Women’s Gap Intro

3-Day Winter Retreat

Availability: February through March

Thinking of a Gap Year teaser? Come join us and meet the family.
(the homestead that’s gone to the dogs.)

This active, 3-day outdoor retreat, run by the Cushing family on their working homestead in Pontiac, Québec, offers a unique educational and practical experience. Since 1991, the Cushing’s, with members certified by Aventure Ecotourism Québec, have been committed to providing structured training in dogsled touring, focusing on pack dynamics and canine behaviour. In addition to dog sledding, participants will develop essential mental and physical skills through instruction in Krav Maga self-defence and outdoor preparedness, including crucial safety measures for seasonal activities.

Women’s Gap Intro

Dog Powered Sports, Self-Defence and Outdoor Preparedness

Download Program outline

The International School for Earth Studies has trained more than 200 regional and international students, and won the Aventure Écotourisme Québec 2014 Award of Excellence. Canoeing, dog sledding, wilderness first-aid and CPR certifications are available at the program level.

Aventure Écotourisme Québec
The goal of environmental education is to develop a world population that is aware of and concerned about, the environment and its associated problems, and which has the knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivations, and commitment to work individually and collectively toward solutions of current problems and the prevention of new ones.

UNESCO 1976: 1
We help individuals connect to nature while acquiring skills that serve people, animals and the environment.

THE CUSHING FAMILY

The Cushing Family

Our Story

What Alumni Are Saying

“Earth Studies is an incredible and unique place that will teach you things you've never imagined that you'd be able to learn, it will challenge you to develop, give you wonderful memories, and inspire you to grow. My time at Earth Studies has shown me the importance of a human connection to Mother Earth and given me opportunities for a deep connection with animals that's impossible to find anywhere else.”

— Nora Holmes

“No matter whether I was cleaning kennels or mucking the stables, I had a purpose. Everything I did was valued, and everything I did was fun. It was easy to identify how much progress I was making with these twenty incredible dogs because I was able to tell all of them apart, and they started responding to my cues and body language.”