Algonquin Duke of Edinburgh Winter Expedition
Algonquin Winter Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions
Algonquin Winter Duke of Edinbugh Expedtion
Participate in an Algonquin winter Duke of Edinbugh expedition at Algonquin’s north west corner. This adventure builds true grit as participants ski across frozen lakes and snowshoe through waist-deep snow. Using our our Algonquin Log Cabin as a home base, travel with seasoned guides and learn to lead groups, winter camp, travel and cook. Participants will also have the opportunity to rest in a heated wall tent and wood fired sauna after an active day. Start and end the trip in our comfortable and unique log cabin
Authentic Winter Adventure
A truly authentic off-the-beaten path adventure, winter expeditions focus on back-country travel skills, taking participants out of their comfort zones. This trip qualifies for the Algonquin Winter Duke of Edinbugh expedition. These trips include the practice and adventurous journey for bronze, silver or gold award.
Learn, Lead and Grow
Algonquin Duke of Edinburgh winter expeditions focus on personal growth. Learn new winter travel skills and practice goal setting. Participate as part of a team.
What's included
Everything including accommodation, meals, equipment and wilderness instruction
Off the Grid Authentic Adventure
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is intended to be a challenge to help foster personal growth. These winter expeditions are fun and offer the right amount of challenge.
No Experience Necessary
No winter experience is necessary, although these trips present unique challenges that may be better-suited to active people who have some outdoor experience. It is recommended that you can be active at a walking pace for up to 4 hours at a time.
Best in Class Food
Whether cooked over a fire in the heart of Algonquin or served at the massive dining table in the Log Cabin, our meals will impress you.
All Equipment Included
Skis, snowshoes, tents, sleeping pads, food and cooking equipment, plus lots more. You bring all your personal items such as clothing, toiletries and a notebook.
Dates and Rates
Dates and Rates
Availability
2024 – 2025 Winter Departures
Bronze Trip (Practice and Qualifying Expedition)
Dec 29 – 31, 2024
March 14- 16, 2025
Silver Trip (Practice and Qualifying Expedition)
Dec 30- Jan 3 2025
March 9 – 13, 2025
Gold Trip (Practice and Qualifying Expedition)
Dec 30 – Jan 4, 2024
March 9 – 14, 2025
Please call our office for private dates.
Private DOE practice and expeditions for groups between 4 and 8 are available between October 2024 and April 2025 for Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Pricing & Options
- 2 Nights Cabin Accommodation
- All Meals
- All Winter Equipment
- Wilderness Guides
- 4 Nights Accommodation- 1 night Log Cabin, 2 Nights Wall Tent, 1 night basic cabin
- All Meals
- All Winter Equipment
- Wilderness Guides
- 5 Nights Accommodation- 1 night Log Cabin, 2 Nights Wall Tent, 2 night basic cabin
- All Meals
- All Winter Equipment
- Wilderness Guides
Trip Itinerary
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Orientation and pack out
Ice test and safety
Snowshoe down Kawawaymog Lake hauling a sled of gear
Stop to make a fire and lunch
Continue by Snowshoe to the Manitou Cabin
Optional sauna
Dinner
Menu planning
Goal setting session
Accommodation in Algonquin Manitou Cottage
Time at task: 7 hrs
Pack out lunch
Ski lesson followed by backcountry ski through the Finger Islands.. Lunch en route. Afternoon , switch to snowshoes and trek the Ridge loop.
Finish the day shoveling, a rink, collecting firewood and retrieving water from the lake
Dinner
Torchlit broomball. Trip reflection
Accommodation Manitou cabin
Time at task: 9 hrs
Snowshoe and ski the Tower Trail
< Lunch at the VQ Algonquin Base
Clean equipment and pack-in
Trip debrief and paperwork
Depart at 3pm
Orientation and pack out
Ice test and safety
Snowshoe down Surprise Lake hauling a sled of gear
Set up winter camp: assembling the bell tent, shoveling and collecting firewood
Snowshoe to Moose Bay and back
Dinner
Snow soccer
Accommodation in heated tent
Distance: 5 km
Time at task: 10 hrs
Take down and clean up camp
Snowshoe back to the Algonquin Log Cabin Cabin
Lunch
Reorganize, clean gear, shape menu and pack-out food
Cross-country ski lesson and ski Kitchie Island
Optional sauna or luge
Dinner
Goal setting session
Accommodation in the Algonquin Log cabin
Distance: 7 km
Time at task: 10 hrs
Pack sleds and snowshoe down Surprise Lake to set up camp
Lunch
Snowshoe to Music Lake using map and compass
Finish setting up the camp, shoveling, collecting firewood and retrieving water from the lake
Dinner
Snowshoe to tranquility bay and night sky interpretation
Accommodation in wall tent
Distance: 9 km
Time at task: 10 hrs
Break camp and haul sleds back to the Algonquin Log Cabin
Ski island trail
Lunch
Snowshoe to Moose Mountain with map and compass
Dinner in the Lakeview Cabin
Campfire stories of winter travel
Trip reflection
Accommodation in Lakeview cabin
Distance: 10 km
Time at task: 10 hrs
Ski or snowshoe to Loxton Lake
Ski or snowshoe Beaver Loxton Loop
Lunch
Clean equipment and pack-in
Trip debrief and paperwork
Depart at 3pm
Distance: 11 km
Time at task: 8 hrs
Orientation and pack out
Ice test and safety
Snowshoe down Surprise Lake hauling a sled of gear
Set up winter camp: shoveling, assembling wall tent and collecting firewood
Ski to Otter Bay and back
Dinner
Accommodation in wall tent
Distance: 5 km
Time at task: 10 hrs
Take down and clean up camp
Snowshoe back to the Algonquin Log Cabin
Lunch
Reorganize, clean gear, shape menu and pack-out food
Cross country ski lesson and ski Kitchie Island
Optional sauna or luge Dinner
Goal setting session
Accommodation in Algonquin Log Cabin
Distance: 7 km
Time at task: 10 hrs
Pack sleds and snowshoe down Surprise Lake to set up camp
Lunch
Snowshoe to Music Lake using map and compass
Finish setting up the camp, shoveling, collecting firewood and retrieving water from the lake
Dinner
Campfire with winter travel stories
Accommodation in wall tent
Distance: 9 km
Time at task: 10 hrs
Break camp and haul sleds back to the Algonquin Log Cabin
Ski island trail
Lunch
Snowshoe to Moose Mountain with map and compass
Dinner in the Lakeview Cabin
Torch lit broomball
Accommodation in Lakeview Cabin
Distance: 10 km +
Time at task:10 hrs
Options:
Ski loop to Loxton Lake (15 km+)
with dinner and accommodation in Lakeview Cabin
Or
Snowshoe hauling a sled to Hinsberger Lake (10 km+)
with dinner and accommodation in bell tent
Snowshoe with night sky interpretation
Trip reflection
Distance: 10 – 18 km
Time at task: 10-11 hrs
Ski and snowshoe to the top of the Tower Trail
Lunch on the trail
Return early afternoon
Clean equipment and pack-in
Trip debrief and paperwork
Depart at 3pm
Distance: 12 km
Time at task: 9 hrs
Client Testimonials
“My daughter just did her duke of Edinburgh bronze adventurous journey…she really loved it. She learned so much from her assessor Laramie she was wonderful. Claire was amazing she help me last minute in booking the camp and bus for her.
I will definitely recommend this trip for anyone who will like to complete there Duke of Edinburgh program. Very educational and fun! You learn stuff that you don’t learn In class. Again definitely worth it. “
Bernita
“Wow! What a winter adventure the girls had!! Emma had such a good time and also thought the guides were amazing!! Emma especially enjoyed making the Winter Green tea out of fern leaves! The girls are now thinking about their silver expedition in Spring!”
Kristy
FAQs
Yes this trip does meet the requirements for the Practice and Qualifying Adventurous Journey. Voyageur Quest works closely with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Office to ensure we are constantly updating our trips to meet the necessary requirements. However, it is important that each student clear the trip with their Award leader as a particular trip may not be qualifying based on previous trips/experiences.
No! Our Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys are designed to be a learning experience for all students! The practice journey allows students the opportunity to learn, ask questions and set goals for their Qualifying Journey.
Absolutely! Most of the students on our scheduled adventures are solo travellers. It is a great opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and meet new friends.
There is! Due to the early start of our Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey’s students who require transportation can arrive the night before on the Ontario Northland Bus, stay at our Bunkhouse and have dinner and breakfast on site before beginning the practice and qualifying journey!
Yes! All of our scheduled adventurous journeys include the necessary practice, night off and adventurous journey, along with the proper time period based on the level the student is working towards.
All meals, park permits, equipment, accommodation and services of a wilderness guide/supervisor and assessor is included in the price. Students are required to bring their own clothing and sleeping bag. Sleeping bags are available for rent and transportation can be arranged for an additional cost.
The specific clothing suggestions do vary based on the trip and time of year, however each student will be sent a detailed packing list upon their booking.
Each Duke of Edinburgh trip typically has between 5-8 students on each trip. Each trip is co-ed and students are typically between 14-21.
We are happy to accommodate any dietary requirement. We are able to accommodate vegetarian and most allergies at no additional cost. For more speciality diets such as vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free there is an additional cost. Please be sure to describe your requirement in detail when making your booking. For guests who have an anaphylactic allergy, it is required they bring 2 EPI Pens.
Following the guidelines and recommendations from the Duke of Edinburgh Award office, it is highly discouraged and often does not meet the requirements of the adventurous journey for parents to join the trip.
Due to our remote location students and guides will complete the report in person at the end of the trip and take a picture of it. Students then upload a scanned copy or picture of their report and send it to the Duke of Edinburgh Online Reporting Form. This form should should show our VQ email [email protected] as the assessment authorizing email with the Director’s name, John Langford, noted on the form (NOT THE GUIDE’S EMAIL). The Duke of Edinburgh office will then send the Director at [email protected] an automatic notification requiring him to electronically sign off on the student’s successful completion of both the practice and qualifying journeys.
All our guides are trained and experienced professionals. They are not camp counselors, but mature wilderness guides with a minimum of 40 hours wilderness first aid training, and many have completed post-secondary degrees in this field.
Yes definitely! There is a minimum 4 people required for a group and a max of 8 people – the price will range based on how many people you have in your group.
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