Algonquin Park Expedition

Each year the grade ten TOPS students participate in a scientific expedition to Algonquin Park. This spring, the trip will run for its seventh time without missing a year for bad weather. That's not to say students and staff have not experienced bad weather; students have braved wind, rain and even untimely snow, all in the name of science.

The Algonquin Park Expedition was founded with the purpose of giving TOPS students a chance to experience and investigate environmental science firsthand. After realizing the importance and need for outdoor education, Mr. van Bemmel set out to run his own outdoor education program at Ontario's picturesque Algonquin Provincial Park.

In addition to learning a great deal through performing numerous scientific experiments, students will get a taste of camping and hiking; a chance which may be wonderfully unique for some students. Prior to the four day trip, students undergo many training exercises, where they learn to operate probes used to collect numerous types of data, record and manage the data gathered, use digital cameras to take documented images of the sampling site, along with camping basics like setting up a tent. They finally test themselves on all of this knowledge via a full day hike at Hilton Falls a couple of weeks before the actual trip takes place.

Before the trip, students are split into small working groups and, together they hike and collect data on practice simulations, the pre-trip and the actual trip. There is more to Algonquin than science, however; the trip gives a basic knowledge of camping, the Canadian outdoors, teamwork, and leadership.

After the trip, students are divided into small groups and, using the data collected, prepare reports on specific areas of the data gathered. This report is complemented with an oral and visual professional presentation to the rest of the grade and guests; this is the culminating activity for the Algonquin Park trip, and is the perfect end to an amazing experience.

Leadership Opportunities

Along with the grade tens and many staff willing to give up their weekend plans a contingent of senior students is selected to help support not only the junior students but also the staff. Their tasks are many, and varied; they range from realms of paper work to onsite construction worker.

Students are selected for these positions by an application process that begins in the fall. Although some will be chosen based on outdoor experience, this is not a requirement. You do, however, have to enjoy hiking to a degree, as there are mandatory pre-hikes. You also have to be prepared to work, meaning that sometimes work will come before dinner, except for the senior who is designated as the cook.

The expedition leaders are entrusted to keep up the group's spirits in rain, hail, fog, or ice. They are a useful bunch of seniors to have around. In the end, the expedition is a partnership between the Grade 10 expedition data collection groups, and the senior administration staff.