Canoe Trip

The Burke A. O'Brien Memorial Fund and Deepwater Experiential Education Project will be offering a program for the second summer in partnership with Northwaters and Langskib Wilderness Programs. Burke was a longtime staff member and dedicated wilderness educator at Northwaters and Langskib. His work touched countless young people over the years, helping them to find their inner strength, to face challenges with courage, trust themselves, and to see the joy in every day. Through this program we hope to continue his work.

The program will be a two week long wilderness program beginning on the 11th of July and ending on the 24th of July, 2005. The program will incorporate the elements of a Northwaters and Langskib wilderness canoe trip - wilderness, connection to the land, leadership, personal growth, community building - adapted to work specifically with the group of young people who have been nominated to attend this program.

We will spend the two weeks traveling by canoe through the ancient system of lakes, rivers, and passages that make the spectacular Temagami wilderness. Participants will sleep in tents, cook meals over an open fire, and learn to live simply and lightly on the land. The group will move to a different campsite each day, the length of time travel depending on the group, the weather, and the route.

The trip will also include a trip to the traditional Anishnabai Tipi Camp to meet and learn about the true locals who have inhibited Temagami region for over five thousand years. If it seems appropriate a community service project could be integrated with this visit or elsewhere in the trip. This could be a great way to help reinforce the possibilities for participants to positively contribute to their communities.

When participants begin their separate journeys home, they will be filled with new confidence, friendship, and inspiration. It is our hope they will use these powerful lessons to positively contribute to their experience of schools, families, and friends. Through the beauty of the wilderness and the challenge of the journey, we hope to make this possible.