TFC: OKPIK - Cold Weather Camping Training
No Registration Needed
Okpik 2020-2021
Cold Weather Camping Training
Okpik (Ook’pick) is the Inuit name for a Snowy Owl. The Okpik course aims to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to enjoy an outdoor experience in cold weather; to help Scout units extend their outing season to all 12 months of the year; and to share their acquired knowledge and skills with their units. These skills are taught over five sessions using the patrol method.
Okpik sessions cover: Cold Weather Clothing Systems and Sleeping Systems; Cooking, Meal Preparation and Planning; Equipment & Sleds; First Aid and Hypothermia; Travel Safety; Winter Naturalist; Winter Photography; Stoves, Fire building, Leave No Trace; Tents & Shelters. The overnight session introduces participants to a variety of winter activities and games and an opportunity to try out what they learned in a safe environment. Learning is done using the Patrol Method. Okpik also teaches you how to have fun in the cold! Think Klondike Derby for adults and senior Scouts!
Who: Okpik training is open to all levels of Scout leaders and experienced Scouting youth with a registered parent (Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouts) who are 14 years old by the date of the Indoor Session. Scouts BSA youth must be 1st class or above. If a youth attendee wants to sleep overnight they will need to have a registered adult family member also taking the course with them. This is according to our recent policy regarding tent camping and is subject to change if Illinois adjusts their policies on youth and group overnight camping.
All participants must submit a completed Annual Health & Medical form at the Indoor Session (parts A & B). In addition, all youth participants must submit a completed Activity Consent form at the Indoor Session. Participants must attend all sessions and patrol meetings to complete the course and earn the coveted Okpik cubes!
Cost: $80 per person. The fee covers registration, materials, snacks during sessions, and a food allowance for the overnight session.
When and Where:
- Virtual Orientation - Tuesday, December 1, 2020 (7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
Meeting invite will be sent
Online at Home - Outdoor Classroom Session – Saturday, December 5, 2020 (1:00 p.m. Registration; 2 p.m.– 5:00 p.m.)
Camp Big Timber
37W955 Big Timber Road
Elgin, IL - Outdoor Training Session – Saturday, January 23, 2021 (8:00 a.m. Registration; 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
Von Oven Scout Reservation
701 S. West St.
Naperville, IL 60540 - Outdoor Overnight Session – Friday-Saturday, February 12-13, 2021 (Arrival Fri 5:00 p.m.; Departure Sat 4:00 p.m.)
Camp Big Timber
37W955 Big Timber Road
Elgin, Illinois
Patrol Meetings:
Each patrol will have 2 meetings. Date, time, and location TBD by each patrol.
ONLINE - At Home
Tuesday 12-01-2020
7:00 PM CT to 9:00 PM CT Past
Session One - Outdoor Classroom
Camp Big Timber
Saturday 12-05-2020
1:00 PM CT to 5:00 PM CT Past
Session Two - Outdoor Training
Von Oven Scout Reservation
Saturday 01-23-2021
8:00 AM CT to 1:00 PM CT Past
Session Three - Outdoor Overnight
Camp Big Timber
Friday 02-12-2021 5:00 PM CT to
Saturday 02-13-2021 4:00 PM CT Past