known as Huronia. Guests experience the great outdoors and participate in programs while enjoying the comfort of one of North America’s largest “Pan abode” cedar structures. The 12,000 square foot lodge sits on 85 wooded-acres along the beautiful Wye River. Wildfire features forested and meadowed grounds where we can enjoy nature in all its glory. The lodge’s large central hall features a huge fieldstone fireplace for groups to gather around.

We leave on Wednesday by bus which will stop at each campus to pick up participants.  Upon arrival we will have lunch onsite and go on a nature walk in beautiful Wye Marsh home to numerous wildlife.  Wye Marsh is designated as an Important Bird Area and is home to an amazing diversity of bird species. Wye Marsh provides nesting habitat to some uncommon species such as Least Bittern, Black Tern and the Trumpeter Swan. we will return to Wildfire for dinner, followed by evening games, friendship bracelets and we will be treated to a campfire, marshmallows and campfire songs.

On Thursday, we will participate in the “In their footsteps” program organized in French by the Ste-Marie-amongst-the-Hurons staff.

Program at Ste-Marie: Campers will be immerse in a day long past at Sainte-Marie-among-the-Hurons.  We will follow in the footsteps of Ontario’s first peoples and the French newcomers as we will explore the mission headquearters.  We will participate in hands-on workshops including 17th century fire-starting techniques, quill pen writing, enjoy Canada’s oldest national sport-lacrosse, and make connections between past and present in the Museum.  The campers will add their footsteps to Ontario’s rich past at Sainte-Marie.

On Friday, we will take a cruise on Georgian Bay on the Miss Midland with French commentary.  We will leave after lunch to return back to the campus.

 

Lake St-George field centre

Week of July 30th

The week of July 30th, our destination will be nearby Lake George field centre in Richmond Hill, Ontario.  Despites the closeness of the city, this site transports you to a natural setting on the shores of a gorgeous small kettle lake.  We will stay onsite in the air-conditioned Bond house.  The house is divided in 2 sections, one for the boys and one for the girls.  The house has a also a lounge, kitchen area, ping pong table etc..  Our meals will be served in the Davies Hall, which is located just steps away.  The Hall is equipped with a fireplace, a gorgeous sunroom with a view overlooking the lake.

Upon arrival on the Wednesday, we will set out to discover our new home and the campers will participate in a cooperative orienteering program. That evening, we will be treated to a campfire, marshmallows and campfire songs.

On Thursday, we will participate in the lake ecology /fish management program where the campers tour the lake on a pontoon boat and then throw fish nets to capture fishes.  Once they are identified and thoroughly “analyzed”, they will be set free in the water.   After lunch, the campers will participate in mini “camp” Olympics with a few group dynamics activities.  In the evening, get ready to discover bats with an introduction to the natural history of bats and some activities followed by a visit to meet the “real” things at dusk.

On Friday, children will learn about trees and tree identification and will make a tree medallion.  They will partake in games of volleyball, soccer, speedball, croquet and horseshoe through their stay at Lake George.

 

Claremont Field center

Week of August 7th

The week of August 7th, we will head to Claremont field centre.  Claremont Field Centre is located in Durham Region, just north of Pickering. It occupies a 160-hectare site off Westney Road just north of Concession 7. The beautiful Duffins Creek runs through the property, flanked by valley slopes of mixed woodlands, open meadows, cedar lowlands and reforested coniferous plantations.  Opened in 1970, Claremont Field Centre is a Panabode cedar-log building with a spacious lounge, wood-burning fireplace, dining area and classroom area.

Claremont Field Centre provides the opportunity to explore one of the region’s healthiest coldwater streams, as well as a chance to look back at our heritage in a restored pioneer log cabin.

During our stay, we will take advantage of these facility as well as the outback challenge course on-site, try at hand at orienteering, have some campfires, participate in wilderness survival games and discover the histroy of the “coureur des bois”

 

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