🌲 Spring Break Survival Camp: Learning, Laughter, and Life Skills 🌲
Over spring break, island youth from Grades 1 to 7 took part in an unforgettable four-day outdoor survival camp on Malcolm Island. Thanks to support from the Neighbourhood Small Grant, we were able to welcome Frank Doss—a seasoned outdoor educator—to share just a fraction of his extensive bushcraft knowledge.
And this was the real thing.
Stepping into Frank’s world, participants were immersed in a rich blend of hands-on learning, hilarious storytelling, and quiet wisdom. His deep respect for the land and gentle teaching style created an environment where curiosity thrived and confidence grew.
Each day of the camp focused on one of four survival essentials:
🔹 Shelter
🔹 Water
🔹 Food
🔹 Fire
Through games, challenges, and demonstrations, island youth developed critical awareness skills while learning how to:
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Build shelters from natural materials
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Construct simple water filters
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Craft Arapuca bird traps
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Make their own atlatl
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Identify fire-starting materials in a rainforest environment
🛖 A Legacy in the Forest
The shelters students built along the Malm’s Pond Trail won’t just fade into memory—they’ll serve as lasting outdoor classrooms, inviting future learners to gather, reflect, and explore in the very spaces they helped shape. These structures are a gift to the community and a reminder of what youth can accomplish when given the tools, space, and support to thrive in nature.
Although many young people on Malcolm Island are already comfortable in the outdoors, learning from a mentor like Frank brought something more: a deeper understanding of their surroundings, new skills rooted in traditional knowledge, and a renewed sense of confidence and capability.
🌿 Looking Ahead
As we move into the warmer months, we’re excited to carry forward the values Frank helped inspire—resilience, sustainability, and stewardship—and to keep exploring what it means to live in connection with the land.
