Outdoor Living Skills
Teaching Girls to Love the Outdoors
Wyonegonic believes strongly in the mission of the Center for Outdoor Ethics “Leave No Trace” (LNT) program. In its simplest form, “Leave No Trace” is about making good decisions to protect the world around you — the world we all enjoy.
Each new camper will learn these principles through the Outdoor living skills (OLS) curriculum, and LNT skills are used throughout our Tripping Program.
About the Program
Part of the Wyonegonic mission is that campers become comfortable living and recreating in the outdoors. A three-pronged message at camp revolves around Discover, Share, Preserve and these overarching topics intertwine with the OLS program goals. Each camper learns skills through in camp program instruction, day trips, and multi-day out-of-camp trips.
Each new camper participates in a oneweek OLS introduction program covering canoeing, campcraft, and ecology. The program provides the foundational skills necessary to ensure individual enjoyment and success at the beginning levels of the trip program.
Campers gain knowledge and learn baseline proficiency in:
- Ecology and environmental ethics
- Fire building and outdoor cooking
- Tent set up, proper camping techniques minimizing impact
- Map and compass use
- Paddling, trimming, balancing, and packing a canoe
Intermediate Campers
They have the opportunity to expand their Outdoor Living Skills through the Junior Maine Woodscraft program. This includes two weeks of instruction culminating in a two-day trip where they prove their proficiencies as a small group while on a trip.
Senior Campers
They have the option to build on their Outdoor Living Skills through the Maine Woodscraft and Junior Maine Guide programs. In the Maine Woodscraft program, campers continue to improve their outdoor skills and knowledge. This includes participation in a two-night test camp trip where campers demonstrate their knowledge and expertise.
JMG candidates are required to pass an assessment of their Maine Woodscraft skills before participating in the program. JMG candidates are full season campers who spend three weeks of instruction and practice in 20 specific skills. They then attend a 5-day testing camp, sponsored by the State of Maine, in the Rangeley Lakes region along with candidates from other Maine camps.
A camper who achieves the JMG certification should be very proud of their accomplishment. Many Wyonegonic JMGs have gone on to become Wyonegonic staff members or work in outdoor education.
Senior campers also have the opportunity to expand canoe skills through paddling skill development prior to single-day whitewater training trips; which in turn provide the necessary skills for participation in the various week-long river trips offered in Senior camp.