Canadians promoting Camping in schools?

[blujay40]

Read this today. Thought it was interesting.

It’s coming up on elections in Canada, and the promises are flying thick and fast. Canada’s Liberal party, under the spokesmanship of Prime Minister Trudeau, suggests a future where Canadians might see more of the great outdoors.

In the vision, by school grade eight all Canadians would be taught camping skills. Further, low-income Canadians would be given campground space up to four days a year in a national or provincial park, and a stipend of up to $2,000 to help make the trip possible.

[Seann45]

With Truedopes taxes we will all be living in tents if he gets re-elected.

[Danno]

I'm Canadian, but not a proud one ! We've become a Socialist Country and I hate it. I can even afford to live here anymore. A good example is the cost of camping. A State park costs us $23/ day (includes a $5 fee because I'm not a US citizen), but a provincial park is almost $60/ day.
Here's my wish; Have Quebec piss off and become their own Country with Trudeau as their hopeless leader, then have the US absorb the rest of Canada as their 51st state.
Rant over !

[blujay40]

Yeah, I was thinking 2 grand was a bit much for a camping trip!

[bankr63]

I'd be interested in seeing a link to where you read this @blujay40. It sounds suspiciously like a provincial (state) program that currently exists here in Ontario for underprivileged kids. Not a full federal program for all takers and the way you present it sounds a lot like the "fake news" that swirls around election time.

Not that I necessarily disagree with the idea. My wife teaches grade 7 in an inner-city school. Her class was astounded that we went camping in the woods. On digging a bit, she discovered that the majority view the woods as an area inhabited by junkies and rapists with discarded needles littering the ground, because that's what the woods near them are like. The woods is are a place of unspeakable danger to be avoided (probably in both cases, but I worry more about bears and poison ivy than about needle sticks).

I do think that every Canadian (and American) should have an opportunity to experience nature at its finest at least once. Our provincial governments are in charge of education, and I for one think that some exposure to nature and camping is an important educational experience and a part of being Canadian.

[blujay40]

About a third way down the page.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rvt-917b/

[bankr63]

So a minor announcement that has probably been blown out of proportion by the opposition:
""A re-elected Liberal government with expand the Learn To Camp program, so that by the time they reach grade 8, all Canadian kids will have had the opportunity to experience camping and learn important outdoor skills. We’ll also create a National Experience Canada Program, so that each year 75,000 kids who qualify will enjoy up to a 4-day adventure with their families in one of Canada's national or provincial parks," said Trudeau." (quote as reported by CTV news).

The Learn To Camp program is the one I was referring to, but it is in the provincial parks, didn't know the feds had a hand in it as well. Sending 75,000 kids to camp is 0.2% of the Canadian population. Those kids probably do need the opportunity to experience the wilderness.

I agree that the program cost seems totally out of whack. Four days camping in a national or provincial park can't be any more than a couple of hundred bucks, and the gear in the Learn to Camp program gets reused over and over again (and is subsidized by Coleman); I would expect the new program to use a similar model. Even with the transportation costs it can't be near the amount tagged to the program.

Is this necessary? No. Is it a huge expense in the grand scheme of the budget for a country of 37 million people? No it is 4 one hundredths of a percent of the overall budget (similar to the percentage of budget that a single pen costs your average business). Could the money be better spent? Possibly; I'm sure many of these underprivileged families would prefer to have the help making rent or buying groceries. Do I want all these kids growing up thinking that the woods are a den for pimps and dealers? Absolutely not. Most of these families can't ever afford a vacation, with both parents working 2 jobs to make ends meet (and maybe that's why the budget is so high - does the bursary cover income replacement so the two parents can get time off from the 4 jobs they have to hold down?)
I'd rather have my tax dollars going to this program than going to giving tax breaks to the top 1% earners of our society.

[Murff]

Note to Mods:

Political posts allowed now??

(Don't want to as my 2cents unless it's ok?)

Murff

[REWahoo]

My first thought on reading the thread title, "Canadians promoting Camping in schools?" was "Is that tent camping in the school gymnasium or do they have full hook-ups in the parking lot?"

[Phil2008]

Danno that's a provincial thing not federal. Here in the Maritimes national parks run you about $36.00 a night plus daily entry fee and provincial parks are about the same except no daily fee. I'd talk to Mr. Ford about your prices. Seems he's paying for his new camper he was wanting.

[norty1]

This thread is closed.