Home > School & Family > Yukon Explorer: Winter and Spring Series
Become a confident outdoor youth leader in Canada’s True North
Winter in the Yukon has always carried a magical, almost mythical meaning for people all over the world. While winters can be harsh in the Land of the Midnight Sun, they are also a time of great beauty and excitement to Northerners. A Yukon winter might seem intimidating to non-locals, but with a little guidance, you will be welcomed into an experience unlike any other.
We designed Yukon Explorer to be a “grand welcome” into the North - accessible to youth from all around the globe. Here, you’ll build your outdoor, life and social skills while exploring frozen rivers by dogsled, skiing on legendary Mount Sima, glimpsing the Aurora Borealis and warming up by the fire with your new friends.
Full details: Coming Soon!
Dates: Available between Dec 28 2024 and Mar 30, 2025
Ages: 11–13 (junior), 13–17 (senior)
Group Size: 9 (min) to 14 (max)
Locations: Whitehorse, Dawson City
7-day Price: $2899.00 + GST
10 -day Price: $3399.00 + GST
Deposit: $200.00 CAD + GST
PROMO CODE available!
For select Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants
Click here to contact us and learn more
Included: One chaperone, all meals, accommodation, land transportation, agreed activities, two instructors and pre-trip check-in
Not included: Flights to and from the Yukon, second chaperone, and anything not mentioned above
More info: office@firesideadventures.ca
Choose your adventure
This year we’re excited to offer multiple options for this trip. Read below the options below and choose your own adventure.
Core experiences
Both Aurora Magic and Call of the Wild include the following Whitehorse-based activities:
History: Learn about the fascinating history of the Yukon at the MacBride Museum.
Culture: Immerse yourself in the culture of the Whitehorse, including glass-blowing workshops at Lumel Studios.
Sports: Dive into winter sports at the Canada Games Centre, Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club and Mt. Sima Ski Hill.
Option 1: Aurora Magic (7-day)
What makes this option unique: additional explorations around the Whitehorse area as well as a visit to Kluane:
Dogsled through a winter wonderland as you chase the Northern Lights
See bison, arctic foxes, moose, and more at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve
Venture into Kluane National Park, one of Canada’s wildest, most remote, and most stunning parks filled with sweeping tundra landscapes
Option 2a: Call of the Wild (7-day)
What makes this option unique: visit and tour historic Dawson City, home of the Klondike Gold Rush. The following activities are all Dawson City-based:
Cross the famous Dawson City Ice Bridge to reach Sternwheeler Graveyard
Explore the Klondike Valley by snowshoe
Scale the Midnight Dome for some of the Yukon’s best views
Participate in an “Indigenous perspectives on the Klondike” workshop
Option 2b: Call of the Wild (10-day)
What makes this option unique: take all of the activities in the 7-day trip and add the following experiences:
Become one with the pack during a day of dogsledding
Snowshoe around Fish Lake
Creating a glass Aurora at Lumel Studios
Incredible Kluane National Park
Aurora viewable from downtown Whitehorse
True leadership skills are born in the Canadian wilderness
Outdoor Leadership Training: guided by our Fireside Pillars, define what leadership means to you and hold yourself accountable. When you’re ready, your instructors and peers will vote for you to receive the traditional Fireside Adventures leadership bracelet.
Social-emotional learning & resilience: Spending time in nature brings challenges but also opportunities for peace, reflection, and connection. This is the unbroken space and time you need to foster relationships, trust, and personal transformation through a mix of one-on-one mentorship, daily video/audio journaling, and group dialogues.
Increase self-knowledge: Over the course of two weeks, clarify your personal values, strengthen your decision-making skills, and learn how to set and achieve short-term and long-term goals.
Express yourself: There’s something about the Yukon landscape that feels larger-than-life. It’s no surprise that it’s one of Canada’s brightest hubs for Indigenous culture and art and profoundly impacts all who spend time there. During our time in the Yukon, we will provide opportunities for you to practise visual art, storytelling, music, journaling and more.
Duke of Edinburgh’s award: earn your bronze, silver, or gold. Here’s how.
Stories from the North
Skiing at Mount Sima
Watch this video to get excited!
Barnsy, Camp Director
“I’ll never forget my first time on a dogsled. It was -43 celsius and we were headed onto a frozen river. Before we left, I was definitely worried. But once I got the parka on and jumped in the sled, the sun came out and I felt so comfortable I actually fell asleep - I felt like I was on the beach in Mexico. That’s when I learned that in a semi-arid climate like the Yukon, it’s really easy to manage the cold if you have the right gear.”
Learn more about the team
