Dear Wanapitei: Letters From Our Community

By JJ (Jennifer Jupp) and Woody (Eoin Wood) Directors

HEN WE THINK of it, we try to keep letters and emails that come to us espousing the W kinds of things that make us want to get up every day and go to work for Camp Wanapitei. The testimonials that follow (with names changed for anonymity) are a compilation of our favorites. We imagine that these words will ring true for many campers and parents. All the best to you and yours in 2013, JJ & Woody

Jake had a wonderful trip! He has grown, in every sense of the word, so much since he le for camp. I can't begin to te you how deeply moved hard work and ski. You have given him an Mother of VI Camper, 2012 and appreciative we are with the quality of invaluable gi. our son’s experience. The boy returned A few minutes ago in the car, he declared I just wanted to let you know that my kids transformed, positively glowing! Each of you himself to be bored. "Were you bored at had a blast at camp. They could not say independently commended him to me for his ...continued on page 29 enough great things about it. Thanks for taking such great care of them. Mother of Junior Girl and Boy Campers, 2010 Join Us for Family Camp! We welcome you to our second annual Wanapitei Family Camp program in August. The experience for Matthew was See the back page for details. extraordinary… Community Banquet is July 27th, 2013. Father of VII Camper, 2012 Harvest Night is August 24th, 2013. Please plan to join us. T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 2 Trent Temagami Colloquium: Celebrating 40 Years of Tradition

By Catherine Monahan Trent University Student and Coloquium Organizer

ORTY YEARS AGO, three dedicated professors with a love for the outdoors F embarked on a journey that still continues today. Trent University and Camp Wanapitei joined for the first time, bringing together scholars and adventurers, and those who, undoubtedly, are a bit of both. This year, the Trent Temagami Colloquium celebrated its 40th Anniversary. Over 100 participants of all ages and The participants of the 40th Anniversary Trent Temagami Cooquium in ont of the Dining Ha in professions joined together at Camp September 2012. Wanapitei in September to explore the land, share ideas, and learn more about serves as the perfect place to bring find the perfect place to showcase the the Canadian identity. A place steeped together those interested in Canadian, true Canadian experience. Camp in the traditions of First Nations groups Indigenous, and Environmental studies. Wanapitei, at the time under the and time-honored camp customs, and As an interdisciplinary and inclusionary direction of Prof. Bruce Hodgins, the staging place of several instrumental event, the Trent Temagami Colloquium offered beautiful vistas, hearty food, and environmental conflicts, Temagami is an opportunity for anyone and tales of generations past. The following everyone to engage with each other and September, thirty five students and a the land. small team of faculty were headed down The trip had its unlikely beginnings in Red Squirrel Road in a big yellow school the halls of Trent University in bus, just as we do today. Peterborough, Ontario. A new addition Over the years, hundreds of to the Trent faculty, Canadian Studies participants have made the journey. The Professor John Wadland was looking for trip is a favourite of many Trent Volume 16, Number 1 Winter 2013 a way to get to know his students, and students, alumni, and faculty, as well as to connect them to the land they many of the Wanapitei community. The EDITOR ...... JENNIFER JUPP sought to learn about. His newly Colloquium has become a magical DESIGN & LAYOUT ...... ERIN SUNSTRUM introduced course – entitled ‘Canada: weekend of opportunity to connect to The Paddler is published by the Land’ -- brought a fresh attitude to the land, each other, and our shared Camp Wanapitei Co-Ed Camps Ltd. a canoeing and outdoor leadership centre the field; don’t just read about Canada, histories. All ages come together to based in Temagami, Ontario. live it. He endeavored to take learning canoe, hike, square dance, and carry on Off-season address: out of the classroom and onto the land, academic discussions. Now organized Camp Wanapitei encouraging fellow faculty and students by Prof. Stephen Hill, the trip is an 5 Wyndham Street North #303 Guelph, ON N1H 4E2 to open their eyes to a different way of opportunity for those interested in understanding what it means to be Canada, wilderness, nature, Aboriginal PHONE: (519) 767-9714 OR (888) 637-5557 SUMMER PHONE: (705) 237-8830 Canadian. In the summer of 1972, history and everything in between to E-MAIL: [email protected] Professors John Wadland, Bob Page, INTERNET: www.wanapitei.net and Bruce Hodgins journeyed North to ... continued on next page P A G E 3 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

...Trent continued Weekend om previous page

come together and celebrate interdisciplinary learning. As such, participants include those from the Trent, Carleton, Wanapitei, and Bear Island communities; and even, in recent years, international groups interested in similar topics. All are warmly invited to attend this yearly event. You don’t need to be a Trent student, alumni, or faculty, or Wanapitei staff – a friendly disposition and an interest in Canadian studies and history are all that is needed! Please see www.trenttemagami.ca for more information and next year’s dates. We hope to see you next September!

Music is always a highlight at the Cooquium. Bruce Hodgins’ Reflections On The Year Wasn’t the weather grand! From Juniors to Voyageurs the canoe trips By Bruce W. Hodgins were spectacular. On site, Wanapitei Wanapitei President and Honorary had more great hikes and more high Director quality canoe instruction, great campfires and wonderful square dances. HE SUMMER of 2012 was a What a dedicated, mature staff. very wonderful and exciting Co-Director Jennifer Jupp introduced time for Wanapitei and for a fantastic Family Camp. Several of the Carol and me. We were parents had Wanapitei roots as Tpresent in Camp most of the time; we campers or staff themselves. Tiny kids co-led a wonderful three day canoe trip now, but watch for them as future to Diamond Lake and back, a three campers ever so soon. generational trip with a group of Carol’s Carol and I were so glad to see American Creelman relatives. Two of dinghy sailing back to Wanapitei with Bruce on the bridge in August of 2012. the kids want to come back to two great new (to us) boats capable of Wanapitei in 2013 as campers. We had use for extensive learning and Lake (three days, two nights on the same also hiked with the group up past Eddy Temagami cruising. Away back, we site). A third staff took gear, tents, and Lake, and hiked the round trip to Red often had at least two sailing trips Squirrel Falls. What fun! ... continued on page 27 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 4

sunblock, tent setup and getting ready Day 1 for rain. Speaking of rain, we almost Distance travelled: 8 km kind of had some! Well, we got ready for Hours on the water: 4 Endless Energy some. Thomas and Kyle led games of Weather: Thunderstorms, rain showers, Mafia while the leaders prepared high winds, sunny breaks scrumptious mac and cheese. With the QOTD: “Woah! This… is Bob Island!” with the Juniors sun setting and swimming out of the -Russell, on face-shaped rocks named picture (everyone spent at least half an Robert and the profusion thereof. hour in the drink that day, enjoying the Today we defied the thunder gods refreshing water) we ate uncooked (fire themselves to forge a bold path into the and Temagamis ban, darn it) s’mores while Verity gave unknown! Our departure from camp us an acrobatics demonstration and was delayed by inclement weather Dante wowed us with his karate skills JUNIORS (Thunderstorm #1), but we piled into our four canoes and set off down Lake Temagami undeterred. DATES: July 17 – July 19 2012 Stopping for lunch at the Flat LEADERS: Levi Bruce, Carling Rock campsite, we were DalBianco, Dumaresq de entertained during our repast of Pencier, Alicia Hodgins bagels and creamy, creamy cream PARTICIPANTS: Kyle Carr, Verity cheese by Ethan and Carrie, Thomas Carrie, Dante Ross’ (thankfully hands-off) Fenos, Mathieu Forester, Ethan forensic efforts to reconstruct the Hartman, Xander Linzel, Patrick very dead seagull we discovered a Richardson, Russell Roberge, small animal had left strewn about Hayley Taylor, Anna Wood. the campsite. Our stomachs full,

but the seagull’s demise still a Day 1 mystery, we continued on our way, Distance travelled: 3 km dodging sudden and unpredictable Hours on the water: 1 weather (Thunderstorms #2 and 3, Weather: Sunny with light winds both fortunately quite small). QOTD: “If you were in a canoe Forging on against impossible odds that was on fire and there were (Hayley demonstrated some truly sharks swimming around you heroic bladder-holding capacity), would you jump in or stay in the Juniors beat the heat on the slip’n slide during evening program. we reached Devil’s Point early in boat?” -Hayley, on canoe and the afternoon. We spent the rest fire safety. of the daylight maxin’ and relaxin’, against a troublesome tree stump. After a morning at camp to gather watching bad weather (Thunderstorms Time to have a Toothbrushing Party, wayward paddles and fill our water #4 and 5) bypass us on the horizon. Juniors, and then to bed! The cliffs of bottles, we set off in the Voyageur canoe Russell and Alex W. led tours of the Ferguson await your jumping! to cross Sandy Inlet to Teabag Point, island (they were here last year), and opposite the cliffs at Ferguson. closer to home Anna demonstrated her DATES: July 23 – July 25 2012 Everyone sang lots of boat songs as we telepathic powers while Patrick enjoyed LEADERS: Levi Bruce, Carling paddled and we made great time to our the rays and snoozed. DalBianco, Dumaresq de Pencier, campsite. After a leisurely bagel lunch, We were just about to start a hearty, Alicia Hodgins Russell led the great Mineral-finding remarkably unpleasant dinner of Expedition (Did we find gold? Who PARTICIPANTS: Hayden Berwick, rehydrated vegetable mush when knows? It was fun!), while Patrick Mathieu Forester, Ethan Hartman, suddenly SURPRISE PIZZA AND alternated between some fishing (no Alexander Iwanowski, Sam FRESH VEGGIE DELIIIIIIVERY! luck, alas) and tending to his snail Mackenzie, Patrick Richardson, Big ups to Emma, Heffy and Callum. petting zoo. We spent the afternoon Russell Roberge, Hayley Taylor, Ross Around the same time, we ran into the going over in-campsite protocol Torrie, Alexander Wiklo, Anna Wood. Temagami A’s and the month-long teaching proper hand-washing, P A G E 5 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

It’s Sasha’s birthday today! To begin the celebrations of this special day, we enjoyed a very long sleep in. Once we were up we made a delicious breakfast of granola, peanut butter and hot chocolate. After breakfast was finished we bravely set out to start the day and paddle from Pickerel to Ferguson, but unfortunately we could not make any progress as across the lake were waves whipped up from ferocious winds. As such we were wind bound for the duration. But we made the most of it! Excellent grilled cheese was made for lunch and we played many a round of Mafia. Early in the afternoon we were paid a visit by the Temagami Junior campers back om trip with big smiles and great stories. A group and had a grand reunion as they took refuge from the winds Coureur de Bois, both of whom were plenty of swimming, and hours of and spent lunch with us. As the winds heading into camp the next morning. pleasantly sunning ourselves. After a died down the Temags bid farewell and Many hugs were exchanged as siblings relaxing afternoon, the leaders made an started their brave paddle against gales. saw siblings again and long-lost friends amazing mac`n`cheese dinner. Then the As time went on the winds began to die embraced etcetera etcetera. On to Kraken attacked. It dragged several down further as it was our turn to brownies, tooth-brushing, and bed! bass and boats down into the water, but boldly paddle across the lake. As a Kai and Dan hi-jump kicked it in the group we paddled with all our might DATES: August 1 – August 3 2012 eye whilst Becca and Levi fended off the against the winds that remained and LEADERS: Kai Bruce, Levi Bruce, marauding tentacles with paddles, made it safely and quickly across the Becca Gillmore, Dan Radlett defending the frightened juniors. Their bay and to Ferguson point. We set up PARTICIPANTS: Anne Carscallen, efforts scared it off and we retrieved our camp, and before we could even begin Finley Hill, Rafe Murray, Hannah gear. That didn`t actually happen, we preparations to make dinner we saw a Watson, Bridget West, just went to bed instead. But it sure boat heading for our campsite, a boat Margot West. would have been an eventful night! containing Levi, Lisa and Heffy who were delivering a special birthday Day 2 DATES: August 8 – August 10 2012 surprise of pizza dinner and a rice crispy Distance travelled: 2.5 km LEADERS: Carling DalBianco, Becca square cake for Sasha! We all enjoyed Hrs on the water: 1 Gilmore, Alicia Hodgins, delicious pizza and after Sasha had Weather: Hot and sunny Dan Radlett blown out the candles on the cake, With yesterday’s storm far behind us, PARTICIPANTS: Anne Carscallen, shared it out for a great meal. Bellies full we bid farewell to the gracious we awoke to clear skies and sunshine. Lucas Conrad, Jasper Gibson, Finley After a lazy pack up we had a delicious Hill, Hannah Licop, Kathryn deliverers of our food and went to bed. breakfast of “poo” (hot chocolate, MacLeod, Fiona Miller, Rafe Murray, Good day guys! granola, and peanut butter for the Chloe Priestman, Sebastian Shaw, Sasha Zuchlinski. uninitiated) and many jokes were made. With breakfast completed successfully TEMAGAMI (LATE JULY) we hit the lake again paddling once Day 2 again into headwinds. A short paddle Distance traveled: 2 km ROUTE: Obabika-Bob Lake Loop. Camp – later we got to our second campsite, Hours on the water: 1 Napoleon Portage – Sharp Rock Portage – where we enjoyed a grilled cheese lunch, Weather: Sunny and windy Diamond Lake – Wakimika Lake – T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 6

Obabika Lake – Eye Lake - Lake creek to Obabika Lake. Its windy ways Inlet. Finally, exhausted, we found a Temagami – Camp. brought along new challenges like the nice, small island beside a supposed DATES: July 19 – July 24 2012 not one, not two but three lift-overs! A “campsite” and some cottages. It was couple more beaver dams were powered getting late so big soup was slurped LEADERS: Becca Gilmore over and before we knew it we were at before heading into our tents for a well and Asa Thomas the great Obabika Lake. Water and deserved sleep. PARTICIPANTS: Katie Berwick, Elliot chocolate chunks were eaten and drank Good job guys, today is a day we won’t Carusone, Max Coleman, Sacha for the extra push to get across. Once forget in a hurry. Edwards, Nathan Hartman, Sarah we arrived, pasta salad was enjoyed with Irvine, Romey Karovich, Sophie a quick swim to cool us off. And we Karovich, Nicole Momtahan, were off again! Due to the amazing TEMAGAMI (LATE JULY) William Pinckard. attitudes of the campers we breezed through Obabika since the wind was ROUTE: Centre Fas. Napolean portage - Sharp Rock - Diamond Lake - Lady Evelyn Lake - Wiow Island Lake - up North branch of Lady Evelyn River to Centre Fas and Reverse to Camp. DATES: July 19 – July 24 2012

LEADERS: Angus MacPhail and Dan Radlett PARTICIPANTS: Saul Chaplin, Zane Chaplin, Phillippe Forster, LeDain Gordon, Jack Heath, James Risk, Ben Rowland, Kit Sanguedolce.

Day 3 Distance travelled: 13 km Hours on the water: 7.5 Weather: Lightening to sunny blue skies We awoke today (at a far less buggy campsite) to the sound of the kids already awake and packing their stuff up. Saul, LeDain, Jack and Zane were Late July Temagamis ready for sunset aer a day on the water. almost fully ready by the time we got breakfast started. And so, after a quick breakfast of bacon and eggs, we left our Day 4 nice enough to let up. After a long island into some heavy headwinds. Big Distance travelled: 20 km paddle and a democratic vote, we ups to everybody for some strong Hours on the water: 12 hours decided to do the 900m portage at the paddling to get us to our first portage of Weather: Overcast and hot end. Some dried apples were eaten to the day. As luck would have it, it began To who ever is reading this prepare to get some physical energy on top of the to rain as distant thunder boomed at be impressed… Due to the unfortunate already existing moral energy. A the beginning of our portage. Not headwinds we woke up bright and early champion effort by the group matched discouraged in the slightest the boys today. With some loaded oatmeal for their boundless vocal enthusiasm. Once flew over it. As we returned from our breakfast we were ready to go, with the on the other side we were off again in final load and the storm closed in we quickest getaway yet! We glided through search of a decent campsite. Sadly, the ran to the end to find everyone already Wakimika Lake with ease due to its marked campsites looked non-existent in lightning stance and hanging out. We beautiful glassy waters. Next up: the as we kept paddling down Obabika snacked on chocolate chunks after P A G E 7 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 waiting for the storm to pass and of the sky. We made good time across force of nature. Before anyone got too paddled the kilometer or so to our next the spine of Diamond Lake. After comfortable everyone was off in the portage. As the rain increased we fighting off a small rain shower we now calm waters. Pressing on to the trundled over this as well to enjoy a well passed the end of a portage we will narrower half of Diamond Lake we soon deserved lunch of pesto. Using our undertake in 3 days time. Soon the found ourselves battling yet another newly acquired tail winds we paddled up bursting bladders and cavernous pod of headwinds. However these ones the channel before turning to face them stomachs sent the group to shore. We would just not give up. While stopping as we neared our campsite. The final grazed on bountiful sandwiches. The for a snack we talked tactics. It seemed couple of kilometers were a solid push leaders were scolded for forgetting the that the name of the game was to keep to the rocky mounds surrounding Frank mustard. Energy was high as we set out on keeping on. So that is what we did. Falls. After a hearty meal of mac and again on the crystalline waters of this Creeping along the southern shore we cheese we retreated into our tents for gorgeous lake. However hopes of an battled ever-increasing headwinds. Very the night. Awesome job kids and easy passage were dashed by the soon it became clear that it was time to Center Falls tomorrow! approach of a frightening storm front. call it and fight this fight another day. We donned rain gear as a wall of cloud Alex and Alannah (our brave approached. In no time at all we were sternspeople) psyched themselves up for pelted by rain. Nylon held firm and we one last push – A daring crossing to the TEMAGAMI (EARLY AUGUST) powered on until an almighty burst of end of the Barn portage on the North wind shoved all our boats swiftly across Shore. Winds were battled and ROUTE: Obabika Scoop. Camp – the lake, with all-out resistance futile shoulders ached as we drew our Napolean Portage – Sharp Rock Portage – we rode the waves to the calm waters of beleaguered bodies onto land and made Diamond Lake - Lake Wakimika - a marshy bay. One at a time our group preparations for a delicious mac. After Obabika Lake - Shishkong Lake - Bob arrived with stories of battling this many loads of firewood all enjoyed Lake - Diamond Lake Pickerel Bay Portage - Camp. DATES: August 4 – August 9 2012

LEADERS: Jean Murray and Asa Thomas PARTICIPANTS: Madeleine Brown, Alannah Chung, Sam Douey, Emma Gordon, Sophie Gordon, Casey Hill, Spencer Hill, Lee Rosensweet, Alexander Wolf.

Day 2 Distance travelled: 7 km Hours on the water: 6.5 hours Weather: Wind, rain, sun “What is that maddening sound?” the Temag As exclaimed as they woke up to the deafening barrage of a mighty tempest. The rain storm took our bleary eyes by surprise and soon soaked through the less diligently erected tents. Once the heavens’ rage had subsided the weary travellers prepared a feast of eggs, English muffins and bacon. With bellies full and eyes on the horizon Early August Temagamis celebrate... it’s mac and cheese for dinner! boats were quickly loaded into calm waters that reflected the patchy cloud T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 8 dinner and desert. Eyelids soon grew Day 5 were camped just across from Ferguson. heavy and once the game of Mafia died After a lovely catch up, we pressed on Distance traveled: 11 km with the fire the glorious Temag As Hours on the water: 8 towards Tea Bag Point. Once there, we turned towards bed and a long sleep on Weather: Overcast to nice and sunny made the best pizza ever made on trip, a cool night. Night night everyone! The Morning started with a quick hike possibly the world. We ended the night with another sing along session, brought by most of the group up Devil’s to you by Bronwyn. A lovely day all Mountain, which happened to be across in all. TEMAGAMI from our campsite. Bronwyn led the (EARLY AUGUST) charge up the mountain while Sean cooked breakfast of oat bran muffins. The group made some friendly ROUTE: Bear Island Excursion. Camp – TEMAGAMI (LATE AUGUST) exchanges between Keewaydin Devil’s Bay – Kokoko Lake – Bear Island canoeists passing by. When the group – Devil’s Bay – Pickerel Bay ROUTE: Canton Lakes. Camp – Napoleon got back we quickly ate breakfast and Portage – Camp. Portage – Sharp Rock Portage – headed out. We soared up the North DATES: August 4 – August 9 2012 Thunderhead Lake – Stiles Lake – Bob West Arm of Temagami with Pickerel Lake – Diamond Lake - Lake Bay Portage in our sights. The Temagami – Camp. LEADERS: Bronwyn Hodgins, Sean headwinds were not strong, so we made Leckie, and Sierra Mulvenna excellent time. Before long we were DATES: August 17 – August 22 2012 PARTICIPANTS: Matthew Blumberg, stopped at Pickerel Bay Portage and Ella Field, Brandin Geiler, Calum had a quick lunch of pasta salad and LEADERS: Levi Bruce, Alicia Hodgins, Murray, Hannah Reilly-Jackson, Seth gorp. Another portage was destroyed by and Sierra Mulvenna Rose, Min Timmins, Peri Yee. our wonderful campers and we were off PARTICIPANTS: Elliot Carusone, to find our final campsite of trip. Along Patrick Dunlop-Ellis, Stephan the way we met up with the Juniors who Kosziwka, Abrial Levisky, Callum Lewis, Samuel Liptay, Edan Lister - Stevens, Rhys Lister-Stevens, Vanessa Patrick, Savva Vorotynskiy, Leona Zuchlinski.

Day 3 Distance: 6.5 km Hours on the water: 7 Weather: Hot, sunny, some showers QOTD: “We definitely don't have this in Russia” - Savva (while stuck in waist deep mud) We awoke to the giggling of campers and made a quick but delicious breakfast of pooooooop. Our start was delayed by Levi's search for his sunglasses on the last portage. The next portage was very difficult to find, but we eventually got there. The campers got their first experience of mud and Edan tackled the canoe. The end of the portage was met with waist deep mud. After freeing Savva from the mud the leaders almost literally swam through Early August Temagamis get one last photo in before leaving for trip. the mud to push the boats out to where there was enough water to paddle. The P A G E 9 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 beautiful Stiles Lake (4th Canton Lake) had some serious algae and we were all craving some clean water to swim in. We had an amazing lunch of pesto at the beginning of our next portage. Then all three of the barrels were carried by the campers over the portage (yippee!) and in no time we finished it. After another quick paddle we reached the super long 40m portage where campers challenged themselves and took heavy loads, including boats, barrels and the wanagan. Sam rocked the Wanagan, Abby took the super heavy barrel, and every single boat was done by campers. The leaders carried personal packs. At the put in we had a quick snack of gorp and lollipops before continuing our paddle on Bob Lake to our campsite. After some swimming we had a quick and delicious dinner of Mac and Cheese and grilled veggies, followed by awesome massages for the leaders! You Late July Coureurs de Bois enjoy a “shower” in a waterfa. campers are Angels! We whipped up a quick batch of brownies, which was promptly devoured. Good Night All! DATES: July 18 – July 25 2012 and Theo became Jean's wannigan You are all awesome portagers! carrying protégés, and were super LEADERS: Kai Bruce and Jean Murray hardcore about carrying it for the rest PARTICIPANTS: Nathaniel Basque- of the day. We did the portage faster Giroux, Francesca Berkowitz, Landers than Jean and Kai could have ever Gordon, Pearce Gould, William expected, and were ahead of schedule Kauffman, Dana King, Ella MacPhail, for the day. We paddled to our next Theodore Pinckard, Elise Proulx. portage, a short 125m around Fatman Local Area Falls, with a tricky, rocky cliff ending. But, being our new superhero selves, we Day 5 powered through it in no time again! Distance traveled: 9 km We rewarded ourselves by playing in the Adventures: the Hours on water: 8 washout from the falls to cool off. Then Weather: Warm and sunny we headed back down the Lady Evelyn, QOTD: “Trust” - Pearce. and lined a small chute before dragging/ Coureurs de Bois Due to some stove troubles we had a shooting a small, shallow swiftie in late take-off this morning. However, we order to avoid a 315m portage. Yay! COUREUR DE BOIS were in a good mood after our delicious Peanut butter and jam and honey (LATE JULY) breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes tortillas were eagerly gobbled up for with syrup and yogurt. We went down lunch, and though we briefly lost a boat ROUTE: Lady Evelyn South Channel. the crazy cliff at the end of the Bridal that floated downstream a bit, all was Camp – Napoleon Portage – Sharp Rock – Veil Falls portage for the last time, and well in the end. Again, we dragged a bit Wiow Island Lake – Centre Fas – by now we were pros at navigating going downstream but once more Helen Fas – Katherine Lake – Bridal Veil down it. In no time at all, we were at avoided a portage so morale was high. Fas - Fatman Fas – Lady Evelyn River - the next portage, and overnight the A group from Wabikon was headed The Barn Portage - Diamond Lake - CdeBs had become expert portagers, upstream on a day trip to the falls, and Sharp Rock - Pickerel Bay - back to camp. and ROCKED the portage. Nathaniel T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 10 after chatting with them, we realized world famous granola. Then…. dun dun lightening speed. that they intended to camp at the dun... To the Barn! Congratulations, my lovely C de B B’s! beginning of The Barn (which they And we OWNED it so much!! We You did it! The Barn has nothing called "The Death March"), where we wrecked the Barn; we just destroyed it. on you! wanted to camp. Being the kind, The first kilometer and a bit went super generous, hardcore trippers that we are, fast. Everyone we decided to do a load of the portage bucked up and today and camp at the other side. carried a lot. After a Personals, the tent pack, the wannigan, snack of gorp we and the food barrel were all taken over, headed on. A little and with only one break for chocolate worrisome chunks we were finished. It was a piece experience was had of cake! More celebratory swimming when Jason felt was had, and a delicious dinner of tightness in his risotto a la Kai. Popcorn was made for chest, but it turned dessert, and all enjoyed throwing it and out okay. The catching it in our mouths. Then, tired second leg of the from our long day, we went to bed. journey was the Good work today, friends! BOMB. Callum carried two food packs that were COUREUR DE BOIS twice his weight and (LATE JULY) Emily took the food barrel. Mathew’s ROUTE: Twin Peaks. Lake Temagami – foot started hurting, hiked Devil’s Mountain – Sharp Rock – but he managed to Diamond Lake – The Barn Portage – do a good-sized Sucker Gut Lake – climbed Maple pack regardless. Mountain – Tupper Lake – Wiow Island What a champ! On Portages – Lady Evelyn - Diamond Lake - the last section Sharp Rock Portage - Napolean Rachel owned a Portage - Camp. food pack and Cody DATES: July 18 – July 25, 2012 simply refused to give up our heaviest LEADERS: Megan Buchkowski pack—Yogi Bear, Late July Coureurs de Bois taking in the view. and Sean Leckie thus gaining the PARTICIPANTS: Emily Brown, name of Cody Bear. Jason Conover, Mathew Hartman, Cries of exaltation rang out at the end.

Rachel Heath, Cody Hodgins, We just did the Barn! Congrats guys, COUREUR DE BOIS (JULY) Callum McConnell. you are all purple ponies of wonder! A

swim happened while Megan grabbed ROUTE: Wolf Lake Loop. Lake Temagami - Day 3 the food barrel and the emerg barrel. Napoleon Portage - Diamond Lake - Tuna was had for lunch with more gorp. Distance travelled: 7 km Unnamed Lake - Wakimika Lake - The boys created a whole movie Hours on the water: 8 Obabika Lake and River - Sturgeon River Weather: Perfect. Cloudless, not storyline with Cody Boles, Professor - Hammend Lake - Haeck Creek and too hot. Mathew and Professor Marley. A short paddle to our campsite, sweet cliff Lake - Sunfish Lake - Laura Lake - We woke up to beautiful mists on the McConne Bay - Dewdney Lake - Wolf jumping, absolutely ravishing Big Soup lake. A mildly quick pack up and we Lake - Lake Matagamasi - Donald Lake - by Sean and nobakes for dessert were enjoyed breakfast. It was a huge hit. Unnamed Creek - Potvin Lake - Everyone loved Megan’s apparently enjoyed. Mathew and Cody braved the bugs and finished dishes at Maskinonge Lake - Key’s Portage - Sturgeon River - Wawiashkashi Lake - P A G E 11 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

Brighwater Lake - Manitou Lake - Mama Bron and Papa Turbo DATES: August 3 – August 10, 2012 Emerald Lake - Obabika Lake - Devil’s demonstrated the cooking procedure. Bay - paddle into Camp. The campers followed suit. All were LEADERS: Emma Hobbs and DATES: July 6 – July 24 2012 cooked to perfection – no exception. Angus MacPhail Oscar even sniffed his dough to ensure PARTICIPANTS: Celia Caldwell, Nico LEADERS: Bronwyn Hodgins it was ready – interesting tactic. With Fisher, Andrew Hayman, Charles and Jake Norris. bellies filled to the max, dishes were Hunter, Eden Israelloff-Smith, Sean PARTICIPANTS: Madison Demaria, Ian tackled as a group (thanks Ike for Richardson, Sadie Segriff, Jacob Wolf, Karovitch, Oscar Link, William taking charge) and then we were all off Kieran Yee. Paterson, Illan Rodriguez-Marin, to bed. Charlotte Van Dyke-Talbot, Day 6 Michelle Wang. Distance traveled: 23 km COUREUR DE BOIS Hours on the water: 8 Day 10 (EARLY AUGUST) Weather: overcast in the morning, hot Distance travelled: 7 km and sunny in the afternoon Hours on the water: 4.5 ROUTE: Anima Nippising Loop. Lake 6 o’clock wakeups – ouch. Once we had some oatmeal and fixins (and Weather: Hot and sunny, then rain, then Temagami – Napoleon Portage - Sharp coffeee for the leaders) we were ready to hot and sunny again Rock Portage – Lady Evelyn River – tackle our huge day. We were off the QOTD: “This is what a big boy bite Montreal River – Anima Nippising Lake looks like. See!? Blaaahhhh” - Oscar – Carrying Lake – Red Squirrel Lake – site at 9 and nice tailwinds carried us Steam Roll! An abrupt wake up for the Red Squirrel River - Lake Temagami – down Anima Nippising Lake with ease. We searched for some pictographs, to sleepyhead boys. Fortunately for them, back to Camp. the girls were already up and packing. In fact, for the first time ever, the girls beat the boys in taking the tent down. Oatmeal led to another speedy morning. We paddled across the little bay to our first portage. 500m. Done in no time at all. Paddling across Dewdney Lake, we passed another group of trippers and yet another at the following portage, 200m long, though a steep rocky finish. Illan took the wanagan! This brought us to our destination – Wolf Lake! Home to the world's largest remaining old growth red pine forest. We took a moment to read about and reflect on the current legal controversy regarding the threat of mining movements in the area. We found a gorgeous campsite on a rocky point overlooking the deep clear waters. We were set up mere moments before the rain hit. We ate hummus on chapattis huddled under the big orange tarp. It rained and rained and it rained hard. Then, suddenly it was over and our good friend the sun greeted us once more. And then, everybody's favourite... PIZZA for dinner! We partnered up and gave loving care to our dough babies. July four-week Coureur de Bois making waves on trip. T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 12

LEADERS: Carling Dal Bianco and Asa Thomas. PARTICIPANTS: Theophile Fournier, Emily Gardener, Nicholas Kaegi, Hannah Kosziwka, Zack Levisky, Kai Malcolm, Bridget O’Kelly, Dana Price, Zoe Rogers, Eden Segal-Grossman, Varvara Shvetsova, Lucas Whitear.

Day 7 Distance: 7 km Hours on the water: 3 ½ hours Weather: Cloudy and a little windy. QOTD: “I CRAVE YOU” - Lucas We started the day with a sleep-in and the feeling of headwinds rushing past our cheeks. We moved fast across our campsite busying ourselves with packing up and the preparation of peach crisp. Breakfast was wolfed down and we postponed dishes so we could get on the water quickly. We pushed our boats out into the waves and settled into an extended slow-motion battle with the wind. However it was not long before we were August Coureurs de Bois cleaning their morning catch with Woody. shooting up the other end of Red Squirrel to our portage. There again we met the Queen E group we’d been leap- no avail, and we had a very aggressive made headway on the elusive Mr. X frogging with. Finishing in record time GORP trading economy in the middle riddle. Dinner was eaten quickly by the we waited for them to leave while of the lake. Beer nuts and chocolate are ravenous group and was topped off by a telling stories. hot commodities in this group! We dessert of chocolate chunks. Hanging Red Squirrel River followed shortly made it to the portage by 2 PM and out and a discussion of Kieran’s dog’s and we were soon scudding past long were ready to go. Everyone worked tail ensued. Nice day today guys! Our fallen trees that drifted under our hulls. really hard and carried a ton. Nico final two portages tomorrow and then Through the pot-hole and before we conquered the portage with a severely it’s time for a sneaky mission through knew it we were staring at Sangego. stubbed toe, hardcore! After two camp, YES! With the Mission Impossible theme exhausting loads we decided it was too tune going through our heads we snuck late to continue on to the next portage. through camp with not a soul seeing us Instead we opted for a pretty OK bush COUREUR DE BOIS (LATE AUGUST) (it was lunch time). crash site just down from the portage. With excitement in our strokes we It had a nice kitchen area and clear – ish practically flew across the bay. Turning areas for two two-person tents and two ROUTE: Anima Nippising Loop. Lake the corner we spied Wanapitei boats. four-person tents. After a quick boat Temagami – Napoleon Portage - Sharp Our archenemies, the Temags were unloading and firewood collecting we Rock Portage – Lady Evelyn River – leaving our planned campsite. Greetings decided a mandatory swim was in order. Montreal River – Anima Nippising Lake were exchanged and a Thai noodle salad Everyone felt way better after… we were – Carrying Lake – Red Squirrel Lake – was consumed. With the Temags gone all pretty smelly and sweaty! Tents were Red Squirrel River - Lake Temagami – and boats unpacked Asa and Lucas set up as spag was made and Andrew paddle into Camp. DATES: August 16 – August 23 2012 practiced throwing butter knives and P A G E 13 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 everyone relaxed. Before long it was LEADERS: Megan Buchkowski and gorgeous! Crystal clear waters, pines, right over us and we entered the Scott McCutcheon rocks faces . . . what nature is. lightening drill position. 30 minutes PARTICIPANTS: Priscilla Barker, Amazingly, most of the campsites were later we all stood up and played a game Hannibal de Pencier, Gabriel Fischer- taken but we eventually found the of darling I love you. After a while we Schmidt, Austin McClure, perfect rest day campsite. We hung out, dispersed, still laughing and a wet wood Maanii Oakes. ate some gorp, collected firewood, ate fire was started for perogies. A late Dahl then no-bakes and relaxed. We dinner and hangout marked the end of a saw a number of groups pass us looking Day 8 great trip. for a spot to camp and we were glad we Distance travelled: 20km got here when we did. We stayed up Hours on the water: 6.5 until dark chatting then headed to bed. Weather: Overcast. Cleared up Sleep in tomorrow! COUREUR DE BOIS (AUGUST) at night. A breakfast of pancakes awaited the ROUTE: Wolf Lake Loop. Lake Temagami - weary travelers. We began paddling in a Napoleon Portage - Diamond Lake - good time and we soon reached Unnamed Lake - Wakimika Lake - Chiniguchi Lake proper. A slight Obabika Lake and River - Sturgeon River tailwind aided us and we sped down to - Hammend Lake - Haeck Creek and our first portage. This was done fast and Lake - Sunfish Lake - Laura Lake - with more ease than imaginable. A Racing Rivers McConne Bay - Dewdney Lake - Wolf quick diddy down Dewdney admiring Lake - Lake Matagamasi - Donald Lake - the red rocks and growing number of Unnamed Creek - Potvin Lake - pines brought the tired group to our with the Pioneers Maskinonge Lake - Key’s Portage - second portage. We ate pasta salad for PIONEERS (EARLY JULY) Sturgeon River - Wawiashkashi Lake - lunch but this wasn’t enough for ROUTE: Temagami River. Camp to Kokoko Brighwater Lake - Manitou Lake - Hannibal, Austin and Priscilla. We all Lake – Mantagama Point - Outlet Bay – Emerald Lake - Obabika Lake - Devil’s signed the petition and finished the Cross Lake – Red Cedar – Thistle Lake – Bay - paddle into Camp. portage. On the other side we found a Temagami River – Five Fingers – Raed DATES: August 5 – August 22 2012 raincoat, a watch, a headlamp and a tie Chutes – River Vaey Bridge – shuttle to as well as BEAUTIFUL Wolf Lake. It is Camp - paddle under the Bridge. DATES: July 3 – July 11 2012

LEADERS: Scott McCutcheon and Laura Wilkie PARTICIPANTS: Mark Anderson- Trocme, Neil Brubacher, Gavin Clarke, Auguste Cuchet, Joel Fetterly, Scott Frayne.

Day 5 We awoke on the ATV trail and got right to making a chet breakfast of oatmeal. We talked about how much we hated Bill O’reilly and Anne Coulter and munched on our boiled oats. We got on the water by 9:00 and headed down the two shallow sets we had done the previous day. There was a short flat- water section until we reached our first runnable set of trip. It was rocky but we And they’re off! Three leed race during the mid-month Regatta in August. still did it. Great success! We had T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 14 another short break before our second water. We shot a few small swifty`s set, in which Gavin and Scott hit a ducky style before reaching the longest PIONEERS (LATE JULY) beautiful line. We then portaged the portage of our trip. There is a small R1 rest of our gear on the trail on RL. ROUTE: Noire River. Bus to put-in off Lac that could have been run to shave off Shortly after that we came to our third Jim Road. Paddled down the river to the about 200m to the portage but we set of the day. Scott and Auguste banged Black River Inn. Shuttle to Ferguson Bay, decided that we just tough it out and do their way down the rocky set while Joel paddle into Camp. the full 1.2km. We all got together in and Neil cruised down due to the lack DATES: July 16 – July 25 2012 our portage groups and headed out. of weight in their boat. We carried on Everyone was in high spirts despite the through a small section of swifties until LEADERS: Scott McCutcheon annoying fallen trees everywhere. The we reached Red Cedar Lake. We had a and Laura Wilkie craziest part of the portage came at the quick snack of Fritos and Nature Valleys PARTICIPANTS: Aurora Basinkski- end when there was a near verticle drop which we needed to carry our boats and gear down. Thankfully there was a rope that someone had tied that helped us steady ourselves going down. Nathan, Alex, David and Jasper developed an awesome system of getting the boats down. Mira, Olivia, Aurora, and Myfawnwy carried the gear down in an equally clever way. Once the portage was done we had a lunch of Gato Gato which was delicious. There a large pick and choose set right after the portage which we all shot successfully although we bumped and grinded at the end. We finally got our first rain of trip! We thought we would never be happy to see rain on trip but during a fire ban it is always a good thing. We had a few swifts shortly after this set until we reached our next set. Once again there was no clear line and we had to line. We lined our boats down river left until we reached a little shoot before our portage. Each boat went down one by Early July Pioneers show off their strength aer nine days on the Temagami River. one and edied above a waterfall. At this point we were all exhausted from the (thanks ATV man!). We then booked it Ferris, Myfanwy Cappel, Mira large portage and lining so we decided to Thistle Lake in order to reunite with Chaplin Alex Chiu, David Green, to call it a day. The take our was a our beloved Mark. We pulled in and saw Olivia Joiner, Jasper Ophel, slippery one and we all tried to keep our him playing hacky with Matt and Tori Nathan Roberge. balance while unloading our boats. We (well mostly with Matty). Reunited and cooked up a dinner of lazy perogies just it feels so good! He told us that he got 5 Day 6 as the weather began to clear. We all hung out and talked for a while and stitches as a result of his cut and he was Distance travelled: 16km looked at the waterfall before going to also kind enough to bring us Timbits! Hours on the water: 8 bed. The end. We said goodbye to Matty and Tori and Weather: Warm and sunny to rainy. paddled about a km to our campsite. We awoke this morning to beautiful We had lazy perogies for dinner and weather. We had a quick but filling then it was off to bed. Goodnight guys! breakfast of pancakes. We got in our boats at record setting time and hit the P A G E 15 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

PIONEERS (LATE JULY) ROUTE: Spanish River. Bus to put-in at Biscotasing - Biscotasi Lake - Spanish River - Agnew Lake - bus om Agnew Lake Lodge to Ferguson Bay - paddle into Camp. DATES: July 16 – July 25 2012

LEADERS: Sierra Mulvenna and Connor “Fred” Thompson PARTICIPANTS: Jonah Bain, Cooper Kauffman, Amelia Keenan, Nowlan Maynes, Ben Risk, Kyla Ruch, James Smallhorn-West, Liam Tharp, Hayley Watt.

Day 5 Distance: 22 km Hours on the water: 9.5 Weather: Very hot QOTD: Kyla - “whenever I get really hungry I get this bad pain in my chest” James – “ I think that means your going into cardiac arrest” Four-week Pioneers get their feet wet in July. We woke up this morning with lots of giggling coming from the girls’ tent. ourselves pretty hard today and had a Hours on the water: 9 Apparently they had a funny incident in few more hours of paddling before we Weather: Hot and sunny the night. We had some oatmeal for got to the campsite. Waking up to the sound of a waterfall breakfast, Fred loved it! We started off is a great way to wake up in the our day with a few swifties, that we ran morning. Everyone rolled out of their ducky style. We arrived at our first tents to some delicious chocolate chip portage around quite a big set. Once PIONEERS (JULY) pancakes this morning. We loaded up portaging was done, we got to swim the ROUTE: Coulonge River - Northern the boats and we were off and away! We bottom section of the set. We approach. Bus to put-in on Ruisseau soon came up to our first set of the day continued down the river and had some Jackson - Grand Lac Victoria - Ottawa and had fun sneaking in between a big super fun sets, that the kids were River - lake hopping to the Coulonge rock and an old dead tree. After a ecstatic about, they all did great! We got River - bus om Terry Fox Bridge to camp. successful run of the set everyone went to ride some wave train and do some DATES: July 5 – July 25 2012 for a quick dip as it was already getting eddying out as well, too fun! We super hot. Our next set was just a few stopped for lunch at the beginning of LEADERS: Charles Heath and kilometers downstream and this one our next portage and the pesto was Emily Miller was fun. We had to sneak tight left to devoured in seconds. We continued to avoid a hole in the centre and then we do our portage and the kids did great! PARTICIPANTS: Elia Deck, Jenna worked our way around a bunch of We had a few more swifties and truly Gardner, Frieda Hodgins, Kimberley rocks at the end. Everyone did a thought that the portages were done for Huisman, Ruairidh MacPhail, fantastic job! We stopped for lunch on a the day, until we pulled up to a massive Abigail Mackenzie-Armes. little beach at the bottom of the set and set and realized we had a 750m to do. had some banana nut loaf with honey. The kids did the portage in record time, Day 17 Pretty tasty, but next time more banana thirty minutes, yippie! We pushed Distance travelled: 32 km chips and add chocolate chips. After T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 16 lunch we had a bit more of the winding, steam rising off the water as the sun Sam had a sweet dump at the bottom of swerving bits of river and some rain slowly warmed things up. We packed a set, but they were rescued quickly and clouds were chasing us down the whole up and chowed on some peach crisp everyone was fine. We also found a very time. We got sprinkled on just before before scouting our first set (Big steel) decent surfing wave at the bottom of reaching Rapides Enrages. The portage from the bridge. A short flat water the rapids which tipped Cam, Malcolm, wasn’t too bad, but we faced some paddle later we saw the first group of and Matt; but failed to break their will disappointment at the end as they immediately when we saw the site gave their surf was taken by a rowdy another go. We group of hooligans. Rats! pressed on, ducky- We snacked on some styling swifties until smartie gorp before we reached our site deciding to push on a at big Cedar Rapids. couple more kilometers As we prepared our to Rapides Gallinotes. “za”, the WLIT’s We portaged half and paddled by, despite decided to camp at a flat Cam standing in the rocky area after the first middle of the river drop. Yummy spaghetti with a large staff was devoured and Kim yelling “YOU went for a refreshing SHALL NOT dip. After dinner, Elia PASS!” Alas, they and Jenna did dishes and passed. Pizza was then the mosquitoes made, eaten, and chased us to bed. Great enjoyed by all. And day today guys! Early August Pioneers paddle their first set of the day. with the sun setting we crawled into bed. the WLIT’s. We found the second group a short ways down playing in the PIONEERS (JULY) rapid above the falls. We admired their ROUTE: Dumoine River. Red Squirrel soloing for a short time before showing PIONEERS (EARLY AUGUST) River – lake hopping to Lac Dumoine – off our own sick styles. From the eddy ROUTE: Noire River. Bus to Lac Jim, down the Dumoine River – cross the we could see the third group (how many Quebec – paddle down almost the fu Ottawa River to Driwood Provincial of you WLIT’s are there?!?!?) gathering length of the Noire River to the Black Park – bus to Camp. up the final load of their portage. River Inn, near where the Noire meets DATES: July 4 – July 24 2012 Determined not to be outdone by these the Ottawa River. leader-wannabe’s; we loaded up big time DATES: August 1 – August 10 2012

LEADERS: Andrew Brown and finished the portage in minutes and and Gill Thompson leaders DID NOT carry boats. We LEADERS: Emily Miller PARTICIPANTS: Matt Bowles, Sam paddled with their crew to Canoe and Jake Norris Eater.Aside from Brown snapping his Karovitch, Hayden King, Malcolm PARTICIPANTS: Liam Agnew, Aidan paddle in two, everyone made it King, Cameron MacPhail, Andrea Caldwell, Becca Carter, Anna through no worries. We had a very Hayman, Alise Grant, Sam Klooster, Rodriguez-Marin, Alex Roeder. filling snack- lunch with the WLIT’s Carolyn Nicol, Emmet Robins, Izaiah and were generously gifted some Uguolah, Nathanael Williams, Day 16 tomato paste and cream cheese. To Emmerson Wilson, Felix Venier. Distance travelled: 10km celebrate this acquisition, it was Hours on the water: 6 instantly decided that pizza was on the Day 4 Weather: Nice and sunny menu for dinner…but more on that Distance travelled: 23 km later. Many of the next slashes were Hours on the water: 7.5 Big day of whitewater! A bit of a cold boney R1’s which we shot ducky but a Weather: Sunny morning today but beautiful with the few required a quick scout. Alex and P A G E 17 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

Uh oh...Turbo and Miller slept than normal getaway. Success! Boats one also was completed in the blink of through the alarm this morning, but were loaded before breakfast and an eye. Julia did an amazing job at that didn’t stop us from having a subsequently a chocolate chip pancake carrying a boat, rock on! Our campsite scrumptious breakfast of chocolate chip feast was devoured. We were on the at the end of the portage was gorgeous, pancakes, and we were off the site in water shortly after, the sun beating and everyone went to work collecting record time. The morning was full of down on us. We reached the ledge after wood and helping out in the kitchen. more twists and turns until we finally Enrages in minutes, scouted, and ran it Massive mac n’ cheese a la Angus was reached the confluence of Ste. Patrice once boat at a time like pros. Angus and enjoyed by all, and the leaders made and the Noire. We’re out of the vortex! Rebecca had a dump after an attempted hash browns and chapattis for We finally made it to the first set of the side surf- our first of trip! Everyone tomorrow’s breakfast and lunch. day and everyone did so well! You guys rescued the gear quickly and we were Augustin and Zack entertained the boys are rock stars! We stopped for apples back on the river in no time. We also by the water with their radio while the and oranges at the bottom and some people went for a little swim in the current. We continued on until we reached the bridge and had a yummy lunch of tuna on tortillas. We looked through some old trip reports and found out that there may be a sand free site within our reach so we decided to push on. A couple of hours later we reached our glorious pine site with a beach front. Bing bang boom done! Turbs whipped up the best mac and cheese ever and Felix tried fishing for a while. Anna’s sharp eyes spotted a cute bunny and the girls all got Katniss braids. The mosquitoes came out in full force and chased us to bed. G’night!

Early August Pioneers take time to dry off in the sun - and smile for the camera.

PIONEERS (LATE AUGUST) ROUTE: Coulonge River. Bus to put-in off learned our wannagan floats- yes! With girls led a Disney/Taylor Swift sing-a- Lac Jim Road - down river to pick up at current and swifties helping us along, long in the kitchen. Soon, the exhausted Terry Fox Bridge. Drive to Camp. we reached Gallinotes and completed group sped off to bed, excited for more DATES: August 15 – August 24 2012 the portage amazingly fast. A quick sets tomorrow, but totally sad that it’s swim at a nearby sandbar to cool us off our last paddling day. Mika summed up and a lunch of Thai pasta salad to refuel our emotions nicely by crying, “I don’t LEADERS: Emma Hobbs followed. Our sandbar had clearly been want it to end!!!” We agree! This trip is and Angus MacPhail a lunch spot for the month long Pions da bomb! Goodnight Pions. PARTICIPANTS: Zackary Bryson, Liam as well, as we were greeted by a giant Fischer, Nicholas Fortier, Rebecca WANAPITEI written in the sand. We Liptay, Lukas Lister-Stevens, Julia practiced handstands (like we do on PIONEERS (AUGUST) Malone, Mika Rogers, every other horizontal surface) and ROUTE: Dumoine River. Camp to Augustin Thiollier. Angus and Emma learned they could Temagami – cross the highway to Rabbit

quite effectively throw Nicholas into Lake – night at Ted Moore’s cottage – Day 8 the water. The group soldiered on, Outlet Bay – Matabitchuan River - Distance travelled: 18 km battling headwinds that wanted to blow Lake Temiskaming - Portage du Sauvage Weather: sunny and beautiful us back upstream. An afternoon of fun to Kipawa – lake hopping to Lac We arose bright and early this swifties sped by, and soon we were at Dumoine – down the Dumoine River – morning in an attempt to have a quicker the portage for Chute a L’Ours. This cross the Ottawa River to Driwood Provincial Park – bus to Camp. T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 18

DATES: August 3 – August 22 2012 we decided to do one load, then eat was quickly banned for the night. lunch next to the waterfall. We had Everyone came down from the sugar LEADERS: Tori Miller and risotto refrieds and then got our next rush and finally went to bed. Sleep well, Connor “Fred” Thompson load. A rowdy game of scatter was everyone! PARTICIPANTS: Bronwyn Bates, Stefan played - Tori and Said ran right into each other thus both getting out and Dowhanuik, Jacob Fischer, Olivia Mary ended up winning by her Gordon, Molly Heintzman, Phillip PIONEERS (AUGUST) Jobin-Joy, Said Maalim-Chartres, desperate plunge into the mucky water. ROUTE: Coulonge-Noire Crossover. Drive Mary McNee. Well played. We continued down the to put-in at Resevoir Duzois - down the Dumoine and stopped for a swim off the boats in Lac Brulant. We then Coulonge River - paddle down to the Day 14 spotted a brillant and powerful bald Noire River. - pick up at the Black River Distance travelled: 21 km eagle fishing in the lake and then we Inn - Bus to Camp. Hours on the water: 7 continued to Lac Laforge. We decided DATES: August 4 – August 23 2012 Weather: Super sunny to camp a couple of kilometers early QOTD: “We were visiting this really because the sun was starting to fry our LEADERS: Hannah Orfald-Clarke, weird, random place called Brock brains. At the campsite, Phil finally got Jamie Wilkie and Laura Wilkie. University...” -Olivia his haircut (after a pre-trip plea from his PARTICIPANTS: Jason Ashe, Severen We had a long morning today full of mother)! He picked a stylish Mohawk Fisher-Schmidt, Marguerite Fournier, excitement. Pancakes were made while that Tori cut for him. We played Xiu Timmins, Daniel Devlin, Mary, Bronwyn and Stefan rolled and concentration and freeze for cooking Kishan Patel. fried chaps. Fred gave us a river talk and dish groups and then Molly and because today is our first whitewater Mary cooked some delectable lazy day. Holy moley! So we got on the water Day 16 perogies for dinner while some others Distance travelled: 12 km and paddled swiftly and excitedly down worked on happy day gifts. We Hours on the water: 6 Lac Dumoine and finally reached the reluctantly allowed the kids to have river. We all got out to scout our first s’mores for dessert and thus the sugar Weather: Rainy morning then cleared set and pick a good line. Then we all with rainy pockets throughout rush began. Mary showed us her shot our first whitewater of trip! the afternoon. choreographed dance routines, some QOTD: “I am going to wiggle my Yeeeee!! Our portage was right after and races occurred and fight club began and udders” (while standing up and almost falling out of boat) -Marguerite, in her cow costume Woke up super well rested and feelin’ goooood. Ready for some whitewater and smooth swifties…oh wait, no, it’s raining! No matter, we cannot be stopped…we are fearless, rugged, and ready to take on the Noire. We had an AMAZING breakfast of Magic Mix, to Xiu’s great delight. So yummy! We hopped in our boats and set off to our first portage. Banged it out in no time, and continued along our way. We got to our first set and decided to line it, which was a good opportunity for some people to practice lining techniques. We paddled down some swifties and little waves and made it to Mountain Chutes. We were expecting it August Pioneers join in the fun at Evening Program the night before their trip. to be horrible, but we ran the first part P A G E 19 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 and lined the second part, cutting the PARTICIPANTS: Isaac Beattie-Booth, and then did a lift over. We swam, then portage from 1300m to 800m. It was a Erin Brophy, Noah Buffam, Ben Michael R. and Erin made a delicious bit hilly and Xiu said that she would Correale, Eamonn Gogan, David Mac N’ Cheese, while North made an rage quit if she ever had to do this James, Patrick Keenan, Michael Lilly, amazing chocolate cake and Isaac made portage again, but we toughed it out Michael Radden, Bernard bread for tomorrow. After dinner we did and Wilkie muscled the boats down the Rechico-Moisan. some Bollywood and some Russian steep put-in. We ate tuna on homemade dancing with Michael L. had one last bread for lunch in the rain. Then we ran Day 11 swim and went to bed. a fun set at the bottom and got some Hours on the good photos. We kept making our way water: 5.5 down the river, singing songs and Weather: Hot playing Boticelli. The Rapides de l’Islet The rain that portage turned into another had threatened opportunity to line. Whoop whoop! never came. A few more little rapids and then we Lucky us. With did the quick Rapides de l’Ours a belly full of portage. A really fun R2 after the chocolate chip portage made for some more good pancakes, photos. We chose a campsite that courtesy of looked eerily familiar to two nights ago. North and Early to the site brought much delight. Michael R. we We did some swimming, riddles, and loaded our lounging. We ate lazy perogies with boats (two of hocho for dessert and many, many card which tried to games were played. escape down the falls). Not with rescue David around! We left our site and soon Reading the Tides completed our first portage of the day, no problems. We with the Bay cruised down July Bay Trippers paddle sets on the Kesagami River. some swifts and R1s, maybe an R2 or two like pros and arrived at our Trippers next portage. Despite Wilkie’s warnings BAY TRIP (AUGUST) about the deep mud, half of the trip was ROUTE: Kattawagami River. Bus to soon stuck in the mud. Isaac persevered BAY TRIP (JULY) Lwagamau Lake put-in, Kattawagami and muscled first his shoe and then his ROUTE: Kesagami River. Kesagami River. River down into James Bay. Up the whole boat out of the mud and to the Bus north to Upper Kesagami Lake, across Moose River to Moosonee. Train and bus end of the trail. Just before lunch we ran to Kesagami River, down into James Bay. back to Camp. Paddle west on the Bay and up the Moose a sweet ledge and then practiced DATES: August 2 – August 25 2012 River to Moosonee. Train and bus back swimming in holes wearing Wilkie’s

to Camp. rescue vest. After a delicious and LEADERS: Charles Heath and DATES: July 1 – July 25 2012 enormous lunch of quinoa salad we Sophie Roher continued down the river doing another quick 20m portage. Instead of doing PARTICIPANTS: Brendan Agnew, Nico LEADERS: North de Pencier and our last 2 portages of the day, we lined 1 Fischer-Schmidt, Nicolas French, Jamie Wilkie T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 20 Exploring with the River Adventurers

RIVER ADVENTURE (EARLY AUGUST) ROUTE: Groundhog River. Bus North to put-in. Down the Groundhog River to Fauquier. Bus to Camp. DATES: July 31 – August 11 2012

LEADERS: North de Pencier and Gill Thompson PARTICIPANTS: David Oliver, Grace Osler, Audrey Potts, Austin Ray.

Day 3 Distance travelled: 17 km Bay Trippers take a swim break on their Kattawagami trip in August. Hours on the water: 5 Weather: Thunderstorm in the morning, overcast for the afternoon Emma Jackson, Tessa Jobin-Joy, Arnav Finally we parked. Some people played A thunderstorm this morning kept us Kapur, Lea Marcotte-Richardson, baseball, some napped, some read, and in our tents for longer than we had Patrick Melanson, Cameron Miller, we all ate some cheesy tea biscuit loaf. planned, but we enjoyed the sleep-in. Skye Moffat, Eric O’Brien, With uncanny timing, the sun greeted Granola for breakfast and then we were Julia Pepler. us just as the water began to rise. We on our way. Rainy skies and headwinds paddled on into nothingness. It looked did nothing to dampen our spirits and like we were paddling on clouds with Day 20 we pushed on to the first set. A quick the reflection of the sky on the calm Distance travelled: 28 km portage around a drop and then we shot vast water. We had to stop a couple Time on the water: 9 a fun bottom section. After a few more more times for the tide to let up, which Weather: Rainy, cold and misty into kilometers, we got to our second gave us a chance to snack on Gorp and beautiful and sunny portage. The leaders made pb + j take some more photos. Once we We woke up to darkness again this sandwiches while the campers carried arrived at Long Point, the mosquitoes morning, ate a breakfast of granola and everything across and loaded the boats. attacked. Sophie and Charles cooked up set off on the water. It was misty and So efficient! After lunch we paddled some big soup with cheese. Early to cold. We paddled against headwinds and down wildlife alley - seeing two moose bed. It’s been a long couple of days but tried to keep moving to stay warm. and three bears in the span of five we’re almost done the Bay. I can’t Leaders lifted spirits with another Mars minutes. The baby bears and baby believe it! Bar snack and we continued on, trying moose were adorable. More headwind to get as far along the shoal as we could battling followed these sightings until before low tide. At around 10am, the we reached a site at the beginning of a water got too shallow and we started set. Seeing that there was a building walking the boats in the water. Skye marked on the map, we explored the showed us all a cool boat-walking trick trails, hoping to find a sweet cabin. It that he likened to walking horses. P A G E 21 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 was found, but unfortunately was Hours on the water: 4 locked up. Oh well, back to our site for Left camp at about 11:00 this some spag dinner. Lots of chill time morning, and not a cloud in the sky. followed with North, Grace, David and VERY HOT! We had paddled about Audrey all taking turns on the guitar. Learning to Lead 2km when we stopped to do some cliff Fun day today guys! jumping to cool off. It turned out everyone was hungry so we decided to with the WLITs have lunch. Bagels, cream cheese,

cucumber and tomatoes, yum! Headed RIVER ADVENTURE WLIT FLATWATER (JULY) down the lake when we ran into (LATE AUGUST) Rebekah’s brothers having a little ROUTE: Obabika Loop backwards. ROUTE: Ivanhoe and Groundhog Rivers. paddle. After we had said a quick hello DATES: July 6 – July 10 2012 Bus to put-in at Ivanhoe Provincial Park. we continued down to Devil’s

Down the Ivanhoe River to the Mountain. We got to the campsite at confluence with the Groundhog River. LEADERS: Maeve Freeman-MacIntyre, about 2:30pm and had a few hours to Down river to Fauquier. Bus to Camp. Morgan Moores and Jean Murray. swim and hangout. After an awesome DATES: August 14 – August 24 2012 PARTICIPANTS: Max Adshead, Dane lesson on putting up tarps from Julian, Blanchard, Julian Carusone, Piper we made a delicious dinner of stir-fry. LEADERS: North de Pencier Deck, Caleb Guthrie, Morgan We had a little interruption because of and Gill Thompson Hodgins, Cori-Anne Huisman, a “missing camper”, but all was settled PARTICIPANTS: Colin Malone, Sebastian Pickering-Pedersen, Nicola quickly. Yummy love in a pan was made Jordanna O’Dowd, Austin Read, Protetch, Rebekah Richardson-Duffy. as the sun was setting under the tarp Peter Taynen. that was so luckily prepared by Julian. Day 1 The bugs started to close in around the Day 4 Leaders of the Day: Morgan Hodgins music circle and the campers drifted and Sebastian Pickering-Pedersen Distance: 25km slowly to bed. Distance travelled: 11 km Hours on the water: 7 Weather: Cold and rainy We woke up to a cold and rainy day this morning. Everyone layered up, we had some granola and then were on our way. A few swifties were shot right away, and then we paddled on through the rain to the bridge set. After a brief cabin hunting expedition we moved on, getting to the Chutes in good time. We shot a fun set, styled it on the portage then had some tuna lunch at the end. That was all the whitewater for the day so we pushed on, getting to a good bush-crash site around 6. We made delicious mac + cheese under our bomber tarp, then hung out around the fire. Good day guys, hopefully the rain stops tomorrow.

WLITs paddle the Dumoine River on their white water trip in July. T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 22

loaded on a beautifully cleared path. We

had a little bit of headwinds going back LEADERS: Tim Bourns, Emma Hobbs, WLIT FLATWATER (JULY) onto Lake Temagami but paddled Maeve Freeman-MacIntyre, Morgan ROUTE: Obabika Loop. quickly over to Keewaydin. There, Moores, Matt Thompson. DATES: July 6 – July 10 2012 Timmy bought an Eat, Sleep, PARTICIPANTS: Max Adshead, Victor Keewaydin shirt and everyone bought Bates, Dane Blanchard, Emma Bogler, LEADERS: Tim Bourns, Emma Hobbs much-desired treats. We continued on and Holly Nesbitt Julian Carusone, Connor Cepella, up Temagami, but got split up into two Grant Conover, Piper Deck, Caleb PARTICIPANTS: Victor Bates, Emma groups. Just then Connor became Guthrie, Morgan Hodgins, Cori-Anne Bogler, Connor Cepella, Grant incredibly homesick and broke down. Conover, Mark Nicol, Lindsay Ophel, Huisman, Mark Nicol, Lindsay Ophel, Luckily LOTD (Leader of the Day) Sebastien Pickering-Pedersen, Nicola Harry Silbaugh, Helen Thomas, Lindsay was there to help! Soon enough Patrick Trudeau, Shelby Yee. Protetch, Rebekah Richardson-Duffy, we made it to the tip of Ferguson Bay Harry Silbaugh, Patrick Trudeau, by 1 pm where we stopped to have some Shelby Yee.

Day 6 Leaders of the Day: Rebecca and Co. Today started out so much fun! We woke up next to a great set and half the group got to paddle solo boats with Matty and Morgan while half the group made beaver tails for breakfast. Mmmm… Some of us went up in tandem boats to the top of Red Pine to work on a few things and then came down to practice more solo boating. We used an awesome wave-trough to ferry over and had sooooo much fun. Clam and Julian both rolled their boats. BOOYAH. The leaders were satisfied with what they had seen and we were about to head out and pull down the river when BAM! A lightning storm took us by surprise. We had lunch of pesto under our tarp and right after we were assaulted by lightning and had to go sit in the woods and make jokes for a The WLITs put on their game faces for Swiss Navy at the end of July. half hour while the storm raged overhead. Awesome, it was fun. We then committed the act of leaving not Day 5 yummy potato salad. We also waited for after 2 pm and paddled down the last Leaders of the Day: Lindsay Ophel and the other group, but they were just so little section of whitewater to hit a set Shelby Yee so so slow. So instead, we paddled most of the way down the river. There We woke up kind of late, but made towards the bridge and home again were some fun, big sets that Morgan sure that the first thing we did was boil home again jiggidy jig!! and Matty debated and reasoned their water for grumpy old Timmy and Harry. way out of, and some other fun sets that Shortly afterwards, the water was boiled we all played in and cruised down. We and breakfast was pre-made from the WLIT WHITEWATER TRIP finally reached our end goal (8k away day before. Yay! We got onto the water (JULY) from Driftwood), and we camped at a at 9:30 am and paddled across the end ROUTE: Dumoine River. nice open sight next to an amazing drop of the bay to a portage which we single- DATES: July 18 – July 24 2012 set. Happy day gifts were prepared and P A G E 23 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 a taaasty meal of fettuccini alfredo was ran the fun double drop to the rock rest of the group didn’t quiet down, so cooked. All gathered around our table, island. Everyone had sweet lines and it didn’t come out again. We continued we ate happily with big bums and practiced their MITH carving. We down the river to a fun continuous R1/2 chatted merrily before unraveling our paddled over to the rock island and pick and choose, our favorite. Everyone gifts. Wowaa WEEWAA! What a scouted the next section. It was also a did really well with the rocky set. happy day! All gifts were aweeeesome! super fun double drop with a massive Unfortunately boat 1 decided to wrap Some songs, some poems, some hole at the bottom. We proceeded on a rock. Jacob and Rebekah got out bracelets, some tools, some down a sneak route with a beaching in and unwrapped it quickly and awesomeness. Wow, what great people the middle. we are! And then… we sleep. Stuart led everyone in a Chilean chant and lined up on the rock beside the VIs: Into the set to cheer people down the Quebec Wilderness massive hole. We paddled on VOYAGEUR I (AUGUST) to find a ROUTE: Esachistuwach-Enistuwach- massive set Pontax Rivers. Drive north to put-in at in front of Lac Apikwaywasich. Lake hopping to us. Luckily Riviere Esachistuwach. Down the there was a Esachistuwach to Riviere Enistuwach to small creek the Pontax to James Bay. Pick up in to the right. Waskaganish. Bus to Camp. We had DATES: July 28 – August 25 2012 lunch of Logan loaf LEADERS: Tim Bourns and Maeve made by Freeman-MacIntyre Rebs and PARTICIPANTS: Sam Angel, Julian Sam with Carusone, Flora Demaegdt, Jacob the help of Fischer-Schmidt, Lucie Fournier, many Stuart Fowler, Liam Kehoe, Teddy before we Liptay, Noah Lister-Stevens, Robin tackled the Matchett, Mark Nicol, Rebekah creek. It Richardson-Duffy. turned out Both Voyageur I trips before heading on their separate adventures. to be a DAY 12 pretty fun efficiently. It was right at the bottom Distance travelled: 12 km little creek. There was just enough and there were loads of rocks, so it was Hours on the water: 7 water for us to send our boats down the an easy rescue. We had some GORP to Weather: Overcast and cold to sunny little drops. Teddy did a jump into his warm up our tummies and discussed the We breakfasted on peach crisp this boat and ended up in the water. At the worst movie of all time. We camped morning and then paddled down the end of the creek we paddled over to the soon after and made pizza for dinner. nice R1 by our campsite to the top of a waterfall to check out the view from the Apparently there was some bobsledding sweet set. After a nice scout and bottom. It was beautiful. Off we went that happened. Dinner and music and discussion around potential routes, we down the river. Liam and I saw an owl swoop down over us. Unfortunately the then bed. T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 24

as maidenhead of Dowds and Harry’s boat. Suddenly it looked like a storm was a brewing so we pulled over and devoured unbelievable sandwiches with bread a-la Helen. Snack of Spitz and gummy candy was doled and Randy shared some yummy mini Mars Bars with the group. Onwards and upwards! The afternoon was jam packed with fun, big waves and pushy sets. Boats were rocked by Cori and Clam, Grant and Sasha, Morgan and Emma, Julien and Victor, Zac and Randy, Connor and Helen, and Dowds and Harry. We camped on RR and enjoy a Grand dinner of Risotto a-la Victor and Emma. All the while we sipped on tea. Post dinner we all sang and enjoyed a fabulous jam session and belted our lots of the classic camp songs plus some new ones. Oh yes, cinnamon buns were mastered by Cori and Grant all evening. Looking forward to those tomorrow.

The Voyageur Is float along in comfort. VIIs Find Beauty DAY 18 Distance travelled: 12 km Hours on the water: 8 in the Great North VOYAGEUR I (AUGUST) Weather: Overcast ROUTE: Kitchegama/Nottoway Rivers. This is day 18, how did that happen? Drive to put-in at the Sampson River. VOYAGEUR II Trip is rushing by us so quickly now that Portage and paddle to Lac Grasset. ROUTE: Whitehorse - Tischu River - we’re in the more exciting part of the Kitchigama River t0 the Nottoway. Into Keele River - Twitya - Trout Creek - trip and today will be no different. We James Bay to Waskaganish. Bus to Camp. Overland, Cache Creek - Mountain River ate peach crisp with coffee and tea and DATES: July 28 – August 25 2012 - Mackenzie River - Fort Good Hope - fly hit the water. White water was upon us to Toronto - bus to Ferguson Bay - paddle pretty quickly today and we soon into Camp. LEADERS: Emma Dowds and realized that it was going to be a fun DATES: June 30 – August 25 2012 Morgan Moores filled day of running sets. The island

PARTICIPANTS: Max Adshead, Victor section with all of the slashes that had LEADERS: Hallie Herz and Bates, Connor Cepella, Grant been exciting the group for days turned Conover, Emma Gilmore, Cori-Anne out to be much less intense than the Graham Preston Huisman, Sasha Pickering, Randy maps made it seem, but it was fun none PARTICIPANTS: Fraser Cepella, Katie Rosenblatt, Julien Sasseville, Harry the less. Victor and Julien enjoyed the Devlin, Harris Franklin, Emma Silbaugh, Zach Smith, day by picking more adventurous lines French, Kyla Gardner, Dan Heath, Helen Thomas. to challenge their mad skills. Most Julia Higgins, Alex Hodgins Eliza importantly, Hanz had her best day yet Jackson, Alex MacPhail, Tess McCutcheon, Owen Melanson. P A G E 25 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

Day 31 By Harris Franklin The freedom of the hills is given to few but for our brave VIIs it is received like an old and familiar friend. Eight days over land and still no creek in sight. Our canoes might forget how to float if we keep this up. Undaunted by the lack of water our fearless leaders cried “Cache Creek or Bust!” and started grinding down the trail as the granola grumbled in their gullets. Up the V2s walked, to the height of their route – and not a drop to be seen. The Trout ran dry beneath their feet, the chapattis in their throats no wetter. But bust they did not!

Day 40 Voyageur II campers end the day with a cuddle pile. By Owen “Loaves” Melanson Overcast all day but the scenery against me and I did battle against into a cove and towards the landing, leading up to the Mountain made us Fraser, Prom was moved to another day, pickup trucks drove down to the water. forget all about the clouds. We paddled and we are throwing spray decks on in Congratulatory roars grew louder as we past sheer rock walls at least eighty feet anticipation of bigger water. paddled closer. Twenty or so people high which dropped straight to the were on the sandy shore with smiles. water, cutting away at one point to We set up camp and walked into town. make a clean tunnel through the rock. VOYAGEUR II We were greeted by the smells of The cliff faces followed us as we ROUTE: Norman Wes - Mackenzie River - burgers, hotdogs, corn, beans, fried paddled to a waterfall that was Great Bear River - Great Bear Lake - bannock, and bbq’d lake trout! We ate suspended at some points, allowing us Calder River - Hepburn River - until we couldn’t. Bruce and Verna to crawl under and sit in caves as the Coppermine River - Kugluktuk - fly to treated us like family. An Elder named water cascaded over us. There were cave Toronto - bus to Ferguson Bay - paddle Morris taught us about the community’s networks with water running through into Camp. last prophet, Louie Ayah who died in them creating underground tunnels that 1940. we ducked through, which was one of DATES: June 30 – August 25 2012 Verna told me that when Bruce came the coolest things ever to happen to me. home from watching us line up the river The ineffable beauty of this place LEADERS: Shauna Kearns he told her that watching us reminded varies every day from mountains to and Toban Leckie him of the stories his grandfather had springs to pools to forest and animals. I told him about his ancestors going up feel like I could stay out here forever PARTICIPANTS: Max Correale, Daniel the River. We feel really blessed to have and be held speechless by the scenery Glassman, Ceci Gregory, Austin Haw, met everyone we have over the last every day. We got to our campsite at the Peter Lilly, William McNee, Stuart couple of weeks. We expect we’ll miss confluence of the Mountain, whose Murray, William Radden, Roisin them a lot as we head inland to less canyons towering 100 feet straight up Thompson, Stephanie Vaughan, populated waters. Tomorrow we begin and down, flawless, serve as gates to the Vitalina Vorotynskaya, William Wolf. our paddle of Great Bear Lake. final stretch of our journey. We searched for the abandoned cabin but to no avail Day 14 and checked out another waterfall. Today we went to Deline, a Day 39 At the campsite more Judo took place community situated on the southwest Lapland longspur and ruddy as MacPhail stepped up his game shore of Great Bear Lake. As we pulled turnstone!! This morning we saw one T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 26 muskox drinking from the river. Our presence didn’t seem to stir him until we were about 100m away, at which point he turned and galloped into the wooded land, his thick, brown qiviuq rippling over his rump. An elusive wolf, a perfect white, was also interrupted by us as she drank her drink. A more curious cream colored lupine stumbled upon our site on his way to the water this evening. We were all hypnotized by the agility of his trunk as he bounced from hummock to hummock. Finally, he bounded back up the ridge. We paddled by white pines today. This section of the Coppermine is truly beautiful with it’s “unbending, never ending tablets of time.”

The viage of Deline welcomed our Voyageur II campers into their community for the night.

Getting on the Plane A reflection by Eliza Jackson - 2012 Voyageur II camper

This is it...”V2”. Ten years in the making. Ten summers, twelve trips, countless hours, always moving toward this goal. And now you don’t feel ready. Now you’re doubting if you can even make yourself get on this plane. Now you’re wondering why you gave up your summer, once again, to venture out into the unknown. This is it! This is what you’ve been looking forward to since the first time you stood cheering on the bridge. Since the first time you listened to their stories and saw their joy. Since your first summer on Lake Temagami you knew that you would one day end up here. This is your second graduation! In two months you will paddle across that same lake to be welcomed with that same joy. And yet...this moment marks the end. The end of your time at home. The end of your safety net. You’re popping the bubble, going out into the world. The end of it all. You do this because this experience is special. Because this is a defining moment. Because your experiences and interactions these last ten summers have shaped you into the person you’ve become. These people, this place, defined you. Wanapitei made you. The trail, the trees, the docks, the bridge, the water. The water. The water has taught you everything. Shown you your weakness, broken you down and then inspired you so much you have no choice but to take another stroke. Try that line again. Push yourself to do better. The water has tumbled you, tossed you, and scares the heck out of you but you keep getting back on the ride. This place has turned you into a leader. Taught you how to navigate, paddle, cook, clean, and learn. Learn that you can do it. You can. And you can do it all on your own. You’ve become someone who is outgoing, understanding...overwhelmed. But because of all of the things that this place has given you, you will do it. You will leave. You will go. You will put all of this behind you to have the experience of a lifetime and you will not regret it! You will be brave, you will be bold. You will pack and you will track. You will follow and you will lead. And you will get on this plane. P A G E 27 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

memorable cultural contacts with repeatedly in Peterborough, I received northern Indigenous people. Lifetime medical attention, almost to The Year with Bruce memories. In 2013 there will be three Thanksgiving. You can still see the ... Continued om page 3 such far northern trips. fading scar! The summer of 2013 will be my fifty- In late September we had our usual food down the Lake to a campsite, by seventh and Carol’s fifty-sixth summer Trent-Carleton Environmental and outboard, joining the middle day sailing. (1957) based at Wanapitei. We were Canadian Studies Field Trip (four days, At the Reunions, we saw and heard married during the summer of 1958! three nights at Wanapitei plus travel); it the presentations of the two full I wish that I had not been so clumsy was their 40th trip. Very large. Great summer Voyageur II trips in the on the late August closing Wanapitei sessions and speakers, great square Northwest Territories and Yukon. I Banquet, the one outside, when I raced, dance, great canoeing and hiking really love those presentations. What in the dark, from the back to the expeditions, lots of special returnees fantastic achievements – river and creek Dining Hall Side Door Platform to join celebrating forty years of the trip to travel often close to mountains, the great Staff for the singing of the Wanapitei. Several current Wanapitei crossing along watershed “portages”, “Old Canoe,” to the throngs of parents, staff helped with the outings, the square major and minor lakes, with high staff, and campers gathered there. I fell dance and in the Kitchen-Dining Hall. morale, great comradeship, fun, work, on the steps and banged and cut my We look forward to seeing you at learning and fellowship, and also right shin. Later at Wanapitei and then Wanapitei in the Summer of 2013.

What Is the Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund? alumni. Our supporters have always dug deep to ensure that financial By Alan “Vin” Norris constraints don’t prohibit young people Board Member from enjoying the summer It was forty years ago that alumni camp experience. from the Taylor Statten Camps Ahmek The Bob Boutiller Memorial Fund is and Wapameo created the Taylor Camp Wanapitei’s direct connection to Statten Camp Bursary Fund. The the T.S.C.B.F. Bob was a long time volunteers that make up the Board of member of our community and his Directors believe that the life skills legacy lives on at Camp Wanapitei. His learned and experiences earned from daughter Lisa was on program staff and summers at camp are pivotal in shaping Lisa’s mother, Hilary Heath, serves as about what we are up to in year forty healthy futures for the young people the secretary on Camp Wanapitei’s and beyond, please visit our website involved. The Bursary has helped fund Board of Directors. Donations to the www.tscbf.com. Donations are always over one thousand summer camp T.S.C.B.F. made through Bob’s welcome and can be made through the experiences at more than eight website or by a making a cheque out to different camps and we are working Memorial Fund ensure that the T.S.C.B.F , indicating that it be for the hard to ensure there are another donation is used specifically for thousand to come. Camp Wanapitei. Bob Boutiller Memorial Fund and The T.S.C.B.F. has grown significantly I have had the good fortune to serve mailing it to the T.S.C.B.F. , 77 King over the years. Today, we are fortunate on both the T.S.C.B.F. and Camp Street West, P.O. Box 1128, TD Central to manage a significant endowment Wanapitei Boards of Directors and see Postal Station, Toronto , Ontario, worth over five hundred thousand first hand the effects of the good works M5K 1P2. dollars. What has not changed is the of both groups. If you are interested in generosity of our donors and camps participating in or just learning more T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 28

From Our CEO: Wanapitei This year we are Comes able to put over of Ageeach other. Of course during the big $70,000 back into the site and July (Community) weekend and the end By Ted Moores equipment; an all-time camp record and of camp (Harvest) weekend the camp is Wanapitei Board Chair and CEO a much needed boost. The overloaded, but those are celebration maintenance and site “people” have put times and are far different from the rest ANAPITEI has had a lot into the camp in the last several of the summer when there are rarely several “life-cycles” in years to make it look better and be more than 100 campers in camp at any its eighty year history, more functional, but it has been done one time. and although I have without much cash and has been To continue a successful quest for Wonly been around it for fifty-six of those dependent on a loan, (in the form of a financial sustainability we will always years, I can honestly say that the camp mortgage). As we become more count on the exceptional efforts of is the closest I’ve ever seen it to sustainable we’ll be able to put more of volunteers. This year very active becoming a fully rounded, self- those expenses into our operating volunteers included my spring building sustaining educational organization. budget and ideally save for the really big crew with the addition of Don Mason, The safety is outstanding as usual and expenses, (like building a new kitchen the ongoing and year-round efforts of the overall quality has been improving and program center). Allan Norris, Phil Nicholson’s yearly. Now it seems, thanks to the The increase of income comes from wonderful “session-end” extravaganzas, extraordinary leadership of Woody and more campers and tight controls on and the teaching help of Jen Deck. JJ, supported strongly by Trish, Heffy, all spending. We believe that we can Many people ask if the economic of the program staff, and the Board, we significantly increase the number of “insecurity” of the current time has are beginning to realize the efforts of kids coming to camp without negatively affected the camp. Of course we’ve had our intensive business planning of two hindering our “extended family” style of to tighten our belts a bit and be as years ago, and are venturing into a more camp whereby the 17 year olds and the sustainable financial structure. 10 year olds know and interact with ... Continued on page 31

Wanapitei 2013 Session Dates and Prices Program (Age) & Price Dates Program (Age) & Price Dates Program (Age) & Price Dates

Junior Camp (7 - 9) July 13 - 19 Pioneer (14 - 15) June 29 - July 12 Wilderness Leader in June 29 - July 26 $775 Two weeks: $2095 Training (17) July 20 - 26 Four Weeks: $3690 July 13 - 26 $4790 July 29 - August 25

July 29 - August 4 June 29 - July 26 W.L.I.T/VI (17) June 29 - August 25 July 29 - August 11 August 5 - 11 $7985 August 12 - 25

Temagami (10-11) July 13 - 26 July 29 - August 25 Voyageur II (18) June 29 - August 25 $1985 $8145* July 29 - August 11 Bay Trip (16) June 29 - July 26 August 12 - 25 $3925 July 29 - August 25 *Cost of travel is not included in VII fees, and session dates do not include the time needed to travel to the starting Coureurs de Bois July 13 - 26 point of the trip. (12-13) River Adventure July 30 - August 11 June 29 - July 26 (16-18) Two weeks: $1985 August 12 - 25 Fees include everything except transportation to and Four weeks: $3470 $2250 July 29 - August 11 om camp, tuck shop purchases, rentals, medications or related medical expenses, and taxes. Voyageur I (17) July 28 - August 25 August 12 - 25 $4940 Due to the unpredictable fuel costs, a fuel surcharge July 29 - August 25 may be necessary for some programs. If applicable it wi not exceed $200. P A G E 29 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

The best thing that happened to me this lifetime. Based on the glowing report we summer was going under the bridge received - you run a great camp. Dear Wanapitei at camp. If you don't know the camp, then Mother of VI Camper, 2012 ... Continued om page 1 you probably don't get why it issuch a big deal. What happens is when you finish your... Please pass on our thanks to Kim and camp? " "No. Never. There was always trip, the whole camp stands on a wooden Henry’s group Leaders - they talked about something to do. Even work." In the course of bridge and they are cheering and clapping as them a the way home. Not only have you the exchange that foowed, he said that one loud as they can to welcome you back to the two done a great job of picking your staff, of his accomplishments at Wanapitei was to camp. Our group was on an eight-day trip, but om what I see the staff have foowed have come to like working more than doing canoeing along the Montreal River up in through on their end of the bargain, making nothing. "So, if I was bored now and had a Temiskaming so we were a ready to Wanapitei a special place for the kids. Reay choice between doing nothing or, say, doing come back. I wonder how the people on the awesome. Every time I am there and the the dishes, now I'd want to do the dishes." ! fiy-two day trip felt. camp is fu it just makes me want to stay Last night, faced with a difficult decision, The people that were important in my life longer - what a family it is. he stepped forward to offer a Parents of a Temagami kind of help that I know he is Camper and a Junior not typicay inclined to offer. Camper, 2012 I thanked him, and looked at him closely for several Picked up Anthony earlier seconds. I felt something new. today in Vaughn… Just want "What's going on with you ?" to drop a line saying that I asked, in my best tone of based on the stories he has told loving inquiry. "It's camp so far that it was an dad. Camp gives experience that he wi never everything." forget. The two counseors But again and om the made a very positive depths of my parent's soul, impression on him as we. thank you so much for what He has commented that they you have facilitated here. I are 2 most amazing people he can't wait to 'bow' to my has ever met…. boy’s stern. I am sure the trip wi Father of a Temagami have a positive influence on Camper, 2012 him for the rest of his life Thanks for having such a It quickly became clear on great program my drive out of camp that my this summer are a the people in my group Father of a Bay Trip Camper, 2011 son thinks the world of Toban and Shauna. and the leaders at camp. This is because I was They did a remarkable job in leading that there for two weeks and we were together group through their adventure. My son the whole time so that brought us close First off I wanted to mention how learned a great deal om them and om the together. wonderful Sierra was this morning. She experience that they curated. Positive Coureur de Bois Camper, 2012 (as part met my daughter and I and made our influences like Toban and Shauna are not of a school assignment) transition so lovely. I was thried to meet common and are important for young men. Sara's counseor and learn that she was a Our young man treasures his experience this Our son was on a 30-day trip in August. lovely as she was. I am certain that Sara wi summer, specificay the relationship he Just wanted to say a quick thanks for a be in good hands and I believe that she felt developed with Toban and everything he great adventure. He was new to Wanapitei very comfortable aer only a few minutes of learned om him; big/sma, trip related/life but seemed to settle in quickly. He had a chatting with Sierra. I thought you should related, direct teaching /(and more blast, loved his group and was surpassingly know this and please thank her for me…I am importantly) indirect learning impressed with the trip leaders. A that to so excited about the opportunity that Saraa through observation. say, sincere thanks for facilitating a trip of a has ahead of her. Thank you. Father of VII Camper, 2012 Mother of Temagami Camper, 2011

T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 P A G E 30 Paddlers For Life: Alumni Trip to the Natla and Keele A little 5pm excitement; after setting rivers. All this plus constant, (and up our kitchen we were pitching tents thankfully this year not too strenuous) By Ted Moores when a Grizzly lunged into the river exercise and the very fit feeling after a Wanapitei Board Chair and CEO from an upstream/upwind island, few days, (or weeks as we get older). N JULY, a group of Wanapitei bounded/swam across rapids and ran Paddling requires a mild focus and straight at us on our campsite. We concentration. The rhythm is like the alums met in Norman Wells, yelled, waved, looked as big as we could rhythm of breathing so it’s a constant flew up near the Yukon, NWT border in the Mackenzie and he skidded to a halt when he finally meditation. The necessary chores are I Mountains, (where we made saw us about 25 m away. He then did a simple, like breaking and setting up snow angels), and spent the next 17 days quarter circle, stood up to show off his camp and leaving the site in pristine big muscles, then lumbered off. Vin condition. paddling down the Natla and Keele had the air horn out which urged the 2013 rivers to the Mackenzie. We had heat stress, wind stress, solid gr 2, 3 and 4 (beautiful) bear up a very steep slope rapids on the Natla, mostly over large that he cleared in about 15 seconds. SUMMER 2013 boulder drops, and VERY fast gr 2 and He dropped a few turds as he ran, so IMPORTANT DATES we had the same effect on him easy 3s on the Keele, where we could do apparently. Though we always 50km in a couple of hours without assumed he would stop when he MAY breaking a sweat. We had the luxury of 1st: Final balance of camp fees due. enjoying hours of just “being” in such actually saw us, the charge was a bit unnerving and it was a good adrenalin magnificent country, and regularly JUNE rush. shared our awe of our surroundings. 1st: Last day to submit medical forms. The participants were Allan, Gary 29th: Early July, July & full summer sessions Day 4 and Sam Norris, Alister Thomas, and begin. myself. All of us except for Sam, who Sitting around the campfire Alister turned 25 on the trip, had done asked, “why is this so much fun”? JULY northern trips together in the 60s, with People hear about cold, rain, bugs, 11th: Mid-month Banquet. Allan, Gary and Alister being campers uncomfortable, dangerous, wet, hard 12th: Early July session ends. together. Below are two excerpts work, scary, grizzly bears etc. Our 13th: Late July & Junior 3 sessions begin. from the journal. answers included: unrivaled beauty; 19th: Junior 3 session ends. spectacular environment; no one 20th: Junior 4 session begins. Day 2 within 100s of miles; requires skill, 25th: Mid Summer Feast. Our first day on the water, (Natla R). precision, teamwork, judgment; 26th: Junior 4, Late July & July sessions end. Up at 7, organized and away at 11:30 traveling / exploring in the unknown; 27th: Community Banquet. surrounded by snowy mountain peaks. living every day fully. There’s a 29th: Early August, August and Junior 5 We entered the river in 15 minutes in a spiritual quality of a wilderness trip sessions begin. small riffle, which got larger and due to the connections and basically didn’t slow down for 423 km. interdependency with your group, the AUGUST A large bald Eagle sat on a stump and simplicity of daily work, the simplicity 4th: Junior 5 session ends. watched us slide by, we had 4 km of of the daily objectives; the connection 5th: Junior 6 session begins. gorgeous Gr II non-stop rapids, then with the earth / wilderness; living with 10th: Mid-month Banquet. the ante was raised with some very the rhythms of the earth and 11th: Early August & Junior 6 sessions end. picky rock gardens and big waves. We wilderness; the awe and wonder at 12th: Late August session begins. lined a gnarly drop (big center hole), how spectacular the earth can be; the 12th-17th: Family Camp. ran more picky stuff and lunched just deep connections to earth and to the 14th-17th: Family Camp 3-night option. past Icicle Creek (slate blue water) at best of our selves; exploring and 24th: Harvest Night. 2:45. Wonderful rapids all morning! experiencing the different characters 25th: Camp ends. of landscape, of mountains and of P A G E 31 T H E P A D D L E R ● W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 Thank-You, Thank-You, Thank-You! AMP WANAPITEI would - Canoe #5 – like to express sincere Restored and gratitude to the following donated by Glenn individuals and families for Hodgins. C their generous donations over the past three years. Industrial In addition to the donations noted fridge for below, we are forever grateful to the Camp families who donate the remainder of receptions and their Camp Store (Tuck) accounts to operations out our Bursary Fund. This fund allows us of Chateau - J. to extend the Wanapitei experience to Phiip Nicholson families in financial need. Policy and Finally, without the generous Management Consultants Inc. Camp Wanapitei Etching donations from countless families (auctioned of with proceeds to the towards our sailboat fund, we simply 2012 Camp) – Bi McCutcheon wouldn’t have a sailing program. Our Paderno Chef Knives and Steamer sincere thanks. Cash Donation for the Camp and Pot for Camp and Chateau the Chateau – The Trask Family 2010 Kitchens - Catherine Robinson Sound system for the Dining Hall - Industrial Strength Sewing Glenn Brown and Brenda Laughlin Contribution to Defibrillator and Machine for tent and pack repair – New Staf Cabin Doors - “Big Phil” Eric and Beth Roher 2011 Cash Donation for Cedar Strip Cedar Strip Canoe Restoration. Cash Donation for purchase of an Canoe Restoration – Ji and - Canoe #3 - Restored by Glenn Hodgins ABS Canoe – Bi McCutcheon Dan Devlin through a donation om Ji and Dan Devlin

life skills, many of which are not friends. This year some “older” alums possible in a school environment. They were talking and they agreed, “though Coming of Age find their strengths, are supported for having been campers at Wanapitei ... Continued om page 28 their unique contribution to their didn’t prevent life’s difficulties from group, exercise leadership, practice happening, (like divorces, bankruptcies, conservative in our spending as taking responsibility where the cancer etc.), it definitely enabled us to possible, but we’ve found that consequences are real, and learn cope effectively with them”. Wanapitei is different from a normal compassion. They cook in the rain, sit Not unlike campers who paddle under “discretional spending” vacation option. around the campfire talking, singing the bridge in all of their new strength I believe that people who have been and laughing, and discover things about and confidence, Wanapitei itself feels connected to the camp see it as an themselves that they, (or their parents), like its “coming of age” in this phase of extremely important part of their didn’t know existed. its evolution, and is only getting child’s education and development. As evidenced by our alumni trips, stronger so that it may serve its families Campers grow and gain very important family week and summer celebration better in the years to come. weekends, campers make life-long T H E P A D D L E R ● J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2 P A G E 32

FAMILY CAMP AUGUST 12th to 17th, 2013

Join us for five days of fun for the whole family:

CANOEING * HIKING * ARCHERY * CAMPFIRES * YOGA * TIE DYE * OVER NIGHTS * SWIMMING * CAMP GAMES * BEADING, HEMP & EMBROIDERY * AND MUCH MORE!

Visit www.wanapitei.net for more details and to register.

OUR WEBSITE HAS A ...... NEW LOOK!

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