EXPLORE THE WORLD ON AN OUT-TRIP!

We specialise in a variety of Out-Trips specifically designed according to campers’ ages. Campers will spend one to five days on a trip, depending on the camp session they attend. Whether it is river canoeing, day hiking, backpacking, or horseback riding, each trek is unique and designed to build skills and character.

The information provided is a general overview of Pioneer Camp-Outs and Out-Trips. Weather may play a factor in when they are held. For specific information about individual camp sessions, please contact us and we will be happy to provide you with more details.

Out-Trips are a major part of the camper experience at our Sr. Boys’ and Sr. Girls’ camp sessions!

All campers that attend one of these sessions will go on an Out-Trip (OT) that will take them on an amazing adventure in nature! Out-Trips are between 4-5 days in length, depending on the camp session and the age of the camper.

Out-Trip Preparation: During the first 5 full days of camp, campers will spend part of each day preparing for Out-Trips by learning the skills necessary for their particular OT. They will also learn how to pack for their respective Out-Trips as well.

Sr. Boys & Sr. Girls Ages 12: Will go on a General Out-Trip

This Out-Trip has been specially designed to introduce campers to the fun of out-tripping!

For Sr. Boys & Sr. Girls Ages 12: This out-trip is 5 days/4 nights in length.

This is just the beginning of many adventures to come!

Campers will spend their time at a base camp either on our adjacent land or camping in established campsites in the Nordegg area; being introduced to basic out-tripping skills such as day hikes, day rides, tent set-up, camp management, animal safety, fire building, cooking over a fire and much more!
Trips at this level are to build a foundation for campers to develop skills as they continue on their backcountry adventures.
All food, camping equipment, campers’ backpacks, etc. will be transported to their campsite by Pioneer staff.

Sr. Boys Ages 13-18: Choose your own Out-Trip!

For Sr. Boys Ages 13-18: These out-trips are 5 days/4 nights in length and promise to be full of adventure!

Choices include Backpacking, Canoeing or Horseback Riding.
Campers and all equipment (food, tents, canoes, horses etc.) will be transported to various off-site locations depending on where they are going.
Backpacking trips take place in the Rocky Mountains in the Nordegg area, staging from various different locations determined by each groups’ skill level and goals. Participants will move their camp each night and have a true back-country experience.
Canoe trips take place on the North Saskatchewan River with the older more experienced campers travelling from Nordegg to Rocky Mountain House, and younger groups travelling from Rocky Mountain House to Drayton Valley.
Horseback riding trips take place on our land adjacent to Pioneer Ranch (Rocky Mountain House), on Pioneer Lodge (Sundre) land or out of the Clearwater Staging area, west of Pioneer Ranch.

Sr. Girls Ages 13-18: Choose your own Out-Trip!

For Sr. Girls Ages 13-18: These out-trips are 5 days/4 nights in length with adventure waiting just around the corner!
Choices include Backpacking, Hiking Base Camp, Canoeing, or Horseback Riding.
Campers and all equipment (food, tents, canoes, horses etc.) will be transported to various off-site locations depending on where they are going.
Backpacking trips take place in the Rocky Mountains in the Nordegg area, staging from various different locations determined by each groups’ skill level and goals. Participants will move their camp site each night and have a true back-country experience.
Hiking Base Camp trips also take place in the Rocky Mountains in the Nordegg area, but participants will be driven to a base camp location and spend their days hiking in the area, returning to the same camp site each night.
Canoe trips take place on the North Saskatchewan River with the older more experienced campers travelling from Nordegg to Rocky Mountain House, and younger groups travelling from Rocky Mountain House to Drayton Valley.
Horseback riding trips take place on our land adjacent to Pioneer Ranch (Rocky Mountain House), on Pioneer Lodge (Sundre) land or out of the Clearwater Staging area, west of Pioneer Ranch.

Overnight Camp-Outs are a smaller version of our Out-Trips for our six day camp sessions!

These are for campers attending one of our six day camp sessions at either our Pioneer Lodge (Sundre) or our Pioneer Ranch (Rocky Mountain House) sites. All overnight Camp-Outs are held on Pioneer Camp property. Overnight Camp-Outs are an introduction to the joys of camping!

Midweek (generally Day 4 of camp), campers will leave mid-afternoon for their camp-out. All equipment, food, backpacks, etc. will be transported by Pioneer staff to their campsite.

Pioneer Lodge campers will walk to their campsite, approximately 25 minutes away from the Lodge’s main facilities.
Pioneer Ranch campers will be transported to Camp property that is approximately a 10 minute drive from the Ranch’s main site.

Campers will have the opportunity to go out on the land to explore nature, eat their supper outside, enjoy a campfire in the evening, roast marshmallows or make S’mores, sleep in tents or under the stars (optional & weather dependent) for the night and fall asleep to the sounds of nature!

On the morning of Day 5, campers will eat their breakfast out on the land and return to either the Lodge or the Ranch in time for their first activity block.

Note: Due to the shorter length of Discovery Camp sessions at Pioneer Lodge, camp-outs are not part of their schedule.

Hiking Base Camp

This camp is all about exploration! After setting up a home base campsite, each cabin will adventure into the wilderness. They’ll hike along creeks, discover waterfalls or summit mountain peaks, returning to their base camp each night to swap stories around the campfire.

Canoeing

The truly Canadian way to travel! All equipment and food gets packed into canoes and we travel downstream to new scenes of beauty and adventure every day. Learn how to safely travel on a river, to avoid or navigate rapids, surf a canoe, and swim in whitewater. Days end with new campsites, good food and falling asleep to the sound of the river.

Backpacking

Experience creeks, lakes, alpine meadows and mountain ridges. Cabins can test their endurance by hiking all day long or choose to stop and nap in a sunny meadow. Set up a base camp and scramble a peak or move camp each day to discover something new. Returning to backpacking year after year will allow campers to go deeper into the back-country and experience new challenges and rarely seen wilderness.

Warning: campers may get so hooked on backpacking that they never try another out-trip option!

Riding

Spend days exploring on horseback. Take on the challenge of finding new trails, spend long days in the saddle, enjoy an afternoon watching the clouds while the horses graze and learn how to care for horses over multiple days. Ride through open fields, beautiful forests, creeks and mountains. Enjoy evenings around the campfire and under the stars with good food and great friends. Each year will bring new challenges in the trails, horses and even learning to pack!

Importance of Packing Lists

Please pay close attention to the packing lists provided. These items are absolutely necessary for a successful and enjoyable trip. Many of these items can be borrowed from friends, rented or purchased used. If you have any questions or concerns about the out-trips or the packing list, please do not hesitate to contact our out-tripping department.

Note: Trip locations and difficulty are based on the experience and goals of each individual cabin group. We have trips to cater to a wide range of abilities, so whether you want to go all day or stop to smell the flowers, we have a trip for you.