Wolf Den Bunkhouse and Cabins Blog

March Break Retreat

2014-01-22T11:43:00.002-05:00

We are excited to be offering our sixth annual March Break Nature Retreat! This retreat will offer you a chance to rejuvenate in nature’s beauty, deepening your connection to, and understanding of, the natural world. We will be expanding our awareness & knowledge, while exploring some of the many uses of nature’s gifts. Learn new skills to bring back to the classroom or integrate into your life with friends, family, or at work. Families are welcome to attend and learn new ways to connect in the outdoors as a family.
Some of this years activities may include: learning to felt, making pine needle baskets, tracking wolves and other creatures through the snow, winter games and fires, learning about what we call “coyote mentoring”, sharing great food and so much more. Come alone, with a friend or with your family and deepen your connection to the land in the Algonquin Winter Wonderland!
A Children & Youth (6 – 12yrs) program will run simultaneously with the adult program.
Activities Include:

Studying Wildlife through the “Eye of a Tracker”
Snowshoeing and Camp Fires
Basket and Container Making with Natural Materials
Wilderness Awareness Games/Activities
Story Telling
Wilderness Crafts with Natural Materials
Intro to Mentoring with Nature’s Cycles (Coyote Mentoring)
Good Food & Good Fun
And Much Much More

Location: The Wolf Den Bunkhouse, in Oxtongue, Ontario. Approx 20min East of Huntsville.

Cost: $380 – Adult; $280 – Children (includes lodging and dinners from Sunday-Tuesday)

Dates: Sunday March 9th – Wednesday March 12th

Bursaries are an available option through the Best Day Ever Fund. Contact our office administrator (Amanda) for an application or further questions.
Transportation is not arranged or organized by the program, so individual/family organization of transportation is necessary.
All bursaries dependent upon individuals/families being able to organize their own transportation to the site.

Registration

To register for the March Break Retreat contact us at 416 792 2772, or email info@pineproject.org

Book the Whole Wolf Den this Fall or Winter

2012-06-24T14:27:00.000-04:00

Bookings for this upcoming fall and winter are starting to roll in.

Stewardship Project: Great Wilderness Clean up

2012-04-23T18:41:00.003-04:00

Stewardship: the ethic of taking responsibility as caretakers for the World around us.

On Saturday June 2nd the Wolf Den, in partnership with Algonquin Outfitters will be forming The Wolf Pack to beautify interior sites in Algonquin Park. Participants will receive free day passes from Algonquin Park, free canoe rentals from Algonquin Outfitters, and 2 nights for the cost of one for the weekend accommodation at the Wolf Den. The event will begin on Friday night with organizing into groups and the distribution of gloves and bags. We will clean up all day Saturday, returning to the Wolf Den for a potluck supper and prizes provided by Algonquin Outfitters. This event is fun, social and extremely successful.

We do this for a number of reasons. Acts of stewardship are a way of giving back to the world that provides for us. Picking up a bit of garbage not only helps beautify the landscape but it also helps set a baseline for others to follow, resulting in less litter throughout the summer. Stewardship is also good for the human spirit. People feel good about contributing to something positive and in a group setting this positive feeling is intensified. Smiling, laughing, and forming new friendships are just a few of the side effects.

We will be keeping The Wolf Den group to a 30 person maximum for simplicity and effectiveness. Please contact The Wolf Den for further details.

If you can't make this event there are other groups participating in a larger event on Mothers Day weekend. Visit Wilderness Clean up for more information on other groups.

If you can't make either event dates then I encourage you to go out on one of those days (or both) and pick up a bit of trash!!

March Break Retreat for Educators and Nature Lovers

2012-01-05T09:08:00.004-05:00

We are excited to be offering our fourth annual March Break Nature Retreat! This retreat will offer you a chance to rejuvenate in nature’s beauty, deepening your connection to, and understanding of, the natural world. We will be expanding our awareness & knowledge, while exploring some of the many uses of nature’s gifts. Learn new skills to bring back to the classroom or integrate into your life with friends, family, or at work. Families are welcome to attend and learn new ways to connect in the outdoors as a family.

A Children & Youth (6 – 16yrs) program will run simultaneously with the adult program.

When: March 12 – 15, 2011 (March Break)
Where: Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat, Oxtongue, ON, 8 min West of Algonquin Park.
Food: We will provide healthy, wholesome dinners. Participants bring & prepare their own lunch & breakfast in the Wolf Dens communal kitchen.
Cost:  Includes 3 nights accommodations, 3 dinners, course materials, snow shoes extra if required.

Adult: $360

Youth/Child: $220

Activities Include:

Studying Wildlife through the “Eye of a Tracker”
Snowshoeing and Camp Fires
Basket and Container Making with Natural Materials
Wilderness Awareness Games/Activities
Story Telling
Wilderness Crafts with Natural Materials
Intro to Mentoring with Nature’s Cycles (Coyote Mentoring)
Good Food & Good Fun
And Much Much More

For more information please visit The P.I.N.E. Project

Algonquin Winter Wildlife Tracking

2011-12-21T10:32:00.003-05:00

Join White Pine Programs on it’s 13th Annual Winter Wildlife Tracking
trip to scenic & Wild Algonquin Provincial Park.

Over the past decade, White Pine Programs, a unique nature-based learning or-ganization from Maine, has developed a relationship with the Wildlife Research Station, a well-known field science facility located in the heart of Algonquin Park. As a result, we’re able to offer this unique educational expedition that focuses on wildlife tracking, winter ecology, and nature connection.

The goals of the trip are to immerse participants in a tracking culture. Each day, we scout for track & sign, make a plan, then track & trail wildlife all day in small groups. At the end of the day, we unwind, eat hearty meals, and share the story of the day, all the while making hypotheses as to the movements and interactions of the animals we track and trail.

Over the past 12 years, we’ve tracked & trailed: Eastern Wolf, American Mar-ten, Fisher, River Otter, Red Fox, Snowshoe Hare, Moose, White-Tailed Deer, Long and Short-Tailed Weasels, Mink, Ruffed Grouse, and more.
Topics Studied include: track identification, sign identification, trailing, trail interpretation, trail patterns vs. gaits, predictive trailing, winter birding, bird language, kill site analysis, and more.

Contribute to Science: Each year, we coordinate our efforts with those of various re-searchers in the park and serve as a data collection team- contributing to interesting studies. Past courses have collected data for studies on: Eastern Wolves, Moose, Fisher, Flying Squirrels, American Marten, & Gray Jays.
We only take 10 participants on this journey. Such small groups facilitate quality tracking time in the field and around the dinner table at night. The Staff is led by Dan Gardoqui and Alexis Burnett

Read the Reviews….
“This was a wonderful week. Small groups, excellent leader-ship, and exciting animal tracks wherever we looked. I could’ve stayed another week!” -2004 Participant
“Everyone was so supportive – the instructors & the group. It doesn’t matter where you are on your journey…beginner or experienced… you feel comfortable.” -2002 Participant
“The Algonquin Tracking trip is unbelievably rich with learning experi-ences – inside and out.” -2008 Participant

Register online http://www.whitepineprograms.org/get-involved/register/ or call 207-361-1911 today. There are only 10 spaces.
Dates: Sunday Feb. 19 - Friday, Feb. 24 2012
Cost: $695 USD (includes food, & lodging)
For more Details: Contact Dan Gardoqui dan@whitepineprograms.org

Edible Wilds and Medicinal Plants Class

2011-04-22T12:18:00.001-04:00

June 9th - 12th

Presented by Earth Tracks

The plant world provides many gifts for us; Nutrition, Medicine, Utilitarian Uses, Natural Beauty & Guidance among others. It can be hard to know where to start when first learning how to work with the plants that surround us. In this class the student will learn how to penetrate the ‘wall of green’ and begin their own journey with the plants that surround us. We will focus on proper identification techniques, the use of field guides, drying, storing and preparation of these plants, medicinal properties as well as herbal tea making. The participant will gain practical hands on experience and come away from the program with an understanding of how to pursue future studies of wild edible and medicinal plants. These skills and techniques will help to deepen your relationship with the plant nation and provide a solid foundation on which to increase your knowledge.

This class will take place at the Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat
near Oxtongue lake next to Algonquin Park The cost of the program is $350 and includes 3 nights lodging, 3 dinners*, instruction and all materials.

Registration for this program will be done through Earth Tracks. We require a $100 deposit in order to secure your spot in the program. For more information please visit our website at http://www.earthtracks.ca/

For information on the Wolf Den and their facilities please visit their website at
http://www.wolfdenbunkhouse.com/

* We will supply 3 dinners. Participants are responsible for their own breakfast, lunch and snacks. Full kitchen facilities are available.

Wolf Den Green Building Workshop #1 - Stage Two - April 29th, 30th, May 1st

2011-04-14T12:21:00.003-04:00

The Wolf Den is currently undertaking its first building project. We are building a very small, experimental building using recycled material and alternative building methods. The building purpose is to explore less impactful building options while re-using waste materials. From the ground up the building will consist of used car tires, local timber, straw bale, used windows and doors, used glass bottles and possibly a living roof. The building will be off the grid with day lighting and solar powered LED lights for night time. The eventual building design will evolve through the process allowing for learning along the way

Stage one – Site Preparation – Removal of a few small trees and root systems - hand shovelling a hole10’X10’ wide and 4’ deep to get below the frost line. COMPLETE Many thanks go out to Earth Steward Intern Stephen Fuller, and our 2 Irish helpers Rory Maguire, and Mark Bulling. They spent many hours digging the hard ground while being devoured by blackflies and mosquitoes

Stage two – Foundation – No Gym memberships required for this great full body work out! The dirt removed from the hole will be pounded into used car tires which are stacked like bricks to form the foundation walls in a design sometimes referred to as earthship or tire home. The days will not just be pounding tires. There will be routines of health, community and nature incorporated into the event, including sit spots, morning exercises and stretching, nature hikes, music and pot luck meals.

Cost: Just your labour, eagerness to learn and a fun attitude

What you get: Free accommodation at the Wolf Den for Friday and Saturday nights. Experience with tire home building (also can be used for retaining walls), good work out, free guided interpretive nature hike, free time with nature.

To Register: Please email Ben at wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com Space is limited to 6 people but we plan on running more workshops this summer.

Great Wilderness Clean up - May 14th

2011-04-11T10:35:00.002-04:00

The Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat is proud to announce that once again we will be participating in the Great Wilderness Clean up.

On Saturday May 14th the Wolf Den, in partnership with Algonquin Outfitters will be forming The Wolf Pack to beautify interior sites in Algonquin Park. Participants will receive free day passes from Algonquin Park, free canoe rentals from Algonquin Outfitters, and ½ price accommodation from the Wolf Den. The event will begin on Friday night with organizing into groups and the distribution of gloves and bags. We will clean up all day Saturday, returning to the Wolf Den for a potluck supper and prizes provided by Algonquin Outfitters. This event is fun, social and extremely successful.

We will be keeping The Wolf Den group to a 30 person maximum for simplicity and effectiveness. Please contact The Wolf Den for further details.

Earth Steward Intern

2011-03-11T15:04:00.000-05:00

Come to the edge of Algonquin Park and immerse yourself in natural learning, primitive and traditional wilderness & naturalist skills, organic gardening, sustainable energy projects, permaculture and ecotourism. The Wolf Den Hostel and Earth Mentorship Programs have teamed up to create this great internship position. You will have the chance to build your resume while learning a diverse range of transferable skills that promote resiliency & adaptability in a changing world and stewardship of the land.

Tasks with the Wolf Den:
- 1 hour of cleaning in Wolf Den lodge per day
- Landscaping and organic gardening
- Assisting in development and implementation of permaculture planning
- Develop and implement interpretive nature trail
- Learn about various task involved in the operations management of an
ecotourism business and outdoor education business
- Assist in log building maintenance and the construction of a rammed tire foundation
- Assist in building alternative energy sources (ie. Solar collector, solar dehydrator)
- Assist Lake Steward in lake water sampling, lake vegetation
inventory, local nature club

Benefits and Programs:
- Complete Wilderness Awareness school Kamana 1 Naturalist training program
- Tent site at the Wolf Den and garden space/sharing and use of all facilities
- Meet people from all over the world
- Use your time off to explore the wonders of the Algonquin region by
canoe, kayak, bike, hiking, and camping.
- A chance to also learn about wilderness living skills, bush craft and sustainable living.

Tasks with Earth Mentorship Programs:
- Wild crafting natural materials for upcoming workshops such as plants & friction fire kits
- Preparing demo pieces such as bow drill kits and containers (you will be
mentored in how to do this)
-Helping collect forest inventory and write sustainable management plans for land owners
- Helping mentor local youth at wilderness skills summer camps
- Helping build primitive living camp including birch bark lodge
- Helping implement permaculture and forest gardening plans
- Working in organic garden

Educational workshops you will get to attend:
- Empowering Ancient Ways: April 21 – May 1 or Sept 4 – 10
- Intro to friction fires & bird language – May 13th & 14th
- Edible & medicinal plants – June 9 – 12
- Staff training for kids wilderness camps (wilderness skills mentoring intensive)
- Several other opportunities will likely be available and discussed at beginning of internship
- Ongoing mentoring throughout summer in tracking, naturalist skills and primitive/survival skills

For More information on these workshops please see: http://www.earthmentorship.com

Work hours: 4 hours per day mid may through until the end of August
Position is unpaid but provides many benefits including career skill development and programs worth over $1000 plus accommodation

Please send applications to Ben Teskey at wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com by April 10th

Reading Week Special

2011-02-14T20:59:00.003-05:00

Looking for a fun and relaxing way to spend your school break? College and University Student special for this upcoming reading break of 25% off regular prices for students with valid student cards. Ski, snowshoe, hike, play some music, sweat it out in the sauna or even READ in our comfy lounge by the fireplace. If there is enough interest we are planning on running some survival and tracking workshops during this time as well. Inquire at wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com Subject to availability!

Cheers, Ben
P.S. Please spread the word!

Wolf Den as a Wedding Venue

2011-02-07T11:02:00.001-05:00

We received this nice review from a guest who thinks the Wolf Den would make a nice wedding venue. Please read http://jessicalinphoto.blogspot.com/2011/02/unique-wedding-venue-wolf-den-algonquin.html Thanks

Program - March Break Retreat

2011-01-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

For Teachers, Parents, Educators &
Nature Lovers
March 15 - 18, 2010

Spend March Break relaxing in nature’s beauty, learning new skills to bring back to the classroom, to your day-to-day life, or to share with your children, while increasing your knowledge of the natural world.
Earth Mentorship Programs brings you the third annual, "March Break Nature Retreat - For Teachers, Parents, Other Educators, and Nature Lovers" being held at the Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat on the edge of Algonquin Park.
Activities Include:
- Studying Wildlife through the Eye of a Tracker
- Snowshoeing and Camp Fires
- Basket and Container Making
- Wilderness Awareness Games/Activities
- Story Telling
- Wilderness Crafts with Natural Materials
- Intro to Earth Based Mentoring (coyote mentoring)
- Good Food & Good Fun
- Sauna
- And Much Much More

For more information please view:

Our Web Page: http://www.earthmentorship.com/
Or contact us at: 705-635-1991 or mailto:chris@earthmentorship.com

Tracking Club - January 30th

2011-01-04T13:37:00.000-05:00

Eastern Woodlands Tracking Club will be hosting a meeting at the Wolf Den on January 30th, 1pm - 5pm. All ages welcome. No experience necessary. Cost is only a willingness to learn and share.
We will spend the afternoon outside interpreting the stories written in the snow by the local wildlife. Past events have found us trailing; moose, deer, fisher, otter and wolf to name a few.

We track to understand better the life strategies and challenges of the animals we love. We read into how they move, what they eat, where they hang out, when they are active, what they react to...

Please let us know if you plan on attending.
Happy Trails!

Eastern Woodlands Tracking Club

2010-10-29T10:58:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been to a wilderness area that you thought was ripe with wildlife, only to see next to nothing? Wondered if something was wrong and the animals were gone? Wondered if they even existed?
Enter the world of tracking! Take your explorations deeper and you may find that the animals have left behind the story of their existance. Footprints, signs of feeding, getting rid of waste, bedding down for the night, playing, hunting and escaping (maybe from you?) are often all around you. When were they here? What were they doing? Why were they here? How were they moving? How are they influenced by the world around them and by time and space? These are the questions of the tracker.
Join us this Sunday, October 31st for our first meet of the year, at the Wolf Den, starting at 11:00. Topics will include tracking philosophy, animal forms, trailing, pressure releases, and tracking as a team. It is halloween so come dressed as an animal and bring a dish for a pot luck afterwards. This is an almost free event. The cost is a smile and a willingness to learn and share! Please email me, Ben at wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com for more info. Happy Tracking!

Hostess with the Mostest!

2010-10-28T12:26:00.000-04:00

It’s been quite the experience here working for the Wolf Den as one of the hosts this past summer and fall season. The summer season was filled with warm sunny days and amazing people from all over the world while the fall season was a little more calm, but I was able to experience the stunning colours of the trees while enjoying the different hikes and trails through Algonquin and the Wolf Den area. I am looking forward to continuing my stay through the winter season until next summer. This past summer my boss Ben decided to hire two people as a host as well as an intern who spent the summer created a trail as well as learning about the environment and nature in depth. After just recently graduating University and looking for a fulltime position for a year, I have been lucky enough to continue my work as hostess at the Den until May as I should have been finished this coming weekend. Staying at the Wolf Den has allowed me to do some soul searching of my own. Just being here for a number of months and experiencing all the new opportunities that nature and the Wolf Den has to offer, I’ve already learned a lot about myself and what it is I want in life. My love for nature and the outdoors has grown extensively since I have been here. Hiking all of the different trails in Algonquin I got to experience what the trails looked like in the summer as well as during Algonquin’s peak season for coloured leaves... stunning, words and photos don’t do justice. I look forward to the winter season where I can experience Algonquin’s cold weather and learn about the different animals that inhabit Algonquin and the Wolf Den through the winter season. Not to mention seeing some familiar faces as well as new ones. Everyone that comes to stay here is always friendly and they have no trouble interacting with others. I invite everyone to come out and join the pack to visit the Wolf Den and experience all the different activities winter has to offer such as cross country skiing, snow shoeing, dog sledding, and tracking. I guarantee, it will be an experiences you won’t ever forget.. I know I sure won’t!!
Signing out for know..
Cheers,
Kristen Wozniak

Great Wilderness Clean up

2010-04-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

Happy spring! The Wolf Den is once again participating in the great wilderness clean up. On May the 8th we will be spending the day cleaning the back country of Algonquin Park. Half price accommodation for friday and saturday nights, free day pass from the park, bbq provided by m+ms plus a potluck, free canoe rentals from Algonquin Outfitters, and loads of prizes and fun! Please email wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com or call 1-866-271-9336 to register. Thanks, Ben

Spring Newletter

2010-03-30T14:45:00.000-04:00

Spring is well underway and signs are more visible everyday out here in Algonquin Park. The sun has been keeping us in good company these days as we have been tapping maple trees and boiling down the sap for syrup. We have seen fresh moose tracks across the road and some guests even caught a glimpse of them trotting along highway 60. Many of the birds are returning from their holidays down south and are busy making nests. We expect the wild flowers to start popping up any day now.
Aside from all the natural beauties that are unfolding around us, we have a few things happening here at the Wolf Den too.
Easter Weekend still has space available for anyone wanting to join us for a weekend to enjoy the excitement of spring with temperatures near the end of the week predicted to hit around 20 degrees!

The Great Wilderness Clean-Up - May 8-10
The Wolf Den, in partnership with Algonquin Outfitters will once again be forming The Wolf Pack to beautify interior sites in Algonquin Park. Participants will receive free day passes from Algonquin Park, free canoe rentals from Algonquin Outfitters, and ½ price accommodation from the Wolf Den. The event will begin on Friday night with organizing into groups and the distribution of gloves and bags. We will clean up all day Saturday, returning to the Wolf Den for a potluck supper and prizes provided by Algonquin Outfitters. This event is fun, social and extremely successful.
Read more: http://wolfdenbunkhouse.blogspot.com/2010/03/great-wilderness-clean-up.html
Groups across North & South America and the UK will be taking part in their own Park Systems. If you would like to set up a group in your own area follow this link: http://www.wildernesscleanup.com/

Edible Wilds and Medicinal Plants Class - June 10th - 13th
Presented by Earth Tracks
The plant world provides many gifts for us; Nutrition, Medicine, Utilitarian Uses, Natural Beauty & Guidance among others. It can be hard to know where to start when first learning how to work with the plants that surround us. In this class the student will learn how to penetrate the ‘wall of green’ and begin their own journey with the plants that surround us.
Read more: http://www.wolfdenbunkhouse.com/education-centre/index.html

Wishing you great adventures,
The Wolf Den team

Earth Steward Intern

2010-03-26T15:19:00.000-04:00

Come to the edge of Algonquin Park and immerse yourself in natural learning, wilderness & naturalist skills, organic gardening and ecotourism. The Wolf Den Hostel and Earthmentorship Programs have teamed up to create this great internship position. You will have the chance to build your resume while learning a diverse range of transferable skills that promote resiliency & adaptability in a changing world and stewardship of the land.

Tasks with the Wolf Den:
- 1 hour of cleaning in Wolf Den lodge per day
- Landscaping and organic gardening
- Assisting in development and implementation of permaculture planning
- Develop and implement interpretive nature trail
- Learn about various task involved in the operations management of an
ecotourism business and outdoor education business
- Assist in log building maintenance
- Assist in building alternative energy sources (ie. Solar collector,
solar dehydrator)
- Assist Lake Steward in lake water sampling, lake vegetation
inventory, and starting up a local nature club

Benefits and Programs:
- Complete Wilderness Awareness school Kamana 1 Naturalist training program
- Tent site at the Wolf Den and garden space/sharing and use of all facilities
- Meet people from all over the world
- Use your time off to explore the wonders of the Algonquin region by
canoe, kayak, bike, hiking, and camping.
- A chance to also learn about wilderness living skills and bushcraft

Tasks with Earth Mentorship Programs:
- Wild crafting natural materials for upcoming workshops
- Preparing demo pieces such as bow drill kits and containers (you will be
mentored in how to do this)
- Office work such as: data entry & filing, setting up data bases, office
organization, web page updates
- Taking pictures at the workshops you attend

Educational workshops you will get to attend:
- Natural Container Making - June 20th
- Intro to Wilderness Survival & Ancient Living Skills - Aug 4 – 6
- Family Nature Awareness Games – August 7
- Wolf Howl Canoe Trip into Algonquin Park - Aug 12 – 15 (still to be confirmed)
- Empowering Ancient Ways (week long wilderness skills immersion)- Sept 5 – 11
+ mentoring in tracking, naturalist skills and survival throughout the summer

For More information on these workshops please see: http://www.earthmentorship.com

Work hours: 4 hours per day mid may through until the end of August
Position is unpaid but provides many benefits and programs worth over $1000 plus accommodation

Please send applications to Ben Teskey at wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com by April 10th

Empowering Ancient Ways

2010-03-25T09:21:00.000-04:00

– Deepening our connection with nature through

Ancient Wilderness Living Skills -

The core skills of this course have been brought together after much preparation and introspection as to how to incorporate the most well-rounded and universal wilderness wisdom and teachings into one week-long experience. This course provides the ingredients to enrich the life of anyone who lives on planet Earth, from the most seasoned wilderness guides to wildlife biologists, busy professionals who yearn for the sanctity of the wild, or anybody interested in being thoroughly introduced to wilderness living skills.

Our Passion to teach has evolved from our experience as passionate students, learning to integrate the wisdom found in pure wilderness, and emulating that firm sense of connection. Our approach has evolved out of learning to help our students to create intentful routines from the skills that have lasted through all time. We set students up for success by helping them to become aware of the wilderness that surrounds them all the time. Here begins the journey to understanding the difference between Wilderness Survival & Wilderness Living. The choice is yours, when you make it.

Course Topics Include:

Shelter, Water, Fire, Food
Wildlife Tracking
Bird language, concentric rings and base line symphony
Stone, bone, and antler tools and usage
Tree and Plant Fibers- Harvesting, Processing and Preserving
Tanning and Preserving Hides and Animal Skins in various ways
Stalking, Natural Movement, and Camouflage
Stewardship and Caretaker Ethics Emphasized
Empowering our ecological footprint (your tracks)
Traditional cooking and food preservation
Container making, and More!
Student Testimonial

“My experience at Empowering Ancient Ways really helped to clarify the direction I want to take in my life. The awareness skills and sit spot exercise helped me acquire my summer job last year and reinvigorated my interest in pursuing post-graduate studies at university. The teaching and support given by Skeet and the rest of the crew was incredible and really helps you strive for success. The bow drill was personally the most difficult skill that I succeeded in performing and gave me the greatest sense of accomplishment I’ve had as far back as I can remember. The people that you meet there are great and the sense of community that develops exceeds the duration of the courses. I would highly recommend Sticks and Stones Wilderness School to anyone who loves the outdoors, wants a challenge or wishes to experience something new. I am definitely looking to take more classes.” ~ Chris Deduke, student

When: April 25 – May 1 & Sept 5 – 11, 2010

Where: Kimbercote Farm, Grey Bruce County, ON

Cost: $650

Includes: Instruction, 3 hearty meals/day, dorm style accommodation or camping and materials for duration of the course.

Contact Chris at chris@earthmentorship.com for more details

Great Wilderness Clean up

2010-03-23T14:04:00.000-04:00

The Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat is proud to announce that once again we will be participating in the Great Wilderness Clean up. On Saturday May 8th groups from North and South America, and the UK will be going out into nature and cleaning up garbage! To join a group in your area or to form your own group please visit Great Wilderness Clean Up

The Wolf Den, in partnership with Algonquin Outfitters will once again be forming The Wolf Pack to beautify interior sites in Algonquin Park. Participants will receive free day passes from Algonquin Park, free canoe rentals from Algonquin Outfitters, and ½ price accommodation from the Wolf Den. The event will begin on Friday night with organizing into groups and the distribution of gloves and bags. We will clean up all day Saturday, returning to the Wolf Den for a potluck supper and prizes provided by Algonquin Outfitters. This event is fun, social and extremely successful.

We will be keeping The Wolf Den group to a 30 person maximum for simplicity and effectiveness. Please contact The Wolf Den for further details.

Jobs at The Wolf Den

2010-03-16T08:53:00.000-04:00

Spend an amazing summer working at the edge of beautiful Algonquin Park as a host at the Wolf Den Hostel & Nature Retreat. Meet people from all over the world and use your time off to explore the wonders of the park by canoe, kayak, bike, hiking, and camping. A chance to also learn about wilderness living skills and bushcraft.

Title: Host - 2 positions

Job Duties:
- Greet guests and acquaint them with facility and activities of Algonquin Park
- Housekeeping and general maintenance
- Dealing with payments and accounting spreadsheets
- Use permaculture principles to help integrate into Wolf Den function and site
- Care for organic gardens
- Deal with guest concerns, inquiries and bookings

Requirements and Attributes:
- Love of natural world
- Standard First Aid
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to take initiative and work independently
- Able to work in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

Work Term:
Position 1: May 1st – August 31st (full time) with possibility of extension.
Position 2: July 1st - August 31st (full time) with possibility of extension.

Rate of Pay:
$ 1450/ month, plus accommodation.

Please send resume and cover letter to Ben Teskey:
wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com

4568 Hwy 60, Dwight ON,
POA 1H0

March Break Nature Retreat

2010-02-02T15:02:00.000-05:00

For Teachers, Parents, Educators &
Nature Lovers
March 16 - 19, 2010

Spend March Break relaxing in natures beauty, learning new skills to bring back to the classroom or to your day-to-day life, and increasing your knowledge of the natural world. Earth Mentorship Programs brings you the second annual, "March Break Nature Retreat - For Teachers, Parents, Other Educators, and Nature Lovers" being held at the Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat on the edge of Algonquin Park. For more information please view:

On line Poster: http://www.chris.earthmentorship.com/MarchBreakRetreat.pdf

Our Web Page: http://www.earthmentorship.com

Or contact us at: 705-788-1210 or chris@earthmentorship.com

Edible Wilds and Medicinal Plants Class

2010-01-05T17:33:00.000-05:00

June 10th - 13th

Presented by Earth Tracks

Live at the Wolf Den - Saturday December 5th

2009-12-02T09:59:00.000-05:00

Come and enjoy an evening of original piano-folk and guitar songs with singer song writter Kate Jones.

Kate is a solo piano-folk artist who began her song writing career at the age of fourteen. Kate's third and most recent cd, Her Seasons, was released in December 2008. The album is a collection of guitar and piano songs that explore the rhythmic, brave journey of a relationship through its cycle of bliss, traum, and renewal. Kate's music is lyrical and heart-felt, and her sweet angelic voice penetrates to the heart of her listeners. Her sensitive piano and guitar playing coupled with her honest vocal emotionality bring a sense of calmness to her listeners. Kate's lyrics are thoughtful and rich, with the theme of nature recurring throughout. Also a talented painter and drawer, Kate sets out original art pieces to decorate her stage.
Blessed with an angelic voice and a love of performing, Kate began her music career at the age of fifteen by playing at local talent shows and cofeee houses in Newmarket, Ontario. She has continued to perform locally in Ontario as well as in Quebec, and internationall in France and Germany.

Kate has several shows and performances lined up for 2009, including the annual ASK Soiree in King City, Renees Cafe in South River, The Wolf Den Hostel in Oxtongue Lake, the Round House in Caledon, and the Lyric Pond Festival in Honeywood, Ontario. She is also currently working on her next cd, to be released in early 2010.
Please visit http://www.katejones.ca/ for updates and information about upcoming performances.
Make sure to reseve your spot for this lovely evening at The Wolf Den

2009-11-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

Is anyone out there or have you all gone into hibernation yet?!

Well don’t go to sleep yet! With winter upon us that does not mean that we nod off here at the Wolf Den. Throughout the winter months we have a number of events and programs running.

“Gifts from Your Own Hands and an Evening with Kate Jones”
December 4-6, 2009
Coming up quickly is your opportunity to join us for a festive craft making weekend here at the Wolf Den. We will be running 4 workshops on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to help get you started on some homemade gifts. Workshops will include beading, wreath making, felting and potato stamp card making. Fees for each session will only amount to material costs and each is optional attendance. You may join a free Saturday morning guided walk before sessions begin. Saturday night we have a special guest, Singer Song writer Kate Jones, who will perform a by donation concert in our cozy lounge.
Accommodation rates for that weekend will be $25/person per night.
For more information call 1-866-271-9336 or email wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com.

Chris Gilmour, founder of Earth Mentorship, has a number of programs running here through the winter and into the spring.

“At Home in Your Body, at Home in Nature”
Exact dates to be determined but to fall late February or early March.
This program intertwines yoga and a deeper connection to your body with wilderness awareness and a deeper connection to the natural world.

“A Retreat for Teachers, Parents and Other Educators.”
March 14-17, 2010
This course offers the opportunity to explore and learn more about the natural world through tracking, natural crafts, other naturalist studies while also learning how to mentor others in these ways. It is also a chance to deepen your connection with the natural world.

“Family Awareness & Nature Skills Retreat”
March 17- 20, 2010
A chance for the whole family to spend time learning more about the natural world through tracking, survival skills, naturalist studies, camp fires, storytelling and crafts.
For more information please see Chris’ website www.earthmentorhip.com or call him at 705-788-1210.

As the Holiday Season approaches we still have room for you and your family and/or friends join us. What better way to spend the festive season than in beautiful Algonquin Park!
Winter days of cross country skiing and snowshoeing are popular here in Algonquin Park and our weekends are booking quickly. Call or email us soon to ensure you have a chance to enjoy some of the beauty of the winter season in Algonquin. Weekends that still have space available are: all weekends in December, January 16/17 and any weekend including and after March 13-14. Weekdays throughout the winter are available and a perfect time to enjoy the peace of the Park.