Canoe Tripping
Mission
The mission of our canoe tripping program is to support campers in developing a passion for wild spaces, to teach them the skills to explore them safely, and to inspire lifelong confidence in outdoor adventure.
Every Arowhon camper goes on an overnight canoe trip each summer, led by expert guides who keep them safe and ensure that their experience is fun and enriching.
Our trips follow a “challenge by choice” model – standard trips leave and return from camp and take advantage of the world-class canoe tripping destination at our doorstep. Older campers have options to sign up for more challenging trips, taking them to Ontario and Quebec’s premier white water rivers, or on expeditions of up to 14 days.
BENEFITS OF BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURE
- Making connections with friends – we find that canoe trips to be the most formative experience for c groups of kids, and that overcoming challenges together can be the spark for everlasting friendships.
- Learning new skills – learning wilderness skills like safe fire-building, nutrition and hydration basics, and navigation makes kids more confident and independent.
- Connecting with nature – by fostering care for the natural environment, campers become connected with, and grateful for, the world around them.
- Pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone – by providing campers an opportunity to discover what they are truly capable of, we can give them lifelong confidence that ripples to the classroom, workplace and beyond.
- For fun – forming positive memories and stories to share with everyone when they return. Campers always report the best memories from canoe trips, and everyone knows that food tastes better when cooked on a fire!
How do we do this?
- We teach skills deliberately on trip, using the Camp Arowhon teaching model to deliver information that is clear and engaging and accessible to all learners.
- Excellent staff – we hire experts, and then train them for up to six weeks on first aid, risk management, wilderness water safety and emergency procedures to ensure the highest standard of care possible.
- Over 90 years of Algonquin experience – with extensive knowledge of the area, and decades of resources we can plan routes that balance enjoyment and challenge.
- We’re guided by Camp Arowhon’s values of caring and respect – campers are met where they are and supported and challenged with empathy and enthusiasm.
What do we teach?
In the tripping program, we translate our three core values into a curriculum:
- Caring – to take responsibility for caring about the wellbeing of those around us and the environment. Campers get comfortable in the wilderness, learn knowledge of local history and ecology, and develop gratitude for nature
- Learning – to commit to challenging ourselves to grow, to ask for help, to listen and to grow. We teach strong technical skills for wilderness exploration, including fire building, shelter construction, packing and portaging, and wildlife safety.
- Respect – to treat everyone, including ourselves, with kindness, fairness and patience. Arowhon canoe trips inspire leadership, empathy, and courage.
Algonquin Trips
We are immensely privileged to be able to call the heart of Algonquin Park our summer home, and have incredible access to some of its most spectacular scenery!
All campers will go on one of our flat water Algonquin trips, unless they wish to challenge themselves to take part in one of our white water or expedition trips!
Their route is picked based on their year group below, however is subject to change based on permit availabilty and local conditions.
Grasshoppers and Dragonflies (Juniors)
This introductory one-night trip is for our youngest campers, giving them a gentle opportunity to get comfortable in the wilderness.
For juniors who stay 4 weeks and beyond, they will get to venture over to Burnt Island Lake, and see the ruins of Camp Minnesing Lodge, one of the CN Railway Hotels built in 1913!
Tadpoles and Salamanders (Jinters)
This loop takes campers across their first long portage. Cabin groups bond together to make it across the 1.2km trail from Burnt Island Lake to Little Doe Lake, and then celebrate with some smores at the campsite!
On this trip campers go from Arowhon up to Sunbeam lake and then back through Tom Thompson Lake, named after the iconic Canadian painter!
Loons and Owls (Sinters)
Just as delicious as it sounds! The Creme Brule route takes campers up to Brule lake. With Brook Trout, Lake Trout and Smallmouth Bass available, this is a great spot for fishing!
Journey south of Highway 60 to explore the islands or Ragged Lake, tackle the famous Devil’s staircase and look out for moose in Crown Bay!
Bears and Moose (Seniors)
Our first senior trip extends out to the vast Big Trout and White Trout lakes, with the opportunity to see ruins, small waterfalls and some of the oldest trees in Algonquin.
Final year campers (Curves and Smalls) will take on our toughest Algonquin route, putting together all their skills, experience and resolve to accomplish completion of their greatest challenge yet
LIT Trips
All of our Leaders In Training (LITs) will participate in a canoe trip that they get to plan themselves. With support from our program leaders, they get to choose their food and itinerary, to grant them a taste of expedition planning and leadership experience with the support of background supervision from expert canoe trippers.
All of our Leaders In Training (LITs) will participate in a canoe trip that they get to plan themselves. With support from our program leaders, they get to choose their food and itinerary, to grant them a taste of expedition planning and leadership experience with the support of background supervision from expert canoe trippers.
Specialty Trips
Our white water and expedition trips are offered on a sign up basis for campers age 11 and up. These offer campers a new experience and to really see how much they can achieve. Places are limited on these trips, and so more details and a link to sign up will get sent out to the parents of eligible campers in the spring.
White water canoe trips
Madawaska – Loons and Owls first get a taste of whitewater paddling on the Madawaska river at the not-for-profit Paddler Co-op. This facility grants them maximum time on the water to hone their skills, before they venture downstream to put them to the test!
Temagami – this is the next step up, from Red Cedar lake down to River Valley, this river offers the next step in challenging whitewater combined with spectacular Northern scenery.
Petewawa – Our final year whitewater canoe trip travels from Lake Travers to Lake McManus down the famous Petewawa river. Not only are there thrilling rapids, but also a hike up to the Natch outlook for stunning views across the most biodiverse region of Algonquin Park.
White water Kayak Trips
We also offer additional whitewater trips as part of our kayaking program. These are usually to our local Oxtongue River for day trips or to the Madawaska for multi-day adventures!
Sign up for these trips takes place at camp.
Expeditions
Finally, our expeditions are the absolute pinnacle of our canoe tripping program. Each year we offer at least 2 flat water and 2 whitewater expeditions, so both first and second session campers get the opportunity to experience the adventure of a lifetime!
These trips range from 7 to 14 days long, and venture deep into the wild back-country of Ontario and Quebec.
Recent flat water expeditions:
- French River
- Killarney
- Temagami
- Barren Canyon
Recent white water expeditions:
- Spanish River
- Magnetewan River
- Coulonge River
- Dumoine River
- Noire River
- Missinabi River
