McGill Outdoors Frosh

DAY ONE → Embrace the first step on your journey as you hop aboard the bus bound for Secteur de la Rivière campground in Forêt Ouareau National Park. Feel the excitement as you arrive, setting up camp in a picturesque spot surrounded by trees and the gentle bubbling of the Rivière du Nord. Break some lunchtime bread with your fellow campers and wander along the river, basking in the beauty of nature. 

As the sun begins to set, hang out and cook dinner with your new pals. Then, as darkness falls, play games, and, of course, indulge in s’mores by the crackling flames of a glowing campfire. Drift off to sleep beneath the stars with the promise of tomorrow’s adventure in your mind.

DAY TWO → Rise early in the morning to cook breakfast while contemplating the day’s challenges. Alongside your newfound companions, start hiking up Mont 107 with a common energy and shared thirst for adventure. At some point, pause at a viewpoint as you eat lunch while gazing down to appreciate the natural beauty of Quebec’s forest. For those craving an extra dose of adventure, an optional extension awaits, offering the chance to explore more of the forest as you take on « Le Sommet ». Return to the campground as dusk approaches, filled with joy as you count your victories and enjoy another delicious dinner (the best food is when you’re hungry). Spend the night making art, playing more games, and hanging out around the fire, all with your new best friends!

DAY THREE → Rise again on your bittersweet last day in the wilderness. Take your time eating breakfast and breaking camp as you relish the memories of your short but amazing time in Ouareau. Rendez-vous with the backpacking group and exchange stories of your adventures as you wait for the bus to take you to the next chapter of your life at McGill with your new outdoor pals and unforgettable memories!

Group 1: Frogs (More experienced) 

DAY ONE → Arrive by bus to Parc La Mauricie prepared to rock and roll and meet the best froshie group around. Have a scenic paddle through the park to the campsite and hang out with your group for the night. Have lots of fun games, good food and, most importantly, great vibes. 

DAY TWO → Wake up excited because today is going to be a day. Get ready for some serious team bonding and character building with a day full of portaging and paddling. We will journey on a loop of fun and mystery. Sleep at and explore a new campsite and hang out after the awesomest day ever. 

DAY THREE → Paddle out (booooo) with some beach stops along the way! Ride the bus back with your new favorite people and amazing memories to start the year off right. 

Group 2: Tadpoles (Novice, aka Canewbies)

DAY ONE → Arrive by bus to Parc La Mauricie prepared to rock and roll and meet the best froshie group around. Have a scenic paddle through the park to the campsite and hang out with your group for the night. Have lots of fun games, good food and most importantly, great vibes. 

DAY TWO → Wake up ready to hit the water! Spend the day doing activities with your new friends. A mix of learning skills and playing games and various day trip adventures. Paddle back and have a fun filled evening with your canoe buddies. 

DAY THREE → Paddle out (booooo) with some beach stops along the way! Ride the bus back with your new favorite people and amazing memories to start the year off right. 

DAY ONE → Drive to Prévost to drop some things off at the MOC House, where we will go over some basic safety and technique skills. After a delicious lunch break, we will head to Parc Régional Val-David to try out some of our sick skills! There, we will split up into two groups: a top rope group and a bouldering group. After a long day of climbing, we will head back to the house for dinner and some activity options. Camp fires, lake swimming, bench bouldering, slacklining, card gaming, board gaming…exciting!!!!

DAY TWO → Wake up, eat breakfast, pack lunches for the day and head back to Val-David! Time to conquer that project!! Don’t worry, if you want to try a different type of climbing, this is your chance! After a scrumptious dinner, we’ll have some more time for fun activities.

DAY THREE → Wake up, eat breakfast, clean up, and say goodbye to the MOC house. We’ll go back to Val-David one last time. If you’re bored of climbing by this point (somehow) we’ll have options for non-climbing activities! When we’re all drained we’ll head back to Montreal… 

DAY ONE → 

Start the next STEP of your life at McGill on the right FOOT as you ride the bus headed to Forêt Ouareau National Park, Secteur du Massif. When you arrive, eat a quick lunch before setting out on a fifteen kilometer-long section of the Sentier National, a legendary trail from Ottawa to New Brunswick, spanning 1650 kilometers across Quebec*. After ascending and descending two peaks, arrive at Lac du Castor and set up camp in some of Quebec’s most pristine wilderness. Enjoy a delicious dinner and spend the evening bonding with your new hiking buddies over games and stories, and fall asleep beneath the stars as you indulge in a well-deserved rest.

* a shorter option is available for less experienced hikers if requested.

DAY TWO →

OPTION 1:

Wake up early and excited for more hiking! Quickly make and eat breakfast before continuing on the Sentier national. Look back at your campsite as you rise above the cliffs that dominate the north side of the lake as you trudge onward towards Lac en Coeur. Eat lunch at the lake and return back to camp as the sun begins to set. Reunite with those who stayed at camp and exchange stories of your adventures.

OPTION 2:

Take a chance to rest by waking up later and spending the morning doing some light exploring around the lake. Get inspired as you watch rock climbers ascend cliffs by the lake as you eat lunch. Play games and chill around camp with other weary hikers. As the sun begins to set, reunite with those who stayed at camp and exchange stories of your adventures.

After cooking and eating dinner, gather around a crackling campfire and indulge in some good-ol’ smores-making. Stargaze and go for late-night swims in the lake, making unforgettable memories with your fellow companions. Sleep well because tomorrow will be another day of walking.

DAY THREE →

Watch the sunrise over the lake on your last bittersweet day in the wilderness. Break camp, pack up, and make breakfast as you prepare for your final steps in the park. Hike along the gentle Riviere du Nord towards the camping group, reminiscing over your triumphs with your new friends. Rendez-vous with the camping group and exchange stories of your adventures as you wait for the bus to take you to the next chapter of your life at McGill with your new outdoor pals and unforgettable memories!