GREATEST WINTER CAMPING ADVENTURE!

Scouts will embark on their greatest winter camping adventure at Okpik. Okpik builds skills that will enable Scouts to venture where few dares go. Established in 1986 at Tahosa High Adventure Base, in Ward, Colorado, the GCC’s Okpik Winter Camping adventure is ready for you!  

This 2-day/ 2-night adventure provides the opportunity for Scouts to develop confidence and gain skills to camp and live outdoors during extreme weather conditions. Participants receive preparation training for the physical challenge, cold weather dress, first aid and emergency procedures, food and water control, cross-country skiing equipment use, snowshoeing, and winter shelter building. This experience is the embodiment of the Boy Scouts of America motto, to “Be Prepared.®” 

Okpik provides state-of-the-art training for leaders, (both youth and adult), to gain confidence in taking groups into a cold environment and surviving year-round camping. This cold-weather training is appropriate only for those leaders and campers who have basic Scouting skills and mild weather camping experience. Training includes building skills that can ensure a successful, fun, and safe cold weather camping experience. These must-know skills are important because cold weather camping mistakes can be serious and certainly are not something upon which to build young Scout’s experience. 

Okpik Winter Camping is a physically vigorous weekend. All gear and food for the weekend is pulled on sleds and most of the day is devoted to shelter building and it can be very cold. Youth should have the mental and physical ability to complete and enjoy the weekend. All participants should undergo physical training to condition themselves for a very invigorating and challenging weekend. 

It is essential to examine the Okpik equipment list carefully. Scouts must bring every required item. The GCC provides some supplemental clothing and bedding items, but each participant must provide the essentials. (The equipment list is also in the registration packet.) A full and varied menu is provided, therefore it’s not necessary to bring any food or snacks. 

Friday Schedule

Friday night is spent in a classroom where the Okpik staff give instructions for cold weather camping. That night is spent sleeping in a cabin.

7:00 p.m. – Arrive at Tahosa High Adventure Base

Saturday Schedule

On Saturday morning after breakfast, the group packs up and moves into the backcountry. Saturday is spent building quinzees (piled snow domes), cooking meals, and exploring the winter woods. Experienced Okpik staff will stay in the field during the weekend observing and supervising Scouts as they implement the skills they learned on Friday night. 

7:30 a.m. – Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – Depart to Backcountry

Sunday Schedule

After spending a night in the quinzees, the group will return to the dining hall for a wrap-up session. 

7:00 a.m. – Breakfast (In Backcountry)

11:30 a.m. – Lunch (Dining Hall)

12:00 p.m. – Course ends & participants depart home.

Okpik staff will provide a course regardless of the snow conditions. There will be no cancellations due to the weather (lack of snow). Depending on the snow conditions, be prepared to ski or backpack into the backcountry. 

Pre-Course Information

To ensure the weekend is a success, all participants must prepare prior to arriving at Tahosa High Adventure Base. Please review all document links to be aware of what to bring, what to wear, and how to build a quinzee.