July 2024 Ridgerunner Dates
Week #1: June 30 – July 5
Week#2: July 7 – July 12
Week #3: July 14 – July 19
Week #5: July 28 – August 2
August 2024 Ridgerunner Dates
Week #7: August 11-16
Week #8: August 18 - 23
Ridgerunners introduces campers to backcountry hiking and camping in on one of two coastal and interior hiking routes. The ridgerunner program is a six-day overnight program that runs from Sunday to Friday, with five days and four nights spent on out-trip. Pre-trip, campers will have a day in camp to get to know one another and to prepare for their out-trip. Instructors will review participant’s gear, packing process, what to expect, and ensure campers are feeling physically and emotionally ready to depart. Once on trip, campers quickly will settle into the routine of being in the backcountry, and find themselves simply enjoying the inspiring landscape of old growth forests, mountain slopes, subalpine meadows, and more. Campers will be taught a strong environmental ethic, practicing what it means to camp with limited impact or trace.
As an introductory tripping program, Ridgerunners welcomes all participants, regardless of whether they have prior backcountry experience. Our out-tripping instructors are seasoned youth workers and experts when it comes to outdoor education, technical camping skills, and risk management. Ridgerunners will excite and challenge participants, leaving campers with new perspectives and appreciation of the great outdoors and wilderness adventures.
Ridgerunners, like all programs at Sasamat, is founded on the values of inclusion, respect and compassion. Since Ridgerunners is an adventure-based program involving significant physical activity, families are required to complete a pre-trip questionnaire which will help assess whether Ridgerunners is a good fit for your camper.
If you still have questions about this program, please visit our FAQ page or Pre-Camp Info Guide, or contact us. Learn more about all of Sasamat’s program areas.
Hudson’s Bay Heritage Trail (HBC)
Daily Events
The schedule of a typical day at Ridgerunners might look like the following:
· 7:00am – wake up and pack up camp site
· 7:45 am – Breakfast!
· 8:30 am – Begin days travel, depart from Manson’s Campsite
· 10:00 am – Break and snack!
· 12:00 – Stop enroute for lunch
· 1:00 pm. Continue Days Travel
· 3:30 pm – Break and snack!
· 4:30 pm – Arrive at camp Site, set up camp, change into camp clothes and relax
· 5:30pm – Prepare Dinner
· 6:30pm – Evening reflection program lead by trip leaders
· 7:30pm - Hangout time and dessert
· 9:00pm – Quite time in tents
· 9:30pm – Bed time
We are excited to be introducing a new overnight trail to our ridge runners experience, the Hudson Bay Heritage Trail. This trail will be the primary destination for Ridgerunners, with the Tundra Lake - Lizzie Lake trail in Pemberton as a secondary back-up route.
This beautiful and historic trail travels through the traditional, ancestral, and stolen land of the Sto:lo, Nlaka’pamux, and Similkameen peoples. traversing old growth forest, mountain slopes, subalpine meadows and more. Each day is a little bit different traveling between coastal and interior ecosystems
Completed in 1849 the HBC trail was originally a First Nations route for hunting and trade, but later played an important role in British Columbia’s early development. The trail was built by the Hudson’s Bay Company with the help of local First Nations. The trial was built to link the Fraser River at Fort Hope with Fort Kamloops and other trading outposts.
Starting at the Western access trailhead (Peers Creek) campers will enjoy their overnight hiking adventure to Sowaqua Creek and back.
Transportation
Ridgerunners must be dropped off at Sasamat Outdoor Centre on the first day of their camp. On the last day of the program, school bus transportation to our various stops is available.
Food
Food always tastes better when prepared outdoors, and Sasamat strives to ensure tripping meals are delicious! Out-trip menus are carefully selected to ensure proper caloric intake and nutrition during physical days in the outdoors. Learning how to safely and properly prepare food in the backcountry is part of the program, and participants will have the opportunity to try their hand at cooking. Note that if a Ridgerunner camper has a significant dietary restriction, families are encouraged to call the office to ensure out-trip food can accommodate the restriction.
After Care
After Care is extended daytime care on Friday afternoon for families that may need longer child care hours. After Care is based out of Port Moody Recreation Centre and is run by Sasamat Camp Counsellors. Participants will get to enjoy the recreation centre’s playground, as well as low organizational games or activities. The cost is $10 per day, and it runs from when the buses arrive end of day on Friday (i.e. 3:45pm) until 5:30pm.
Accommodation
While in camp, Ridgerunners will sleep in Cabins 6 and 7, and counsellors will sleep in the cabin next door. Bathrooms are centrally located in the Main Lodge.
While on trip, Ridgerunners will sleep in four-person tents with their tripmates at designated provincial park campgrounds. Bathroom outhouse facilities are available throughout the provincial park and are located in the great outdoors!
Cancellation Policy
If your plans change and you need to adjust your registration – not a problem! Our cancellation policy outlines what fees will apply, in addition to the non-refundable deposit of $100.00. Please note that the non-refundable deposit is per child, per registration.
