Lighting the Spark: The Mission Behind The Off Grid Ark Outdoor Education Program
Accessible. Inclusive. Educational.
At The Off Grid Ark, we believe outdoor education should be more than a field trip. It should be an experience that stays with students long after they’ve gone home — one that challenges them, teaches them, and maybe even changes the way they see themselves and the world around them.
We’re realistic enough to know that one to three days in the woods won’t transform a person’s entire outlook. But we do believe it can light a spark — the kind of spark that grows into curiosity, confidence, and resilience over time. That’s the mission behind everything we do here at The Ark.
Accessible Adventure
We’re less than an hour from most Ottawa-area schools, yet when students arrive, it feels like a world away. There are no paved paths, dining halls, or manicured lawns. Just forest, rock, and sky. Our Cliffside Camp offers a true wilderness experience without the logistical headaches of long travel or expensive gear lists. Teachers can get students into nature without needing to plan a full expedition.
This was a "Fall" trip, that unexpectedly turned into a winter one. But that's a learning experience, not a problem at the Off Grid Ark.
Inclusive by Design
Not every student owns hiking boots or a fancy sleeping bag — and that shouldn’t stop anyone from having a backcountry experience. The Ark is built to be inclusive. Camp is only a short three-minute hike from the road, so if a student shows up with their gear in a garbage bag instead of a backpack, that’s fine.
The bunkhouse provides warm, safe sleeping quarters, but students can also test their limits by sleeping in a tent or even trying a quinzee (snow shelter) — with the comfort of knowing the bunkhouse is just a few steps away if things don’t go as planned.
John sharing an article he wrote for "Paddle" magazine. Much of the article was inspired by mistakes he saw me make! (true story)
Where It All Began
The reason I live where I do — and how I do — can be traced back to my high school biology teacher, John Rudolph. Long before “outdoor education” was part of any school board curriculum, John created a small extracurricular group called the Wilderness Skills Group.
We went on true wilderness trips: hiking and canoeing in Algonquin Park, and even winter camping in Cape Croker on Georgian Bay. John gave us a thick binder of information and a few ground rules, but after that, we were on our own. We had to plan our menus, pack our own gear, and cook our own food. He was there to make sure we didn’t do anything stupid, but he wanted us to learn through experience.
That experience sparked more than just my love for the outdoors — it taught me the value of problem-solving, accountability, and resilience. Those lessons shaped who I am today and inspired the philosophy behind The Off Grid Ark Outdoor Education Program.
I was so lucky to have crotchedy "old Mr. Rudolph" as a mentor and influence early in life.
Education with Purpose
Too often, we’ve seen school groups arrive at “outdoor camps” where students never actually connect with the outdoors. They basically "tailgate" sitting in camp chairs beside their coolers, drinking cases of pop, and waiting for someone else to cook dinner or start the fire. That’s not what we’re about.
At The Off Grid Ark, every program is designed to teach real skills — and to reward curiosity, teamwork, and self-reliance. Our structured itinerary and 100-point evaluation system give students clear goals and a sense of accomplishment. From building fires and tying knots to navigating trails and preparing meals, every activity is a lesson in self-sufficiency and accountability.
We’ve built our program around three core ideas:
Learn by doing.
Earn your comfort.
Leave it better than you found it.
Building Resilience and Responsibility
Our programs encourage students to push their limits safely — to fail, problem-solve, and try again. Whether it’s getting a fire to light in damp conditions or staying calm during the Mantracker game, they learn that frustration isn’t failure; it’s part of growth.
This is what we call the Off Grid Mindset — a belief that resilience is built through small moments of problem solving and perseverance. Out here, students discover what they’re capable of when the Wi-Fi is gone, the tools are simple, and the outcome depends on their own effort.
It happened to us too! A fall camping trip at Cape Croker that turned into a winter trip overnight.
The Goal
Our goal isn’t to create perfect campers — it’s to plant seeds. Seeds of curiosity, accountability, and connection to the natural world. Because even if those seeds lie dormant for years, they’ll be there — waiting to grow the next time life challenges them to be resourceful, patient, or brave.
At The Off Grid Ark, we don’t just take students outdoors.
We bring the outdoors into them.
This trip was the opposite! A winter Algonquin ski trip that turned into a balmy early spring trip. (It was the '80's and I could rock a mullet with the best of them)
