OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE

The Outdoor Education Centre and Ranges are located approximately 9.8 kms southwest of Lac du Bonnet at #185, Provincial Road 214 (Milner Ridge Road)

SAFETY

EDUCATION

RECREATION

ABOUT THE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE

Blue print of the Outdoor Education Centre multi-purpose facility

The Outdoor Education Centre (OEC) is a unique venue designed to give Conservation students an opportunity to experience hands on involvement in programs that introduce them to the outdoors and outdoor skills.

A multi-purpose facility is being constructed to allow us to deliver educational programs in conservation, focusing on outdoor skills, safety, and other natural resource-based programs. The OEC provides a complete set of archery, trap, and shooting ranges constructed in accordance with the range design and guidelines of the Canadian Firearms Centre.

The skills learned at the centre will enable students to enjoy the many outdoor recreational opportunities this country has to offer. It is our hope that the participants will not only learn a skill but become ambassadors of wildlife conservation

BENEFITS OF THE OEC

Outdoor Education Centre firearms range grounds and layout

  • The OEC is unique. No such facility exits in the area to provide outdoor skills education, hands-on recreational opportunities, and the safe delivery of organized shooting sports

  • The RM of Lac du Bonnet Recreational Needs and Facilities Assessment identified the need for nature and outdoor education especially amongst children and youth. The OEC focuses on youth. The skills learned at the center will enable students to enjoy the many outdoor recreational opportunities this country has to offer

  • The OEC connects people and nature through recreation as per Goal 3 of Canada’s Framework for Recreation.

  • The OEC addresses environmental and safety concerns associated with the ad hoc use of gravel pits and trails for target shooting.

  • The OEC contributes significantly to the local economy but drawing visitors to the area who make local purchases here as a result.

  • A decommissioned waste disposal site has undergone reclamation to repurpose it to a recreational area and education centre, eliminating an unsightly area that was not suitable for other purposes

Outdoor Education Centre and Ranges

Completed so far during Phase One

  • 200-meter Rifle Range (.308 cal template group), Covered Firing Line Shed, Shooting Benches, firearm stands.

  • 25-meter Small Arms Range (.357 S&W mag template grouping), Covered Firing Line Shed, Shooting Benches, firearm stands.

  • Trap Range (max 7 ½ size shot).

  • 30-meter Archery Range (with raised shooting platform coming soon).

  • Related Enclosures and storage.

  • Washroom.

  • Parking Lot.

  • Bear Proof Garbage and Recycling at parking lot.

  • Ranges are constructed in accordance with the range design and guidelines of the Canadian Firearms Centre

OEC Phase One Tour Video

Video produced by Nolan Sawatsky from the Manitoba Wildlife Federation

OEC Phase Two

Phase Two – Construction or the OEC Multi-Purpose Building began in 2023 and should be completed by the fall of 2024. The 40’ x 40’ building will include:

• A large multi-purpose classroom/meeting room with audio visual equipment

• Kitchen facilities complete with food service capabilities

• An outdoor cooking area

• Fully accessible washrooms

• Equipment storage and maintenance area

• Wildlife/Fisheries interpretive displays

 

The Outdoor Education Centre Ranges officially opened on April 15, 2024.

General Hours of operation: Daily from 9:00 a.m. until ½ hour before sunset April 1 to Nov 30.

Trap Shooting: Every Tuesday 6 p.m. until ½ hour before sunset . April 1 to September 30.

Closed Dec 1 to March 31 yearly.

In order to use the ranges, you must have a Range Pass. To ensure safety and responsibility, certain prerequisites must be met to attain a Range Pass. These include active membership in the Lac du Bonnet Wildlife Association and attending the LDBWA Range Orientation.

Range Orientation presentations are held regularly and are advertised on our Facebook Page and this web site under events.

Admission as: 2024 Fee Requirements
Family $100 Must be an LDBWA regular member, 2 adults with children 12-17 yrs
Single $75 Must be an LDBWA regular member
Associate Family $100 Must be a member in good standing of a MWF affiliate
Associate Single $75 Must be a member in good standing of a MWF affiliate
Adult Guest Day Pass $20/day Must be accompanied by a range member, max 2 guests/day
Youth Guest Day Pass $5/day 12-17 yrs old, accompanied by a range member, max 2 guests/day

Upon purchase of a Range Membership, the member will be issued a Range Membership Card along with a key to access the gate at the OEC. A $20 key deposit is required and will be refunded upon return of the key.

For further information on Range Passes please contact Chief Range Safety Officer David Becker at dmbecker00@gmail.com

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Volunteers!

The accomplishments reached so far for the OEC and Ranges could not have been done without the support of our many sponsors and volunteers.

The financial generosity of so many groups and individuals has been amazing. Literally, thousands of hours have been put into this project by volunteers, and we can’t say enough how much we appreciate the commitment!

Thank you one and all!

While our progress so far has been good there is still a lot that needs to be done to bring the project to full fruition. Please consider volunteering some of your time to help us out or consider making a monetary donation! Financial donations to the OEC and Ranges project are tax deductible!

See how to donate here:

Our Donors and Sponsors

Visionary

> $10,000

Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund

Manitoba Government – Building Sustainable Communities

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Outdoor Fund

Rural Municipality of Lac Du Bonnet

Lac du Bonnet ions Club

Tanco Mining

Scott Jones

Leaders

$5,000 to $9,999

Manitoba Lodge and Outfitters Association

Beausejour Consumers Co-operative

 

Champions

$2,000 to $4,999

Arsenault Trucking

Jackson Trucking

Harvey Lausman/Surveying

Hometown Sausage

Dwight Gelhorn

Herbert Schmolke

Dennis McGuffin

Believers

$1,000 to $1,999

Bill Chipka/Drafting

Wayne & Linda Leonard

Louis Lansard

Art St Amant

G&C Sochaski

 

Supporter

$500 to $999

Yuma Rents.

M – View Insurance

Gerry Arbez

Minsky Trucking (James & Jamie)

Others

< $499

Joseph Cinq-Mars

E&M Hiebert

LAC DU BONNET WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION

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