Last updated on February 7, 2021.
Come on, Lac du Bonnet, it’s time to get movin’! Green Action Centre’s Jack Frost Challenge is taking place from February 7th to February 13th, and we want our community to get involved.
The Jack Frost Challenge is a week-long winter challenge with your team made up of 1 to 5 people. Your team can be family members, friends, and co-workers as you work together to complete 130 collective kilometres of outdoor activities. This is the perfect challenge for people of all ages – including kids!
Whether your thrill is walking, running, biking, skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, or all of the above, you can enjoy all these activities and more while challenging yourself and entering in to win some great prizes.
This year, there are two grand prizes! Any two participants that complete their fair share of at least 26km’s during the week of February 7-13 will be entered to win one of two Staycations!
- Staycation for two at The Fort Garry Hotel – Castle Package
- 2 night stay at Pinewood Lodge in Whiteshell Provincial Park
There are many other ways to win some amazing prizes from the Green Action Centre. Follow this link for the complete list!
All you have to do is find your team, register on Green Action Centre’s website, then get moving and log in your kilometres!
Winnipeg River Recreation District, the RM of Lac du Bonnet Recreation, My LdB and the Lac du Bonnet CDC are partnering up to make your experience even better! These four organizations are planning activities and more outdoor options to get you active for the Jack Frost Challenge.
How to be Enter to Win LdB Prizes
Lac du Bonnet residents can win some fantastic prizes! When participating in certain activities (see list below), you can be entered to win! All you have to do is:
- Get social – use #MyLdB on all your social shares that show you participating in the Jack Frost Challenge and activities. This will bring us together as a community participating in an event together while staying apart. A daily winner will be announced from February 8 to February 16. Prizes include 6 Community Futures Long Sleeve Shirts and 3 $10.00 I Heart Coffee Gift Certificates.
- Get Active Business Bingo – participate in this activity to win a cool prize (activity details below). You can even use #MyLdB to get additional entries to win! Winner will be announced on February 15, 2021.
- Photo Contest – email your photo to MyLdB to be entered to win a prize (see activity details below for photo categories). Winners will be announced on February 17, 2021.
- Jack Frost Scavenger Hunt – email MyLdB a photo of you with one of the Scavenger Hunt’s items (see activity details below). Your name will be entered in the draw for each photo you send. Winners will be announced on February 17, 2021.
- Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association Quiz – download the quiz, head over to the Wildlife Ponds, answer the questions, and send your completed sheet to [email protected]. Those that answer correctly will have their name entered into a draw. See activity details below.
Please note: all prizes are listed in the activity’s description.
How to Keep Track – Because you can’t Win Prizes if you Don’t Keep Track!
Before we get into all the fun things we have planned, let’s talk about how to keep track of your kilometres. Green Action Centre recommends using an activity tracking watch, Google Maps, Strava, or the GoManitoba App.
Get Active Business Bingo – Extended to February 21, 2021
Who’s ready to play some bingo? The Get Active Business Bingo takes you through Lac du Bonnet’s fantastic shops and businesses while promoting fun exercises to complete.
By participating in this activity, not only are you getting into shape, but you can also have your name enter in to win a cool prize. Take a look at the Get Active Business Bingo card to find out how you can have your chance to win!
Prize 1 – $70.00 Black Bear Golf Club Gift Certificate.
Prize 2 – Town of Lac du Bonnet Prize Package (Town of LdB Bag, Town of LdB Golf Shirt, Canada Throw Blanket, and Welcome to our Cabin Sign).
Jack Frost Scavenger Hunt – Extended to February 21, 2021
Have you heard? Jack Frost is in Lac du Bonnet! But during his journey, he ran into an awful snowstorm and lost some of his belongings. Now, they are scattered all over Lac du Bonnet, and Jack needs your help!
During the Jack Frost Scavenger Hunt, you will explore Lac du Bonnet to help find Jack’s lost items. Along the way, you’ll find clues for the next location, a new friend for Jack, a lost item, and the story of Jack’s great adventure.
Get the Jack Frost Scavenger Hunt Clues Here
You can also have your name enter into a draw to win a cool prize! All you have to do is email us ([email protected]) a photo of yourself with one of Jack’s lost items. Your name will be entered in the draw for each photo you send. Winners will be announced on February 22, 2021.
Prize 1 – $50.00 Gran’s Bakeshop Gift Certificate.
Prize 2 – $75.00 Drifter’s Gift Certificate.
Photo Contest
Do you have an eye for beauty? Are you a shutterbug? Have you been looking for a new hobby? If you are looking to show off your photo taking skills, participating in our photo contest is just the activity for you! Not only that, but you can also win an awesome prize!
We have multiple categories that you can enter your name into.
- Nature/Wildlife Photo – while adding up those kilometres, snap some photos of gorgeous nature scenery and wildlife you come across.
- Activity Photo – send us a photo of you participating in the Jack Frost Challenge. Whether you’re doing the Get Active Business Bingo, the Jack Frost Scavenger Hunt, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, or any outdoor activity, you be entered to win this prize.
- Team Photo – gather up your team and snap a team photo to be entered to win! Note: practice social distancing (6 Feet)
- Selfie Pic – whether you’re going at it solo or just found some really good lighting, you can win this selfie prize!
- 10 Second Video – send us a 10-second video of you participating in the Jack Frost Challenge. You can be snowshoeing, skiing, walking, tobogganing, doing one of our planned activities, or any outdoor activity!
Please send all photos to [email protected] to be entered into the contest. Winners will be announced on February 17, 2021, and the winning photos will be shared on our social media platforms with credits.
Nature/Wildlife Photo Prize – Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association Fishouflage Wind Shirt.
Activity Photo Prize – $70.00 Black Bear Golf Club Gift Certificate.
Team Photo Prize – Granite Hills Gift Certificate – Green Fees for 4.
Selfie Pic Prize – Town of Lac du Bonnet Prize Package (Town of LdB Bag, Town of LdB Golf Shirt, Canada Throw Blanket, and Welcome to our Cabin Sign).
10 Second Video Prize – RM of Lac du Bonnet Prize Pack (Lunch Bag, 2 Baseball Caps, 2 Golf Shirts, 2 Coffee Cups, 2 Notebooks, and a Wireless Charger).
Are you ready to test your wildlife knowledge? The Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association has created a quiz all about the Wildlife Trout Ponds. Don’t know much about the Ponds? Don’t worry! All the answers can be found at the Ponds and along the interpretive trail.
Download the quiz here to start your adventure. After completing the sheet, email it to [email protected]. If you answered all the questions correctly, your name will be entered into a draw. The deadline to submit your sheet is February 20, 2021.
Prize #1 Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association shirt and ball cap
Prize #2 Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association Fishouflage Hoodie
Louis Riel Day Weekend
While the Jack Frost Challenge technically ends on February 13th, we want the celebration of Louis Riel Day to partake in this fun week! Many of the activities we have planned for the Challenge will continue until February 15th so everyone can have a fun, entertaining long weekend.
Winnipeg River Recreation District’s Winter Family Fun Day is back on February 14, 2021! While it may be a bit different this year, you and your family can still have tons of fun while being safe!
Let your creative side out by participating in the Lac du Bonnet Virtual Wacky Sled Race! Make a sled out of cardboard, tape, paper, glue, and paint; take a video of your family racing your wacky sled down the hill at the town dock and then send it to Winnipeg River Recreation District via email ([email protected]) to have the chance to win!
This year, videos sent will be featured on WRRD’s Facebook Page where people can “like” their favourite sled creation. The three wacky sleds with the most likes by February 19 (1:00 PM) wins!
WRRD will feature some great free virtual classes on February 14 as well (TBA).
And if you are looking for some great outdoor and indoor family activities, WRRD has you covered! On their website, they have amazing ideas on ways you can spend the day.
Please visit Winnipeg River Recreation District’s website for more information about Family Fun Day.
Don’t forget that from February 13 to 15, ice fishing is free! So grab your rods and reels for an exciting day of fishing!
More information on this favourite community event will be released in the coming weeks. We’ll keep you posted on the details!
WRRD’s Borrow for Free
Winnipeg River Recreation District’s program Borrow for Free offers free rentals for cross-country skiing and snowshoes equipment. This is the perfect opportunity to try a fun, new activity and experience some of Lac du Bonnet’s fantastic trail systems in a whole new way.
Visit WRRD’s website for the rental agreement document and contact information.
Cross-country Skiing
Well, you have skis from Winnipeg River Recreation, now where do you go? The hot-spot destination for cross-country skiing in Lac du Bonnet is Agassiz Provincial Forest. With 11 km of gorgeous trails, you can experience the almost magical beauty Agassiz has to offer. Groomed and maintained by the Lac du Bonnet Cross Country Ski Club, the trails are perfect for beginner and experienced skiers alike. Enjoy a day skiing among the pine and spruce bogs, catching sight of the wildlife that calls this forest home!
Follow this link for the trail map.
Other Places to Cross-country Ski:
- Blue Water South Trail – New this year, thanks to our awesome volunteers with the Lac du Bonnet Trails Association.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing was once a means of transportation, and now, it’s a great activity that gets you out in nature! The Blue Water South Trail is the perfect place to go on your snowshoeing adventure. The trail is a portion of the Trans Canada Trail that extends from the Pinawa Dam Provincial Heritage Park to Great Falls. This 37 km trail is managed by the wonderful volunteers of the Lac du Bonnet Trails Association and offers breathtaking views and sights.
From the boreal forests, pristine prairie landscapes to Canadian Shield outcroppings, these geographical locations’ mix and mingle create a wonderful atmosphere and view. Along the way, you’re likely to spot a few furry and feathery creatures like bald eagles, great horned owls, deer, and many more!
This year, the Lac du Bonnet Trails Association received a grant, giving them the opportunity to expand the Blue Water South Trail! This trail is being designed as a snowshoe trail, making this trail a snowshoer’s paradise!
Follow this link to the maps of the Blue Water South Trail. Map one starts at Pinawa Dam and ends at Old Pointe Road (12.8 km). The second, Is Old Pointe Road to McKenzie Point Road (9.3 km). And the third is McKenzie Point Road to Great Falls (17.7 km).
Other Places to Snowshoe:
Winter Hiking
Enjoy the simpler things in life and go hiking! This simple activity is a great way to stay active while being able to relax. Hiking at Blueberry Rock is definitely a fan-favourite when visiting Lac du Bonnet, and we can see why! This 1.8 km trek offers plenty of stunning sights and magnificent views at the Lookout Tower and quarry!
Maintained by the Lac du Bonnet Trails Association, you can experience well-maintained trails along with rest areas with firepits.
With a mix of boreal forest and Canadian Shield outcroppings, it’s the perfect place to do some sightseeing and snap a few photos. Not only that, but you’ll also see a variety of wildlife like bald eagles, great horned owls, deer, and many more!
Other Places to Hike:
Tobogganing
It’s time to pick up your toboggans, sleds, and magic carpets! Tobogganing is a great activity – no matter what age! If your kids are participating in the Jack Frost Challenge (or if you’re looking to let your inner child out), this is a fantastic activity to do it.
Head on down to the Town Dock to enjoy a few hours of whipping down the hill!
Green Action Centre breaks down how many minutes of tobogganing equals how many kilometres you’ve done. For tobogganing 15 minutes = 1.5 km, 30 minutes = 3 km, and 1 hour = 6 km. Racking up those km quals tons of fun!
Skating
While you’re at the Town Dock, bring your skates! The outdoor skating rink is beside the dock, and is the perfect place to race, twirl, spin, or, for a lot of people, fall on your butt; but no matter how skilled you are, there are hours worth of fun!
Green Action Centre breaks down how many minutes of skating equals how many kilometres you’ve done. For ice skating (easy) 15 minutes = 1 km, 30 minutes = 2 km, and 1 hour = 4 km. For ice skating (moderate) 15 minutes = 1.5 km, 30 minutes = 3 km, and 1 hour = 6 km.
Don’t forget to bring your hocking sticks! Pond hockey is another great way to add some kilometres to your tally! 15 minutes = 2 km, 30 minutes = 4 km, 1 hour = 8 km.
MHAC Self-guided Walking Tour
The Lac du Bonnet Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC) designed and developed the Heritage Walking Tour. This self-guided tour takes you to some of Lac du Bonnet’s most cherished and historically significant buildings and locations.
See Lac du Bonnet like never before and discover intriguing facts and tidbits of the area! Follow this link to the printable PDF document for locations.
Check out MHAC’s website for more Heritage Sites that you can discover on your journey.
Geocaching
Who wants to go on a treasure hunt? Lac du Bonnet has over 165 caches hidden all over the area waiting to be discovered; the two biggest being the Power Trail Cache, dedicated to the Winnipeg River; and the MHAC’s Historical Geocache.
Geocaching is a great way to get out in nature and, of course, be active! It’s also a great way to explore Town and the RM of Lac du Bonnet’s pristine wilderness and significant historical sites.
Discover Lac du Bonnet’s Geocache with maps provided by Geocaching – the World’s Largest Treasure Hunt.
The Lac du Bonnet Jack Frost Challenge is Proudly brought to you by:
With support from our friends at:
