Funded in part by the Motorola Solutions Foundation, ProAction’s Outdoor Survival Skills Program includes different camping programs that give young people an opportunity to experience the outdoors like never before. Many of these young people have never been beyond the boundaries of their neighbourhoods. Spending days and nights in northern Ontario away from the challenges of their daily lives builds a new perspective and appreciation for things they can achieve.

Highly trained officers leading these programs teach a variety of skills from basic camping to rappelling, advanced canoeing and lifesaving. Many of the participants leave this program with skills, certifications and opportunities that lead to new career and academic opportunities. Participants of this program have successfully completed their secondary education, been accepted into post-secondary and/or trades programs and some have even gained employment thanks to their new outdoor survival skills.

Proof that these programs save lives was clearly demonstrated when ProAction officers and participants led two different rescues of fellow campers who were stranded in deep water. Two of these campers were young boys who swam too far out in deep water and a couple whose canoe capsized. Thanks to this program, young people experienced first-hand how police officers save lives.