Exploring the outdoors through activities such as hiking, camping and rock climbing can have an extraordinary impact on a girl’s life. With the approach of summer, we’re showcasing some of the outdoor activity photos from our national archives. Although the uniforms and photographic methods have changed, many of these activities could have taken place yesterday or 100 years ago. The timelessness of these images and the experiences they depict are truly striking.
Canoeing, 1939. Photograph courtesy of Miss Harvey.
Hiking at Emily Park Guide Camp, 2012. Photographer Lisa Miles.
Spark hanging out down by the dock, Morin-Heights, 2008. Photographer Andrea Dubec.
Lightweight camping, Manitoba, 1972 (APH 0537).
Rafting the canoes at Camp Sizzle and Splash, Harvey Station, New Brunswick, 2010. Photographer Inez Paul.
Outdoor Cooking at Kelso Beach, Owen Sound, 2010. Photographer Melody Vachon.
Sitting around the campfire, from Early Canadian Guiding Album, pre-1940.
Explore some of the previous posts in the Opening the Vaults series from our national archives: Creative camp gadgets; 1920s and 1930s Campfires and Cookbooks; The Maple Leaf Forever; Mountaineer, Explorer and Girl Guide Phyllis Munday.
These are great photos! My daughter is a fourth generation guider (starting Brownies next year after an awesome year in Sparks). I love looking at the older photos. I was a Guide, as was my mom and my great Aunt. It’s a wonderful program for girls and women.