Tipi Sleepovers at Wanuskewin
“pe kapaysik miykowapi” (Come and Spend the Night)
**TIPI SLEEPOVERS ARE CLOSED FOR THE SEASON**
Tipi sleepovers will reopen for bookings in spring for the 2023 season.
(2023 Season: Late June to Early October)
We have two options for Tipi Sleepovers available:
OPTION ONE: Regular Tipi Sleepovers
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- minimum 15 ppl (or cost of)
- bring your own supplies
- programming and breakfast included
OPTION TWO: Deluxe Tipi Sleepovers!
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- minimum 6 ppl (or cost of)
- maximum of 12 ppl
- cots, sleeping bags and pillows all supplied for you!
- supper and snacks included
- additional programming and breakfast
Tipi Sleepover Information:
OPTION ONE:
This program requires a minimum of 15 people, or minimum charge if your group is smaller than 15.
You will have access to the tipis, and need to bring in your own bed rolls and supplies for staying the night.
Our Tipi Village can accommodate up to 4 tipis set up, with each tipi sleeping up to 10-12 ppl on the wooden platform. (If you are a larger group, please e-mail to see options!)
Sample Itinerary OPTION ONE
(PLEASE NOTE, we can be flexible with timing based on your booking requirements):
5:30 p.m. – Arrival at Wanuskewin:
Meet-and-greet with Wanuskewin host
Set up camp outside
6:30 p.m. – Choice of educational program
7:45 p.m. – Choice of educational program
9:00 p.m. – Bannock-on-a-stick at campfire (PENDING FIRE BAN) with Hot Chocolate – Discussion on traditional Plains life at Wanuskewin
10:00 p.m. – Self-Guided free time at tipi village
Morning Schedule
8:00 a.m. – Rise and Shine – clean up Tipi Village area (all equipment needs to be out of tipi village before 9 a.m.)
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast (included in booking)
9:00 a.m. – Conclusion of Sleepover with the option to stay onsite and do self-guided touring or make arrangements in advance for extra programming (additional cost, and pending availability)
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OPTION TWO:
Wanuskewin Deluxe Tipi Sleepover
Everything that you will need for a deluxe tipi sleepover experience will be provided for you: meals, snacks, all bedding, cots, pillows, and programming.
Your curated experience includes interpreted in depth exploration of the bison herd at Wanuskewin along with their history, as well as discussion of why the reintroduction of this keystone species is so important to life on the prairies.
Sample Itinerary OPTION TWO
(PLEASE NOTE, we can be flexible with timing based on your booking requirements):
5:00 p.m. – Arrival at Wanuskewin – orientation to site
5:30 p.m. – Dinner at the Tipi Village (Bison Stew, Peach Muskeg Iced Tea)
6:30 p.m. – In-Depth Bison Tour (wâhkôhtowin – Bison Kinship)
8:00 p.m. – Tipi Teachings (indoors)
9:00 p.m. – Bannock-on-a-stick at campfire (PENDING FIRE BAN) with Hot Chocolate or Muskeg Tea
10:00 p.m. – Self-Guided free time at tipi village
Morning Schedule
8:00 a.m. – Rise and Shine – clean up Tipi Village area (all personal items need to be out of tipi village before 9 a.m.)
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast (included in booking)
9:00 a.m. – Conclusion of Sleepover with the option to stay onsite and do self-guided touring or make arrangements in advance for extra programming (additional cost, and pending availability)
REMINDER: Due to the nature of the site being an Indigenous ceremonial and gathering place, we have a no alcohol or drugs policy on site at Wanuskewin Heritage Park at all times.
Tipi Sleepover Tour Booking Form – Bookings will reopen in Spring 2023
Over six thousand years ago, Wanuskewin echoed with the thundering hooves of bison and the voices of Indigenous peoples from across the Northern Plains. Today, visitors can relive the stories of a people who came to this site of natural beauty to hunt bison, gather food and medicines, and escape the winter winds, and learn about how the site is still used today.
Wanuskewin is pleased to offer our visitors overnight accommodation in a Traditional Cree style Tipi in the opimihaw Valley.
Walking in their footsteps, you will understand why this site has always been a place of celebration, of renewal with the natural world, and of a deep spirituality, and still is today.
Tipi Sleepover Tour Booking Form – Bookings will reopen in Spring 2023
Sample Programs Available
Native Plant Walk
Learn about the medicinal and edible plants in the opimihāw Valley that Indigenous peoples use for sustenance, shelter, and tools. This program emphasizes the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land, our role as stewards of the ecosystems we live in, and past and present resource use and survival.
Tipi Teachings Program
The tipi is the perfect home for life on the plains. Join us as we share the Plains Cree style tipi teachings gifted to Wanuskewin by Elder Mary Lee, and the life lessons that go along with each of these fifteen poles. We hope that participants are able to gain a deeper understanding of the holistic nature of Plains Cree well-being and health, as well as social roles, worldview, and women’s teachings, through this hands-on program.
Traditional Games
In order to survive the challenging environment of the plains, children were taught survival skills in the form of games. Try your hand at playing some traditional games to practice your hunting, physical, and social skills during this interactive program. These games have been used as a teaching tool for thousands of years to share skills such as endurance, hand-eye coordination, and observation.
View ALL program options here
What to Bring
- sleeping bag appropriate for the weather, pillow, and other bedding (bedroll)
- foam or small mat to sleep on (wooden floors in tipi)
- personal effects (toothbrush, deodorant, etc. – UNSCENTED – please note we have NO shower facilities)
- appropriate clothing and footwear for weather conditions, and extra layers!
- bug spray
- flashlight
Booking your Tipi Sleepover
Each Tipi Sleepover includes the choice of 2 guided programs, campfire bannock bake with hot chocolate, as well as a hot breakfast in the morning. Please review the “Tours” tab for further information on our programming. If there is something specific you are interested in for programming that is not listed, please let us know and we will try to accommodate the request.
15 participant minimum or payment thereof for Regular Tipi Sleepover
6 participant minimum or payment thereof for Deluxe Tipi Sleepover
Please book your tipi sleepover at least three weeks in advance. Limited dates available. Additional programs and customized menus available at an added cost.
For additional questions or information, please e-mail [email protected]
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
