DISCOVER THE OFF-GRID ARK
164 Acres of trails, adventure, and off-grid living in Western Quebec
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Our Story
Which continues to grow and evolve every day...
What the Ark looked like in 2002 - I was living in this, looking like that!
In 2002, The Ark was nothing more than an abandoned sawmill with three walls and a roof — home to raccoons and rodents.
Bringing in hydro would have cost $40,000, or $15k to $20k for an off-grid system. Keep in mind, off-grid living was barely known then.
There were no online shops, no blogs, no YouTube videos to learn from. My first solar panels cost $8/watt. You can pick them up now for as low as $0.65/watt and they're more efficient now.
There were no local installers and nobody at all to guide me.
This was also before camera phones, so sadly I have very few images of those "early days".
So I had to figure it out myself. And along the way, I made plenty of mistakes. Sometimes I had to do and redo things three or four times before getting them right. But there’s no failure in that — only learning experiences that slowly built both my skills and The Ark itself.
Piece by piece, I created a self-sufficient home that still feels “normal” — not a hardcore survival bunker, but a comfortable, modern life powered by the sun and sustained by the land.
Two decades later, The Ark has grown into more than just a home. It’s a place where people can explore, learn, and connect with the land in all kinds of ways.
What The Ark looks like today.... still stacks of lumber for projects of course!
What We Offer (Programs Overview)
Cliffside Camp
Perched on a west-facing cliff, this private camp offers sweeping views and direct access to miles of forest trails. Guests can enjoy evenings around the firepit, quiet mornings with the sunrise filtering through the trees, and refreshing swims at the lake nearby. Built with simplicity in mind, the camp provides just the essentials — letting you unplug from everyday noise and reconnect with nature. Whether you come for a weekend escape or a longer retreat, it’s a chance to slow down and breathe in the wilderness.
Outdoor Education
The Ark has been hosting school groups and outdoor programs for close 20 years. With 10 km of private trails, open meadows, and forest classrooms, it’s a place where students can learn by doing. Programs range from orienteering, canoeing, and team-building to ecology and survival basics, always with an emphasis on fun and hands-on experience. Teachers and students alike leave with stronger connections to nature — and often to each other.
The Mad Trapper
What began as a backyard experiment in 2003 has grown into Canada’s longest-running trail and snowshoe race series. The Mad Trapper is known for its technical single-track courses, steep climbs, and laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere. Runners come for the challenge, stay for the community, and often return year after year. With events in every season, the races have become a cornerstone of adventure sport in the region.
Mantracker Activity
Inspired by the hit TV show, this adventure combines orienteering with a thrilling chase. Participants learn how to use a map and compass, then set out into the forest to locate hidden checkpoints. Meanwhile, I track them down on horseback, adding an extra layer of excitement and challenge to the experience. Perfect for kids, families, and friends who love the outdoors, it’s a one-of-a-kind way to test your navigation skills while having fun in the wild.
Off-Grid and Solar Education
When The Ark was built, there were no YouTube videos or blogs to show how. Everything was learned through trial, error, and persistence. Today, those lessons have become teaching opportunities for others interested in energy independence. From solar panel basics to designing off-grid systems, participants learn what works, what doesn’t, and how to create a comfortable modern life without relying on the grid.
"Mad Trapper" Maple Syrup
Each spring, the forest comes alive with the sound of dripping sap and the sweet aroma of boiling maple. Guests can join in the centuries-old tradition of tapping trees, collecting sap, and boiling it down into golden syrup. From tasting fresh sap right out of the tree to sampling finished syrup, it’s a hands-on experience rooted in the land. A simple pleasure that connects people to the rhythm of the seasons.
Sawmill & Wood Products
The Ark began with a sawmill, and wood is still at the heart of what happens here. Logs from the property are milled into lumber for building projects, trailside bridges, and custom pieces. Visitors can watch the process in action and see how rough logs are transformed into beams, boards, or even cedar plaques. Every product carries the story of the forest it came from, and the craftsmanship that shaped it.
Mike's Story
Well part of it anyway...
Guiding one of the smaller rapids in the Grand Canyon.
Mike Caldwell is the founder and steward of the Off Grid Ark. His passion for the outdoors runs deep — shaped by a lifetime of adventure, learning, and service.
With a B.Sc. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Guelph and a Master’s in Management, Mike has blended science, leadership, and a love for wild places into a unique path.
He’s guided canoe trips in Temagami under Hap Wilson, whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River, the Coppermine in Canada’s Arctic, the French Alps, the Rocky Mountains, and even the Grand Canyon.
Mike is also a retired firefighter/paramedic, having served as paramedic supervisor for the Ottawa Air Ambulance service.
Earlier in his career, he worked in the Emergency Room at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Leadville, Colorado, the highest incorporated city in North America. Living at over 10,000 feet meant every shift brought unique challenges — and every day off was an opportunity to explore the mountains. Mike spent much of his free time hiking 14,000-foot peaks, trail running, and mountain biking the rugged Colorado terrain.
He’s also patrolled the slopes of Copper Mountain, Colorado as a ski patroller and once lived in his van for six months while attending paramedic school in Denver — long before “van life” was a trend.
Mike posing beside the Canadian Helicopters Sikorsky S-76 Air Ambulance
This is what happens when Mike decides to nap...
Since 2015, Mike has also become known as a dedicated dog rescuer, fostering, adopting, or rehoming over 20 dogs. His pack has always been part of the Ark’s story, sharing in the trails, races, and quiet moments of off-grid life.
Living with so many dogs has taught Mike the value of patience, adaptability, and unconditional care — lessons that shape the way he approaches everything at the Ark. Visitors often meet the dogs during their stay or on the trails, where wagging tails are as much a part of the experience as the forest itself.
Today, Mike brings all these experiences together at the Off Grid Ark — creating a place where people can learn, explore, and reconnect with nature. Whether you come for a race, a camp stay, or a hands-on learning program, you’ll also find a community built on warmth, adventure, and a shared love for the outdoors.
Map & Directions to the
Off Grid Ark in the Outaouais
