"The things I did and learned are completely irreplaceable. "

"My experience was so much more than I could have ever hoped for -
well worth every tear, bruise, and cut!"

Each year, the Kalamazoo College LandSea offers 80+ incoming Kalamazoo College students the opportunity to participate in a 18 day wilderness orientation program in Killarney Provincial Park . Participants are organized into patrols consisting of 4-9 participants and 1-2 trained leaders. Two patrols are paired together to form a group that travels the same route. A number of days are spent hiking part of the 100-kilometer La Cloche range trail through quartzite hills and steep forest trails. Canoeing and portaging among the crystal clear lakes nestled between the hills provides another perspective of the park. The climb is a thrilling event held on the edge of George Lake on an impressive, 120-foot, rounded quartzite rock called "baby's bottom." At a site on the same lake, we take a strenuous hike up above the ridgeline facing us from across the lake, and arrive at the rappel site. With a commanding view of the Georgian Bay, students rappel down a 130-foot cliff. The last common event happens near the end of the program and is called "solo." For solo, participants are placed around a lake, out of sight from the rest of their group. They are encouraged to leave behind distractions and to spend two days and nights alone, reflecting. The leaders camp quietly on the lake out of sight of the participants and canoe over to check each one twice a day. Click here to see a sample itinerary .