Bushcraft Trapline Experience

January 18-23, 2027

6 Days on an Active Boreal Trapline
$1,500 CAD

Instructors: Ross Hinter, Dale Kiselyk & Colleen Kiselyk, Richard Ellens

Location: Nature Alive Adventure Centre and our nearby registered trapline in Alberta's Boreal Forest.

Experience Life on an Active Trapline

Step beyond the classroom and into the daily realities of operating a working trapline in the Canadian wilderness.

This immersive six-day experience combines practical bushcraft, winter travel, wilderness living, and traditional trapline skills in one of the most authentic outdoor learning environments available. Participants will work alongside experienced instructors while learning the knowledge, routines, and decision-making required to live and travel comfortably in a northern winter environment.

Whether you are a bushcrafter, outdoor educator, guide, hunter, trapper, or serious wilderness enthusiast, this course offers a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience in real-world winter wilderness operations.

What You'll Learn

Participants may be exposed to a wide range of practical wilderness skills, including:

• Axe, saw, and rope craft
• Winter firecraft and firewood processing
• Shelter systems and campcraft
• Snowshoe travel and winter mobility
• Freight toboggan and sled hauling
• Winter clothing systems
• Navigation and route selection
• Wildlife tracking and sign interpretation
• Animal processing and hide preparation
• Wilderness cooking and camp meals
• Ice travel and cold-weather safety
• Deep snow travel techniques
• Camp selection and setup
• Operating efficiently in remote winter environments

More importantly, you'll gain an understanding of how all these skills work together to support daily life on an active trapline.

Course Highlights

• Work alongside experienced wilderness instructors and trappers
• Explore an active trapline in Alberta's Boreal Forest
• Learn practical, field-tested bushcraft techniques
• Travel using traditional winter transportation methods
• Participate in tracking, campcraft, and wilderness living activities
• Experience authentic winter wilderness travel and decision-making
• Develop confidence operating in cold-weather environments

Accommodations

Participants will stay at the Nature Alive Adventure Centre in comfortable cabins.

Depending on weather, conditions, and group objectives, there may also be opportunities to spend one or more nights on the trapline in heated canvas wall tents, providing an even deeper immersion into winter wilderness living.

Who This Course Is For

This experience is ideal for:

• Bushcrafters
• Outdoor educators
• Wilderness guides
• Hunters and trappers
• Search and Rescue volunteers
• Survival enthusiasts
• Anyone seeking advanced winter wilderness experience

No prior trapping experience is required, although a strong interest in outdoor skills and winter travel is recommended.

Fitness Requirements

Participants should have a moderate level of fitness and be prepared to:

• Travel in snow and winter conditions
• Walk on uneven terrain
• Snowshoe for extended periods
• Assist with camp tasks and daily activities
• Carry or haul equipment when required

A positive attitude and willingness to participate are more important than previous experience.

What's Included

• Professional instruction and mentorship
• Cabin accommodations
• Access to trapline operations and learning activities
• Demonstrations and hands-on skill development
• Opportunities to learn tracking, processing, campcraft, and winter travel techniques
• Pre-course preparation information and gear recommendations

Why This Course Is Unique

Many outdoor courses teach individual bushcraft skills. Few provide the opportunity to see how those skills are applied day after day in a real wilderness working environment.

The Bushcraft Trapline Experience offers an authentic look into the practical realities of winter living, travel, resource management, and wilderness self-reliance in Canada's Boreal Forest.

It is one of the most comprehensive and immersive winter bushcraft experiences offered by Nature Alive Adventures.

See the VIDEO of our 2024 Life on the Trapline Course here.

For more information on the finer details, ethics, and content of this exceptional course, please contact us