ORFORD – The goal at Centre de Villégiature Jouvence is to have guests commune with nature, resort-style. That means lots of fresh air and beautiful untamed surroundings mixed with sports and family games.

Jouvence is an all-inclusive resort in Parc National du Mont Orford’s outdoor paradise of mountains, forests and lakes. It’s a resort with many differences. Along with Auberge de Montagne des Chic-Chocs in the Gaspé, Jouvence is one of two privileged lodges to operate in the protected near-wilderness of a Quebec provincial park.

Jouvence, which is non-profit, is managed by a local board of directors who have built up the resort from a teen camp in the 1960s to a year-round vacation spot with an appealing, earthy look and feel.

Jouvence adds up to great value with attractive, unpretentious accommodations in a mountain setting, lots of healthy, hearty food and unlimited activities with trained counsellors and all equipment supplied.

“It’s Club Med à la Québécoise,” said Jean-Simon Belisle, Jouvence’s marketing manager. “People can go from activity to activity, non-stop, trying anything they want. Friendships are made and, after a few days, there are no more dinner tables of two and four. Everyone gets together.”

Jouvence has three different lodging choices.

Couples and singles like the Petite Auberge, a 24-room country inn with fine food, a fireplace lounge and arty interior decor using tree branches and bark.

Families are in heaven at Jouvence’s Centre de Villégiature, a collection of cottages that recently was awarded five stars from Quebec Tourism for its category of getaway.

Groups of hearty travellers who are pumped for soft adventure bunk down at Le Lodge Hors-Piste, a soft-adventure camp hidden on a remote lake a one-kilometre walk from the parking lot.

At Jouvence, the less you pay, the closer you are to nature.

While the type of accommodation can change, depending on your needs, the same sports and games are open to all guests. Until the end of Quebec’s school break, March 7, and again in summer, Jouvence is in Formula Club, which means full days and nights of games and sports led by counsellors. The action ranges from skating, broomball and snowshoeing to educational igloo-building and crazy fun stuff like six kids steering a pair of giant “tandem” skis.

And when the gang is orienteering, they use a quaint instrument called a compass – GPS systems are not in the traditional spirit of Jouvence. In low season (March 8 to June 30), guests can use all the facilities, but without organized events or counsellors.

La Petite Auberge, the most upmarket of the three lodging choices, is Jouvence’s answer to a country inn. It has a modern and spare design with large windows and soaring rounded ceilings, all to give a feeling of space. The airy space is warmed up with burnished butcher-block furniture and windows framed in jute curtains. Everywhere you look, your eye falls on snow-laden trees and running brooks.

Jouvence’s buzz of activities and kids’ camp is optional. Grown-ups can lead a quieter, simpler life by hanging out at La Petite Auberge’s fireplace, having a massage or walking along the Promenade de ruisseaux, a scenic riverside trail.

Meals, three a day, are a big part of the Auberge’s package. Breakfast features eggs, waffles and a small, healthy buffet of fruit, yogourt, cheese, granola and organic bread topped with homemade blueberry jam. Lunch is another buffet, with salads and extra delicacies like pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and cranberries, and hot platters of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Dinner is more refined, with table service, candle light and choices like sirloin steak, seafood, pheasant or pasta.

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If you go

Orford is a one-hour, 20-minute drive from Montreal. Take Highway 10 east to Exit 118, and Route 141 to Chemin Alfred Desrochers and Route 220.

Jouvence: 131 chemin de Jouvence, Orford, 800-567-3134, 450-532-3134, www.jouvence.com. All prices include three meals a day, tips, sports equipment and activities. Formule Club operates during high season (until March 7, July 1-Aug. 20, Sept. 3-6) and includes supervised games and sports for adults and children age 3 to 17. Extras: daycare for children under 3 costs $8 an hour. Massage cost $60 for 60 minutes, or children’s massage, 30 minutes for $40. All room prices are per night, per person, double occupancy.

La Petite Auberge of Jouvence (for 18 and older): $138 or $148 high season and $120 or $130 low season.

Jouvence Centre de Villégiature (a total of 70 rooms in large pavilions and small cabins): high season – adults $117 to $142; children $58 to $96, depending on age and type of room; children younger than 3 stay free. Low season – adults, $101 to $126; children, $43 to $82.

Jouvence Hors Piste: for a group of 15 to 36 children and adults. Minimum two nights (except April) in a dorm-style chalet, including activities and five meals (in two days): $174 per adult for two nights; $113 for teens 13-17; $90 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and younger. Hors-Piste guests should bring sleeping bags and towels.

Place :
Municipal beach, Martin street at Eastman

Saturday schedule
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Music, animation, tube sliding and inflatable games. Grills and beverages on place and skating path

1 p.m. at 5 p.m.
«Sleigh rides» and dog sleigh

1 p.m. at 3 p.m.
Taffy-on-the-snow and fishing on ice  (bring your equipments)

6 p.m.
Fireworks

Sunday schedule
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Inflatable games, animation, music, skates and tube sliding

2 p.m.
Tournament inter-municipal of broomball

Cost:
Free

Registration :
Phone.: 450 297-3440, post 30

A lucky team will have the honor to carry the cup to Magog!

More than 200 players and amateurs of hockey from all over America will be in Magog for the 4th World Outdoor Hockey Championships. 40 teams will compete to win the prestigious cup «Backyard hockey». Let us underline that the event will contribute to the financing of the «Canadian grassroots hockey».

Where :
Lac Memphremagog (Pointe Merry at Magog)

Schedule :
http://www.wohc.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106&Itemid=103

Cost :
Free for the spectators

Informations :Jeremiah, Josh, Alyssa Gordon
Phone: 1 514 618-2740, 1 514 774-7859, 1 778 990-6508
backyardhockeyinc@gmail.com
www.wohc.ca

Under the theme « VOYAGE» , about twenty artists, members of Creatio, present works of big sizes in the form of diptics, triptics polyptics, as well as sculptures and installations in varied techniques.

Cost :
Free

Opening hours :
Wednesday to Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Place :
Creatio Centre d’artistes
81, Desjardins street, office 101
Magog

Informations :
Phone : 819 843-8200 (Wednesday to Saturday)
info@creatio.net
www.creatio.net

January 7 to March 21, 2010

Come to see the works of Antaya ( Raymonde Hébert-Bernier) and Gaétan Bibeau, two Quebecois artists who make naïve art.

Furthermore, a group of persons will meet every Fridays from 1 pm to 4 pm and it, as from January 22nd, 2010 to paint and share their experiences in this domain.

Come to see us to the international Museum of naïve art, the only museum in Canada completely dedicated to the naïve art.

Cost :
Free

Opening hours :
Wednesday to Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Place :
Musée international d’art naïf de Magog
81, Desjardins street, office 100
Magog

Informations :
Phone : 819 843-2099
info@museedartnaif.com
www.museedartnaif.com

This winter, embark aboard the Trolley bus Magog-Orford and let yourself carried from one point to another, between Magog and Orford.

Take a breath of fresh air! Discover the magnificent winter landscapes and furthermore, you can practice multiple sports such as alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoe, skating or hiking.

Stop over in one of our wonderful resorts where relaxation and well being meet.

From your hotel, take advantage of this shuttle to visit the most beautiful sites of the Magog-Orford region.

Discover the pleasures of winter with complete peace of mind aboard the Trolley bus Magog-Orford.

From 8 am to 5 pm
30 minutes or less from the point of departure to the arrival.

Operating Saturdays and Sundays, from January 9^th until March 28^th, 2010.
In operation every day during school break week from February 28^th until March 7^th, 2010.

Cost:
Free

Information:
819 843-2744 / 1 800-267-2744
(group rentals available by reservation)
info@trolleymagogorford.com
www.trolleymagogorford.com

February 13th ( classic style) - The Loppet Subaru Orford, the Jeux du Québec Estrie and la Coupe Québec are popular cross-country skiing competitions. The Loppet Subaru Orford (18^th edition) is for the amateurs of long distance who want to take up a challenge! 10 km, 15 km or 32 km in classic style.

February 14th (free style) - The Coupe Québec and the Jeux du Québec Estrie will take place in free style.

Place:
Parc national du Mont-Orford
3321 du Parc
Orford
Information:
819-868-1830
info@skidefond.qc.ca
www.skidefondorford.qc.ca

Photo: Patrick Trudeau (Le Reflet du Lac)

Opening hours

From 10 am till 10 pm from Monday to Friday, and from 8 am till 10 pm during the weekend.

2 free parkings (Pointe Merry and Cabana)

2 warmed places where people can put their skates (Pointe Merry chalet with toilet and caravan in the parking on Cabana street).

Hours of pleasure for all the family!

Place :
Magog (MacPherson’s wharf)
Information :
819-843-2744
1-800-267-2744

Many of free activities will be offered to the whole family on February 5th, 6th and 7th of this year within the framework of the Fête des neiges de Magog 2010. Places are limited, inscriptions are required for the following activities:

Polar bath

Come to live an exceptional experience by jumping into the lake Memphrémagog in full winter! Sauna and Spa to revive you! (18 years and more only)

Dates: On Saturday February 6th and Sunday, February 7^th

Hours: 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm Place: near the quay MacPherson

Inscription: Before January 22nd by phoning in 819 843-6152

Friendly tournament of broomball

Take up the challenge of a friendly tournament of broomball by forming your own team of 8 players, of which a minimum of 2 girls (2 games by team, brooms and supplied balls). Referee on place.

Dates: On Saturday, February 6th and Sunday, February 7^th

Hours: To determine

Place: Ice rink of the Pointe Merry

Inscription: Before January 22nd by phoning at 819 843-6152

A night-hike (lighted with torches!) in rackets

LAMRAC invites you in a night-hike in rackets. Those nights are lighted with torches! Come to walk in the swamp, outside paths. You can then warm yourselves around a campfire, while savoring a hot chocolate and by estimating the tale which will be presented to you.

Dates: On Friday February 5th and Saturday, February 6th

Hours: Departures at 6:30 am and at 8:30 am

Inscription: before January 22nd by phoning at 819 843-8118

Information:
www.ville.magog.qc.ca

Head off for the discovery of the cities of the world via the works of international naive painters. Delightful for your eyes!

Opening hours : Wednesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Musée international d’Art naïf de Magog
81, rue Desjardins
Magog (Quebec)  J1X 5A4
Phone : 819 843-2099
info@museedartnaif.com
www.museedartnaif.com