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translation by Mr Danny Erickson (Canada BC)
The association
Espace
Art Nature
Au Vieux Couvent
The Old Convent
The
association is housed inside a historical site within Neuville, an
old convent, which is located in the heart of the village, roughly
twenty minutes from downtown Quebec. The Old Convent, built in 1716, is
one of the most ancient structures in Neuville. It was founded by
Sisters of the Congrégation-Notre-Dame, and, according to
history, Marguerite Bourgeoys herself chose its location. Once an old
boarding house, the Old Convent is a warm, inviting place that still
retains all of its yester-year charm. Whether you decide to walk down
the road to stroll along the side of the St.Laurent or take one of the
many paths through the field leading up to the plateau, the majestic
beauty of the land will leave you breathless. For more challenging but
equally magnificent terrain, the surrounding woods and marshlands are
sure to satisfy.
This
association was developed because of experiences had with each of
the following organizations:
Le Café des Arts is a
cultural organization that has been in existence within the City of
Québec for more than fifteen years. Its goal is to make culture
more accessible to a large number of people, regardless of their
origin, through soirées, meetings, workshops, poetry and
literature, and through artistic shows, most notably the widely popular
outdoor production les
Mystères de Québec.
Espace Québec Nature is
a non-profit organization founded in 1997 at the Old Convent in
Neuville, in the Portneuf County. Its goal : to offer profound
personalized experiences with nature, in all seasons and to a varied
clientelle. It offers this through trips and group sessions, as well as
through a natural and poetic approach to nature.
The founders of the organization, in collaboration with
the
municipality, the Société d'Histoire de Neuville and
several other actively involved persons, are working continually to
create a unique visiting experience that highlights the historic,
cultural, and touristic values of the village.
This project is based
upon
the idea of stable development. It involves the citizens of Neuville in
a relevant manner in the development of a municipal identity within
their
village through unique artistic events that help develop the local way
of life in many ways: restoration, art boutiques, expositions, etc.
Local historical sites and structures of great importance are
highlighted through theatrical means: amateur actors from the village
show visitors the Neuville way of life throughout different time
periods. Visitors, through history, poetry, singing, music, painting,
and other artistic means, discover the historic beauty of Neuville,
past and present, as well as the wonderfully diverse local talent.
Au
Vieux Couvent, art-nature Espace Quebec Nature defines
its goals as the following:
- Provide an opportunity: to live as an artist or a poet, to
learn
to really look at nature and to co-exist properly with her, to explore
and discover nature's secrets through cultural activities.
- Offer a culturally significant site to the community in a
heritage house that can be utilized for:
- Meetings and events on the subjects of history, heritage,
literature, art, crafts, etc...
- Personalized experiences with nature throughout the year
for
people from all walks of life.
- Group sessions
- Festive gatherings
- Community arts and crafts workshops
- Propose and initiate :
- Activities and outings designed to immerse families
within
nature, during the summer as well as winter.
- Activities designed to instigate artistic and personal
development through experiences with art and with nature.
- Cultural and artistic activities with theatrical,
literary, and historical character.
The staff :
Trips in the great outdoors
Espace
Québec Nature will meet you upon your arrival in our historical
house in Neuville, one of the oldest towns in Quebec, along the
Saint-Laurent, in Portneuf county, about 15 minutes from the Quebec
airport.
You can
also
create your own trip depending on your desires and budget by leaving me
a message with you wishes.
Summer
from mid-june to mid-october
Forfait 1
KENO « campement
»
Camp Keno 3
jours
Lac-Saint-Jean 2
jours
Saguenay 2 jours
Tadoussac
(baleines) 1 jour
Comté de
Portneuf 1 jour
|
Forfait 2
INNU «
l'être humain »
Camp Keno 3
jours
Charlevoix 2 jours
Tadoussac
(baleines) 1 jour
Côte-Nord 3
jours |
Forfait 3
MANIC « la
rivière »
Combiné
KENO & INNU |
Outline of the trips
Camp Keno : 
Immersed
in the wilderness on the shore of Nadeau Lake (Portneuf
County), accessible only by boat, not a cabin or motor boat in sight,
you'll live in a massive prospector's tent, with everything you'll need
to survive provided for you. After a 20 minute trek in the woods, we'll
leave civilization behind to meet with our
friend,
the calm waters of a
big lake. Our paddles dip into the placid water and our canoe begins to
pick up speed. After a short trip across, we arrive at the camp, ready
to spend the next few days simply communing with nature. The program
includes canoeing on lakes as well as rivers, bathing, paddling
techniques, portage routes, canoe races, campfire cookouts, scenic
walks... In essence, the extraordinary way of life that the first
explorers of this country established.
Lac-Saint-Jean :
Our
trapper
friend from Lac-Saint-Jean, little Jaques, dancing with a beautiful
wolf.
We'll visit the
Saint-Félicien Zoo, remarkable for its 450hectares of land where
bear, moose, beaver, elk, and various other wildlife all exist together
in
harmony. With its unique naturalistic concept, this zoo gives visitors
the unique experience of a voyage into the great North-American
wilderness where it is us, the humans who are confined, and the animals
are the ones who roam free! You will find most of the animals that
inhabit our continent in this massively immense park. We will meet and
stay with a woodsman who will also teach us to fish for trout on
beautiful "Lac Doré". In the land of the trappers, falls is
without a doubt the best time to talk about fishing, hunting and
trapping.
Saguenay :
 We'll pass along a
beautiful rocky coast that smells of
seasalt, forests without limit, mountains sculpted by ancient crater,
and the beautiful Saguenay fjord... The mountains invite us to climb up
the Cape-Trinité, and a wonderfully scenic walk
along the
Saguenay river and its fjord allows us to truly appreciate nature.
Because of the rich combination of fresh and salt water
that makes up
the fjord, this aquatic playground is home to all sorts of sea-faring
creatures, such as fish and certain types of whales. The Fjord
interpretation centre allows us to fully understand and appreciate this
amazing natural phenomenon.
Tadoussac
:
Tadoussac
is an aquatic crossroads, where the Saguenay river meets the
Saint-Laurent river, resulting in a natural underwater trench of over
200m in depth. After passing the beacons marking the channel for the
big cargo ships that cross near Montreal and the Great Lakes, we arrive
close to the
under-water trench. All of a sudden, breaking the
silence
of the waves, a powerful whistle sounds right in front of us, and then
another! No, we're not under attack, it's just a group of "rorquals
communs" hunting, their smooth bodies skimming the surface of the water
before plunging again back into the depths of
the trench. Swimming
close by, at most 20 m for the
boat, these massive mammals let us peer
into the
world of giants. Finally looking away from the gigantic wonders, we
notice that a troupe of Belugas have ascended the river. A little while
later, we see what we think is the head of a bull
frog, but which turns
out to be a big grey seal that have come to feed. When we finally leave
in
the afternoon, we leave with hearts full of appreciation for this
beautiful natural site.
Charlevoix : Go for
a scenic hike up to Lac des Cygnes, then go rafting down the
Malbaie River. The last safety precautions have been taken by
André and Giselé, and there we are, excited and ready to
go. At first, the Malbaie river is kind and allows us to familiarize
ourselves with the gentle workings of our paddles, and before we know
it, the first rapids have come and gone without problem, and our  guides' senses of humour let us finally relax.
It must be said that the
Malbaie river offers a multitude of varied experiences. I personally
have had the chance to race with a beaver, to see an eagle soar with
lunch in its grasp, even to admire an otter playing gracefully... all
extraordinary experiences that lift one's spirits easily and safely.
Côte-Nord : We'll live with
native-americans from the Betsiamites area, near Comeau Bay, adopting
the rhythm of their lifestyle. I have the priveledge of being warmly
reveived within certain famillies in the village. Léopold and
Delvina, our guides, will integrate you within their summer camp as if
you were their family. The natives believe in "circular" human
relations, as opposed to the linear way of life we oxidentals have
developed. Around the camp fire, individual languages often become
unimportant as laughter permeates the air and seems to bring us all
closer together, and we realize that we are all "human
beings", all of
us both the same and yet uniquely different. Léopold brings us
into the woods to
experience "their" earthly
paradise. We'll also head
to Papinachois, where we will be able to visit a reconstruction of
their traditional living space throughout the ages. We also might get
the chance to fish for trout out of a canoe on the Nippi river. What a
treat!
Comté
de Portneuf :
 Virée
poétique et historique au comté de Portneuf,
Découvrir
des trésors : une rue pittoresque, un jardin extraordinaire,
des maisons, des rues vibrantes d'histoire; dîner dans un coin
charmant; prendre un apéritif au coucher du soleil sur le bord
du fleuve.
Autres possbilités : With our
extensive knowledge of this rather extensive
city, you'll see sites not normally seen by the common tourist in
Quebec, the oldest city in North-America and considered to be part of
our World's heritage by UNESCO. Quebec, a veritable front door for the
new world, the provincial capital offers its old-world european charm
to those willing to walk its ancient streets. Its position on the site
of the Cap-Diamant, its view of the beautifully green Île
d'Orléans, and its close proximity to the Laurentine mountains
enhance the romantic charm of this beautiful city. The accomodating and
fun-loving nature of its habitants adds a warm and friendly flavour to
this smiling francophone city. The Place-Royale, the
Québec-Lévis traverse, the Dufferin terrace, the
Marie-Guyart tower observatory, the civilization museum, sous-le-cap
road, the vieux-port, Petit-Champlain road, the Plains of Abraham.
Visiting even some of the listed attractions will ensure a unique and
interesting visit of a very unique and interesting city.
Winter
trip 4
WABUSH « the
hare »
Winter Chalet on a wildlife reserve 4 days
(Skiing,
Snow-Shoeing, Hare-trapping)
Snowmobiling 1 day
Dog-sledding
1 day |
Séjour en chalet :
Winter chalet : Live an
incredible experience like none you've ever had before, several
enchanting days in the heart of the forest, surrounded by trees, snow,
and the beautiful sounds of the outdoors. Like the first settlers of
this great land, you'll be able to fully appreciate the beauty of these
immense snow-covered forests, all the while profiting from the warm
comfort of our cabin. The incredible panoramic view, the inviting
warmth of the living room with its crackling fireplace, the sampling of
certain trapper specialties, all this is there simply to procure you
the simple joy of a restful life. Each day brings a new experience:
cross-country skiing on frozen lakes, dog-sledding, snow-shoeing...
Raquette
:
Snow-shoeing : During
our
excursions into the forest, I'll take you snowshoeing in the heart of
the forest, where we'll find ourselves in the midst of thousands of
snow-covered trees with ice encrusted branches that glitter in the
bright winter sunlight. If we turn our eyes towards the snow, we're
able to see fresh animal tracks, giving us a glimpse into their lives
and their different ways of dealing with winter. We also leave snares
to capture hares, and when we finally return to the cabin...
meal-time...
Motoneige
:
Snowmobiling : The "Skidoo"
or snowmobile is a fast and powerful machine
that allows us to venture into the parts of the forest where normally
only the animals leave their tracks. We'll use them mostly as an
indispensable means of transportation to access areas that we wouldn't
normally be able to. We'll also take a day trip from Saint-Raymond all
the way out to the "Tower of Fire" that overlooks Montauban lake.
Ski de fond : 
Cross-Country Skiing :Picture
yourself, skiing in the silence of the great outdoors
along a frozen lake, bordered on either side by majestic birch and
spruce trees. Leaving early in the morning, we'll ski along a
well-maintained path that goes right along wild-country, and then
across the frozen surface of Robinson lake, and then we finally arrive
to where we'll settle down to have our little pic-nic. The fresh air,
the comraderie, the scenery, all this comes together to give genuinely
unique flavour to our trip.
The ski trips are adaptable for
children or adults, beginners or experts. I can, as well, for skiiers
of high skill and good physical condition, organize multiple-day or
over-night trips.
Traîneaux
à chiens : 
Dog-sledding : Dog-sledding
is a unique experience during Quebec in
the
winter that has to be lived to be understood. The first moments are
absolutely amazing, with the barking of the dogs who are simply
portraying their joy of being outside and doing what they do best. The
sled must always be anchored when not in use, as the dogs are always
pulling on the reins, eager as always to be out and about. But as soon
as the sled is untied, we experience a unique sense of joy as we become
one with the sled and the dogs as we glide silently through a
beautifully serene landscape. We adjust the experience according to the
age and time commitment available.
Ski
de piste
Downhill Skiing (an
option not included in the price) At night on the slopes of
Mont-Saint-Anne or Stoneham. In the magic of the lit up mountain, ski
between massive trees on perfect snow and you will understand the
obsession that has enthralled so many people and families for years and
years.
The
winter program is subject to change depending on on the weather and the
availability of equipment
Prices
| Family
or Group |
Prices
per person and per day in Canadian $'s canadian
dollars 2010 |
| Type of
Trip |
KENO
- INNU - MANIC |
WABUSH |
| from |
$125,00 |
$180,00 |
Prices include food and lodging, the
services of the
guide and equipment. Only transportation and alcoholic beverages aren't
included. A vehicle can be provided at approx. 70$ a day extra. Your
reservation is effective after the reception of a 10% non-refundable
deposit.
A word on your guide,
Jean-Noël
André : « When you're with me I guarantee an safe, authentic
trip. I offer trips for families or groups between 2 and 10 people. My
natural and poetic approach encourages complete immersion in the great
outdoors, and will helps you better understand the fauna and flora and
different cultures of our great land. My desire is that each person can
enter within themselves and communicate with this wonderful land of
ours and discover the freedom to re-create ones life ».
« I
created this
nature-tourism enterprise in large part grace to the insistance of
several of my friends who had the desire to live with me adventures of
the kind that I had lived in the stories that I regaled them with over
the years. Authenticity is a very important part of the trips. I offer
excursions where each adventure has been weighed and thought out to
offer a vision of Quebec most loyal to the spirit and flavour of the
land in the time available. It has never about seeing the most places
in least time time possible. Taking into consideration wishes and
demands, I offer adventures accessible for each person. I'm not in the
business of extreme sports, and my trips aren't about fear, danger, or
miscomfort. That being said, the bravest can always go further and
there are always ways to make the adventure more interesting for those
who thrive on adrenalin ».
My first experience with true beauty I had when I was only seven
years old. My family took me on a hiking trip in the swiss alps, and
instantly I fell in love. Wonder overtook my heart as my eyes took in
the grandeur of the mountains, the beauty of the snow-capped glaciers,
the majesty of the mountain animals... all these riches, offered to me
freely.
The years went by, and here I am in Québec, where the mountains
are
horizantally vast in an « original » nature. When I leave
to go
cross-country skiing on the partially frozen Saint-Laurent river, a
strong emotion overtakes me each time I stand witness before the
immenseness of the river, and standing there, such a small and
insignificant speck of matter, I become immense, I become the river.
The ability to constantly be awed and to take joy in the wonder of
nature, in all its various forms, has always been with me. Later, I
learned to be aware of nature as more than just a place for recreation,
but also as a place for re-creation. The sensation of being small
admist such immensity, to be part of a reality that both excludes and
includes me as a player, for me this is the true gift of creation.
Nature became my true home, and to truly be a part of this land, this
tiny part of the universe, one must live it, cultivate it, respect it,
and discover its secrets. The rocks are the memory of the land, one
that goes back millions of years. The natives say that rocks are the
grandfathers, as they are the guardians of the past. « I am
nothing but
the inconsequential dust of a star ». Vegetation teaches me that
life
exists to live, and that life is infinitely more powerful than death. A
perpetual resurrection manifests in the rhythm of the seasons. The
animals show me their prodigious ability to adapt in the midst of
natural chaos to respond to their innate needs and to perpetuate their
race. Natural selection allows the strongest to survive and to
recuperate. It is surprising to see the sheer amount of death present
in nature and yet it will always be considered a place for regeneration
and life. The great Canadian forests are subject to terrible fires
every year that destroy unbelievably large amounts of forest, and yet,
the forest heals itself and continues to grow. It's the natural cycle
of life and death and life always remains as stubborn as ever.
And what is to be said about human beings, the only living entity on
this planet aware of its own demise, where are they found on the grand
scheme of things? How can one respond to their existential anguishes
and reconcile with themselves, with their inner deaths, with all these
things? I know from experience that the sources of life that created
nature are cosmic. In fraternising with nature, I absorb the true
essence of life, and become a being among all beings, a creator able to
invent my own life.
It was with this vision in mind that I created « Espace
Québec Nature
», an organization offering sessions with nature where we live a
fundamental experience of truly being part of nature, trips set on
discovering Québec in all seasons, useful and sportive
activities such
as fishing, canoeing, trapping, etc.
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