By: Marcia Abramson
These packages are set at various times throughout the four seasons and are designed for outdoor enthusiasts young and old.In August, courses such as Creating Sculpture from Life are offered at the Limberlost Lodge in Algonquin Park. This course features live animal models such as the gray wolf, coyote, lynx, silver and red fox and birds of prey. These animals come from wildlife rescue sanctuaries. Those chosen for sculpting are the tamer animals that are part of the sanctuary outreach program. A seven time world champion bird carver also hosts as Hands on Woodcarving Workshop. Accomplished wilderness artist, Dwayne Harty takes students into the wilderness with camping gear, canoes and French easels.On Wednesdays, groups of seven day hikes and paddles are also available. Hikes run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on pre-designated trails. Paddles take place in the afternoon on Canoe Lake from 1 to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Algonquin Park and Huntsville are three hours by car from Toronto or four hours from Ottawa. Participants arrange for their own transportation.If a destination closer to Toronto is of interest to you, then a visit to the Canadian Canoe Museum and Scotsman Point Resort is a must. The museum and resort offer Spring and Fall dates between May and October for Soapstone Carving, Painting and Exploring Native Art, Watercolors and Outdoor Photography. Emphasis is on small group settings and the personal guidance of instructors. The arts programs appeal to beginners and intermediates but are also attended by seasoned artists seeking new techniques. Daily outings include Petroglyphs Provincial Park, the Canadian Canoe Museum and Whetung Art Gallery. Provincial Park is a sacred Ojibwe site featuring hundreds of pictographs. Local Ojibwe residents interpret the pictographs for visitors. The Canadian Canoe Museum has over 600 canoes and kayaks from across Canada and all around the world. Each vessel has an interesting story to tell. Whetung Gallery features an outstanding selection of Eastern Canada native art.The Scotsman Point Resort is a cozy lakefront cottage resort that offers two bedroom housekeeping cottages. Arts and Wild packages include three hearty meals a day. The lodge owner is especially proud of her home cooked meals. Save room for the scrumptious home-baked goods which are also a specialty.Before you leave Toronto to head to the wild, you should visit the Hudson's Bay Company. The Hudson's Bay Company is the oldest incorporated merchandising company in the world. In 1670, King Charles II of England granted 18 investors a charter that incorporated them as the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson Bay. In 1870, this chartered territory was transferred to the Government of Canada in return for farmlands in the prairie provinces. These were sold to settlers over the next 85 years. Since then the Hudson's Bay Company has become Canada's largest retailer.You cannot only shop at the Hudson Bay Company but you can take advantage with an overnight package that introduces visitors to the Arts in the Wild in Toronto. This package features accommodation at the Royal York Hotel, a voyaguer breakfast at the Arcadian Court Restaurant and a morning of art and history. To learn more about this exciting new Arts in the Wild Alliance, you may visit their website www.artsinthe wild.com.
© Copyright by Marcia Abramson e-mail mascribe@aol.com
