Tag: CPAWS-OV

Exploring ZEC Dumoine and area around

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Ottawa Valley Chapter (CPAWS-OV) will organize an event in the area of ZEC Dumoine and Grand Chute in southwestern Quebec. This wilderness area, which is managed by local communities, is attractive in any season of the year due to the beauty of natural landscapes and the richness of pristine biodiversity typical for Canadian boreal forests. If you are interested to explore Dumoine, please, contact us for details. The events will take place on Saturday – August 26 and Sunday – August 27.

On Saturday, August 26, we’ll organize a hike from Grand Chute at ZEC Dumoine to Robinson Lake around 1:00 pm. Executive Director of CPAWS-OV – John McDonnell – will talk about forests and conservation. We will talk also about the biodiversity of this wilderness area, including mushrooms. On Sunday, we will organize excursions to various places for nature enthusiasts, including canoe trips on Dumoine from Robertson Lake to Red Pine Rapids and walking along the stream in the Rapids area for nature exploration as well as mushroom identification. This place is very rich in both the variety of mushroom species and their abundance. If you are interested in the trip and would like to join, please communicate with us in advance.

CPAWS-OV will provide dinner in the evening in the area of our camp for all participants of our excursions.

Place and Subject of the Excursions:

The ZEC Dumoine is a controlled harvesting zone (Zone d’exploitation controlee – ZEC). It is located in the administrative region of the Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. You have the opportunity to come for a day on Saturday or for one or two nights as preferred.  We’ll have a number of various excursions including trips to Grand Chute – a picturesque waterfall with exciting rapids, we’ll visit also a place near Robertson Lake, Stevens Pond, and other interesting areas that to see the scenic landscapes and pristine nature.

After arrival to Swisha, you need to register at ZEC Dumoine Visitor Center for ZEC Rapides-des-Joachims Registration fees are 12$ per car. If you want to do the hike at Grande Chute, you will have to pay a second $12.00 car fee for that ZEC. It is better to have a four-wheel drive car to reach the area at Grand Chute and around, so if you plan to visit Robinson Lake, please, register at both ZECs.

There is an opportunity for carpooling from Ottawa on Friday afternoon – August 25 for 2 people.

Dress:

Watch for the weather forecast and be prepared accordingly. For the trip you will need a sleeping bag and a tent, as well as warm clothes, and a pair of changeable shoes – shoes should be good for hiking on the trails. In addition, you need to bring sunscreen and insect repellent. If you are planning to join the canoe trip, it is advisable to bring your own life jacket. We have a few vests there, but not enough. We also need to know the number of people who will join in order to organize food, hiking, and leisure activities. It will be good to have swimming suites. You need also to have headlamps for the evening.

Wilderness First Aid Course offered on August 27 and 28!

CPAWS-OV is proud to offer our staff and volunteer team frequent professional development opportunities. Since many of our team members spend time outdoors and in the field, we are offering a wilderness first aid course for volunteers, program participants, and staff on Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28 at our Executive Director’s farm in Mayo, Quebec. We have a few spots left! Please consider joining us!

This short, but intensive two-day course is designed to help you deal with situations that may occur while out hiking, paddling, or simply exploring our many parks and protected areas.

This wilderness first aid training prepares you to:

  • make decisions on whether injuries are serious or not
  • improvise equipment
  • provide life-saving treatments
  • assist those with more training

This fun, hands-on course covers a lot in 2 days:

  • CPR, AED, and basic life support skills
  • Major problems with critical body systems such as shock, respiratory problems, and brain injuries
  • Assessing and splinting bone, muscle, and joint injuries
  • Spine injury management
  • Allergies and anaphylaxis
  • Medical emergencies such as heart problems, asthma, and diabetes
  • Wound and burn management
  • Environmental problems such as hypothermia, heat illnesses, lightning, and drowning

And more…

The registration fee is $400.00 (including applicable taxes, the two-day course, course manual, and certificate of course completion). The course is given in English.

The course runs from approximately 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on both days, including breaks for lunch and snacks. Material required is minimal and a complete list will be shared with registrants, but expect to need a backpack, water bottle, old or outdoor clothing that can get dirty, and a yoga mat or a sleeping bag to sit on for practical exercises. Please also note that this is a rain or shine course. Some of the best learnings happen when conditions are less than ideal!

We only have a few spots left, to register, please email John McDonnell at jmcdonnell@cpaws.org.