Camping in Kananaskis with the Squirrels!

Day 1: Kananaskis Here We Come!

The day started with the students packing up and getting ready to head out to the great mountains of Kananaskis at the Pocaterra Campgrounds! We ate our breakfast and lunch at the SAIT cafeteria before it was time to pack up our stuff into the trucks and drive off to the campsite. Once we arrived, we unpacked and set up our tents before starting our first meal at the campgrounds. We had a delicious meal of Chicken Souvlaki, garlic bread, caesar salad before sitting around the campfire and watching the stars.

Day 2: Hiking Day and Swimming!

Day two, the students had a breakfast of delicious English muffins and fruit before heading off hiking up one of the trails in Kananaskis where they found a lake located at he end of the path! The students had some lunch of sandwiches before hopping into the lake and having a great time swimming with their fellow students. After the hike back down, the students gathered around the lake at the entrance of the trail and socialized as well as played some sports with their friends. The group soon headed back to the camp where they prepared a dinner of mushroom pasta with cornmeal back bacon. Some of the students also decided to start a hair salon, braiding hair left and right! After another busy day, the students sat around the campfire for some marshmallows and s’mores before heading to bed.

Day 3: The Great Squirrel Olympics and Horseback Riding!

On Day three, the Squirrels started off with croissants, yogurt, fruits and cereal before the group split off with some students going to do horseback riding! After breakfast, the camping site was turned into an Olympics campgrounds where the students were split into groups and competed against each other! Before starting the Great Squirrel Olympics, the students were split into 2 groups before competing against each other in a game of Capture the Flag where each team had to try and steal the other team’s flag first. Everyone had a blast chasing each other and trying to find the other team’s flag. After Capture the Flag, the students were split into groups for a chance to win in the Epic Olympic Games! Some of the games played during Olympics were badminton, bowling, axe throwing, volleyball, soccer, and Log Throwing. Meanwhile, the horseback riding group were having a relaxing time trotting along Lake Louise, viewing the beautiful sights and doing some shopping at Banff. For lunch, the students enjoyed some special bacon burgers with all their favourite toppings before getting back into the Olympic Games. After the Olympics and horseback riding, the students got together to prepare some Chicken coconut curry before gathering around the campfire; singing some famous tunes such as Perfect by Ed Sheeran and I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys.

Day 4: Troll Falls, Swimming, and Canmore!

The day started off with the students enjoying a breakfast of French Toast before hiking up the trail to Troll Falls where they got to see the famous waterfall pouring down the trail. During the hike up, the students got to check out some of the wooden manmade shelters along the pathway, taking photos wherever they could. Soon after, the Squirrels made their way back down where they ate a delicious lunch of sausages and ribs! After the meal, the Squirrels took off to Canmore where the students had the opportunity to go shopping in the beautiful town of Canmore or go swimming at the Elevation Place. Many of the students were able to explore the town, buying souvenirs for their friends and family. After some shopping and swimming, the students headed back to the camp for some taco dinner with beef, chicken, and an assortment of veggies! As always, the campfire was blazing as students gathered around for another night of stargazing, marshmallows, and campfire songs.

Day 5: Mountain Biking and Lake Day!

The fifth day had the students get ready for a full day of mountain biking and relaxing at the lake in Kananaskis! The day started with a breakfast of delicious chocolate chip pancakes and a variety of fruit! After breakfast, the students headed to the trails where they mountain biked up and down the trails that were seen in the all-time famous show, The Last of Us. The view at the top was immaculate and the bike down felt like a rollercoaster! The squirrels also got to relax at the lake, paddle boating, swimming, and playing sports next to the beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. In-between activities, the students had a lunch of noodles, cheese on crackers, salami, fruit, and cookies! After mountain biking and swimming, the students headed back to the campsite where they enjoyed a dinner of spaghetti. Afterwards, the students gathered around the campfire for some camping songs under the stars before heading off for the night!

Day 6/7: Icefields and Adventures in Banff!

On this gorgeous sunny day, The students enjoyed a breakfast of croissants, cereal, and an assortment of snacks and cereal before heading off to see the unique landscape of the Columbia Icefields. Some of the students stayed behind for some team games and their very own Olympic games! The squirrels who went to the Icefields were able to ride on some of the biggest all-terrain vehicles that drove them towards the Icefields. Before heading up to the Icefields, the students had a lunch of hotdogs and veggies before heading onto the vehicles which would drive them to the Icefields. At the Icefields, the students were able to explore the terrain as well as fill up their water bottles with their very own glacier water! After the adventure, the students were able to do some shopping at the gift shop before heading back to the campsite. At the campfire, the Squirrels shared their stories on what they did that day while dancing and singing around the campfire for their last night at Kananaskis. Afterwards, the students had to head back to their tents to pack up before getting ready to head back to Calgary.