{"id":94306,"date":"2026-07-23T01:15:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T04:15:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/2026\/07\/23\/learn-to-camp-program-helps-first-time-campers-gain-confidence-in-nova-scotias-outdoors\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T01:15:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T04:15:56","slug":"learn-to-camp-program-helps-first-time-campers-gain-confidence-in-nova-scotias-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/2026\/07\/23\/learn-to-camp-program-helps-first-time-campers-gain-confidence-in-nova-scotias-outdoors\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn to Camp program helps first-time campers gain confidence in Nova Scotia\u2019s outdoors"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>Children took part in a craft activity during the Learn to Camp program July 11 and 12 at Smiley Provincial Park and Campground. Department of Natural Resources. Photo by Department of Natural ResourcesArticle contentFirst-time campers and families with little outdoor experience learned new skills and gained the confidence to explore Nova Scotia\u2019s provincial parks through the Learn to Camp program, held July 11 and 12 at Smileys Provincial Park.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe annual program, organized by the Department of Natural Resources in partnership with Scouts Canada and the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia, brought together about 40 participants for a weekend of hands-on instruction.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentUnder the guidance of experienced scout volunteers, participants learned to pitch tents, prepare meals outdoors, safely use camping equipment, and spend a weekend at a provincial park.Article contentIan MacDonald, one of the scout leaders helping deliver the Learn to Camp program, said the initiative is designed to remove the uncertainty that often prevents people from trying camping for the first time.Article content\u201cWe try to encourage participants who haven\u2019t camped, or have limited camping experience, to find the joys of camping here in Nova Scotia and provincial parks,\u201d he said.Article content\u201cThe biggest thing that we try to do is encourage people to enjoy the provincial parks we have. If the participants do the camping themselves, it\u2019s easier for them to learn.\u201dArticle contentMacDonald said Scouts Canada has partnered with Nova Scotia Parks since 2016 after the department needed experienced outdoor instructors to help continue the program. Since then, scout volunteers have worked alongside park staff to provide much of the weekend\u2019s hands-on instruction, while the department co-ordinates registration, equipment, and the campground.Article contentArticle contentSandra Fraser, the department\u2019s parks promotion and development officer, said the Learn to Camp program, which began in 2013, was created to introduce more people to camping while helping make the outdoors less intimidating for beginners. She said the department provides the campground and equipment, allowing participants to learn in a supportive environment without needing their own gear.Article contentArticle content\u201cWe\u2019d like to introduce more people to camping in provincial parks, maybe people who didn\u2019t necessarily grow up having that opportunity and maybe feel a little intimidated to start camping.\u201dArticle contentMacDonald said the partnership with association has also helped introduce newcomers to a pastime many Nova Scotians grow up enjoying, giving them an opportunity to experience provincial parks alongside experienced volunteers.Article contentBeyond teaching outdoor skills, the weekend also focused on making camping enjoyable for the whole family.Article contentMacDonald said evenings around the campfire often become some of the program\u2019s most memorable moments, with families roasting marshmallows, learning to make banana boats, a traditional campfire dessert, and sharing songs from different cultures. Volunteers have also picked up new cooking ideas from participants over the years, making each weekend a learning experience for everyone involved.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Children took part in a craft activity during the Learn to Camp program July 11 and 12 at Smiley Provincial Park and Campground. Department of Natural Resources. Photo by Department of Natural ResourcesArticle contentFirst-time campers and families with little outdoor experience learned new skills and gained the confidence to explore Nova Scotia\u2019s provincial parks through [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":564,"featured_media":94307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[118,590,1],"tags":[116,589],"class_list":["post-94306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-indigenous","category-newfoundland-and-labrador","category-uncategorized","tag-indigenous","tag-newfoundland-and-labrador"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/564"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94306"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94306\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}