A Connection With Nature: Winter Edition 

Alexi Hachey-Brunet
Volunteer Mobilization Coordinator

Every year since 2017, SNAP Québec has been partnering with the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq), the Monique-Fitz-Back Foundation, and the Association des Camps du Québec to organize Connection N: an initiative aimed at introducing to Quebec’s great outdoors young newcomers who have few occasions to be out in nature. Every September, around 15 youth from welcoming classes get to experience a true immersion in nature at Mont-Tremblant National Park. The program includes three days of camping and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, canoeing, nature interpretation, discussions around a campfire, and much more.

Beginning in 2024, we have also started offering a winter edition, during which the same group accompanied by youth from another welcoming class are invited to enjoy a day of activities at Oka National Park, in the heart of Quebec’s winter.

Tale of a winter day at Oka Park

January 28, 2026. 8:30 a.m. The thermometer reads –20 degrees Celsius, but Laval’s Mont-de-La Salle School students don’t appear to be bothered by the freezing temperature. This year’s winter outing 28 participants cheerfully board the bus with their three accompanying teachers, who are just as excited as their students at the prospect of spending a day outside the school walls.

We recognize some smiling faces that were with us on the fall outing, and conversations revolve around the camping trip from just a few months back. That’s what Connection N is all about: an experience that fosters bonds far beyond the everyday urban setting.

When we arrive at Oka Park, we are greeted by park ranger Julie who takes a moment with us to review the rules and principles of Leave No Trace that must be followed when out in nature. She also introduces us to the animals we may encounter during our activities: white-tailed deer, red squirrels, and several bird species. “Are there any bears here, ma’am?” asks one student. This is a common concern among these 13- to 17-year-olds. “We don’t have bears here at Oka Park,” Julie replies, “and we don’t have wolves either, but you might see coyote tracks!”. That’s enough to get them excited.

The participants then spit up into two groups of 14 for the first activity. The first group goes cross-country skiing while the second one goes snowshoeing, and then we switch for the afternoon. The park staff lend us the equipment, and we’re soon deep in the forest! The shining sun is bright, warming us up quickly despite the cold weather.

While snowshoeing, the students quickly gather freshly fallen snow for a possible snowball fight. Laughter resonates and amazement grows under the tall snow-covered trees, creating a fairytale-like atmosphere. I ask a young man from Algeria, who is experiencing his first Quebec winter, about his impression of our cold season. “I don’t like it too much, but it’s great when you do activities like today.”

While cross-country skiing, the students split up on the trail according to their skill level. Many have already taken their first steps on skis as part of their gym class but completing a full loop in a national park is more challenging. Some go all out and ski more than 4 kilometers, far exceeding the 500 meters they usually travel in the municipal park next to their school! On the trail, I am surprised to see that many of the teens have grown silent, contemplating the landscape and s immersing in Mother Nature.

When it’s time to return to the lodge at the end of the day, everyone is overcome with that pleasant fatigue that sets in after a cold day spent outdoors. Some students take the opportunity to warm up with a hot chocolate, and we reflect as a group on the Connection N experience. Conversations highlight how valuable these moments spent in nature are: the discoveries, the encounters, and the shared laughter that will remain etched in the participants’ memories. Together, we recognize the uniqueness of nature and the importance of protecting it. For many, this was a first visit to one of our national parks, but it certainly won’t be their last.

Let’s meet again in the fall of 2026, with a new cohort of youth for the next Connection N edition!

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