One Last Adventure: Our Amazing August Camping Trip
You haven’t heard much from us this past week, but there’s a pretty good reason for that: we’ve been camping! To finish off an amazing August at Wynchemna, our students packed their bags, left the comforts of home behind, and headed into the beautiful Kananaskis wilderness for a full week of adventure, outdoor activities, campfires, swimming, sports, and more than a few marshmallows.
We spent the week at Lower Lake Group Campsite, surrounded by some of Alberta’s most incredible scenery. Every day brought something different, and our students made the most of every minute.
Here’s a look back at our final week of August!
August 18: Welcome to Camp!
Our adventure began on August 18th as we packed up and made our way to Lower Lake Group Campsite in Kananaskis.
Once we arrived, there was no time to waste. We got to work setting up our tents and getting our campsite ready for the week. Then came one of the most important jobs of the entire trip: dinner!
Students helped prepare delicious chicken kabobs, which tasted even better after a busy afternoon of setting up camp. With our tents ready, our stomachs full, and our campsite organized, we settled in for our first night in the mountains.
The adventure had officially begun!
August 19: Hiking, Glacier Water & Campfires
Our second day was all about exploring the incredible natural beauty surrounding us.
The students took on a gorgeous hike to Rosslyn Lake, enjoying the scenery along the way. Once we reached the lake, some of our bravest students decided that simply looking at the glacier-fed water wasn't enough.
They jumped in!
The water was absolutely freezing, but that didn't stop the students who were determined to experience it for themselves. After completing the hike, everyone was rewarded with a well-deserved lunch sandwich before we made our way back to camp.
That evening, we enjoyed another great dinner before gathering around the campfire. There’s something about sitting around a fire after a long day outdoors that makes everyone a little more relaxed, a little more tired, and considerably more interested in marshmallows.
August 20: Icefields or Horseback Riding?
Day three brought two incredible adventures, and students had the opportunity to choose which activity they wanted to experience most.
One group headed to the Columbia Icefield, where they got to take in some of the most spectacular natural scenery in the Canadian Rockies. Surrounded by towering mountains, glaciers, and breathtaking landscapes, it was an unforgettable experience.
The other group went horseback riding around Lake Louise, exploring the beautiful mountain landscape from the back of a horse. It was a unique way to experience the scenery and gave students plenty of memorable moments along the way.
Both groups had an amazing time and returned with plenty of stories to share about their adventures.
Eventually, everyone reunited in Canmore for some very well-deserved pizza. After dinner, we spent some time in the park playing different sports together before heading back toward camp.
August 21: Johnson Lake & Banff
Day four brought another beautiful Alberta destination: Johnson Lake near Banff.
The students had an absolute blast swimming in the lake and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Eventually, we made our way to the rope swing, where students took turns swinging out over the water and making some impressive jumps.
After all that adventure, it was time for something a little different.
We headed into Banff for a two-hour shopping spree. Needless to say, the students were very happy about this part of the schedule.
After exploring Banff and doing some shopping, we returned to camp for a delicious spaghetti dinner. And, because apparently one campfire per day was not enough for us, we finished the evening around the fire with marshmallows.
A pretty solid day.
August 22: Wynchemna Olympic Day!
With so much beautiful space around our campsite, we decided to spend the day taking full advantage of it.
Welcome to Olympic Day!
Students competed in all kinds of games and activities throughout the day, including volleyball, badminton, soccer, and plenty of other challenges.
One of the biggest highlights was our massive Capture the Flag game. With everyone spread throughout the campsite, things got competitive very quickly.
We also played our infamous Man Tracker game, where students and teachers used water guns to hunt each other down.
Predictably, this eventually turned into a full-scale water fight.
It was an action-packed day filled with competition, teamwork, strategy, and a lot of laughter.
August 23: Lake Day!
For our final full day of the camping trip, we headed down to Lower Lake for one last big outdoor adventure.
Students spent the afternoon kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing across the beautiful lake. After nearly a week of hiking, swimming, horseback riding, sports, and exploring, it was the perfect way to finish our outdoor adventures.
But we couldn't finish the trip without one final Wynchemna tradition.
Teachers vs. Students
The legendary Teachers vs. Students volleyball match returned.
The teachers fought bravely.
The teachers gave everything they had.
The teachers believed in themselves.
And then the students won.
Congratulations to the students on taking home the victory. We will, naturally, be conducting a full investigation into the officiating.
What a Week!
From glacier-fed lakes and mountain hikes to horseback riding, the Columbia Icefield, Banff, kayaking, Capture the Flag, water fights, campfires, and volleyball, our final week of August had a little bit of everything.
More importantly, it gave our students one last chance to spend time together, challenge themselves, explore the incredible Alberta wilderness, and make memories with the friends they've made at Wynchemna.
It was an incredible way to finish an incredible August.
Thank you to all of our students for making this camping trip so memorable. We hope you'll remember this week for a long time to come!
