A unique opportunity for participants to develop leadership skills and enjoy the beauty of Pine Crest while also being introduced to extended out tripping. This program begins with one week at camp, engaging in skill and leadership development, and fun cabin activities! From here, the group travels to Algonquin Provincial Park, where they will spend 9 days developing their flat-water canoeing and portaging skills. Finally, they return to Pine Crest for a week and a half of cabin programming and leadership placements on site.

Skill Level Required: Intermediate. Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended, experience with white water paddling is not required. Must be a confident swimmer. 

What to expect: 4–6 hours paddling per day, some long portages and big lake paddling. Well maintaned and marked campsites.

Our Coulonge adventure program offers an introduction to extended tripping while also giving participants time at Pine Crest to enjoy traditional camp programming. This program begins with one week at camp, engaging in skill and program development. From there, the group travels to western Quebec and spends 16 days paddling 250km on the Coulonge River, where they are introduced to whitewater paddling and portaging skills. Participants will be amazed by the beautiful ‘Chute du Diable’ and sandy cliffs. Finally, they return to Pine Crest for a final week of leadership placements and development. Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender. 

Skill Level: Intermediate. Some experience canoe tripping is recommended, whitewater paddling experience is not required.

What to expect: 6–8 hours paddling per day, great introductory whitewater with some opportunities to paddle larger sets. Some portaging.

The Massasauga Provincial Park stretches along the coast of Georgian Bay, from Parry Sound to the Moon River. The bay is littered with hundreds of islands, and the inland lakes break up a striking landscape of windswept pines, colourful granite-striped rocks, and sheer cliffs. "Massasauga" means "mouth of the river" in Ojibwe. You might come across turtles, loons, otters, and many birds, and you’ll get spectacular views overlooking glaciated granite outcroppings, with lots of small beaches tucked into coves, and you’ll head out into the bay to explore the many islands! Sleeping out on a remote island is a truly unique experience, and offers amazing nighttime views of a sky filled with the brightest stars. The only sound you will hear at night are the lapping waves on the shores of your very own island site. This trip is a great introduction to our JLIT program with participants spending half their time on trip, roughly 6-7 days, and half their time at camp. Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender.

Skill Level Required: Beginner 

What to expect: 4–6 hour paddling days, some portages, nice and well-established campsites.

Named for the dark colour of the water, the Noire River is an amazing introduction to extended canoe tripping and whitewater paddling, and a great place to build your leadership skills. Over ten days on the river, you will paddle almost 50 rapids and complete only a few portages. You may also want to get ready to build the sandcastle of your dreams, because this river includes many beach campsites! Participants will only be at camp for a total of 3 nights: 2 nights before the trip and 1 night after the trip. Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender.

Skill Level: Intermediate. Some experience canoe tripping is recommended, whitewater paddling experience is not required.

What to expect: 4-6 hours paddling per day, fun whitewater and some portages.

Roughly translated from Algonquin, the name Petawawa means “where one hears the noise of the water”. The Petawawa River flows through the northern end of Algonquin Provincial Park. After spending one week at camp, preparing for trip and honing their leadership skills, the group will leave for 14 days on the river. The first half of the trip is mostly flatwater paddling and portaging through the western part of Algonquin Park. Upon reaching Cedar Lake, the whitewater paddling begins, and participants will have the opportunity to hone their skills. This route has been travelled for generations, and evidence of early travelers can still be found through stunning petroglyphs on breathtaking cliff faces. The program culminates with a final week at camp where participants will practice their leadership skills in placement and through stewardship. Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender

Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced. Some experience with canoe tripping is strongly recommended, white water paddling experience is ideal, but not required. Must be a confident swimmer.

What to expect: 6-8+ hour paddling days, long portages, fun whitewater, well-established campsites.

The Spanish River is in Northern Ontario and runs west of Sudbury. The Spanish River was formerly used as a means of transportation for people and materials, as a main route for Canada’s first nations, and as a link between the north shore of Lake Huron and the James Bay Watershed. This trip will follow the west branch of the river from the town of Biscotasing to Agnew Lake, near Espanola, ON. Participants will paddle 165km in ten days through some of the world’s largest red pine and white pine old-growth forests while learning about themselves and experiencing the challenges of whitewater paddling. Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender. Participants will be at camp for a total of two nights: one before the trip and one after the trip.

Skill Level: Intermediate. Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended, experience with white water paddling is not required. Must be a confident swimmer. 

What to expect: Fun whitewater, 5-7 hour paddling days, some portaging.

The Miskwewe Ziibi (Bloodvein River) offers an exciting, high volume, whitewater experience through untouched Boreal wilderness. This stunning river is home to several rare and endangered species, such as the wolverine, osprey, bald eagle and woodland caribou. It is also known for the ancient pictographs that can be found on the river’s rocky cliffs.

Paddlers will begin their travels in Red Lake, Ontario, where they will paddle 335km’s through a series of lakes, creeks, and portages to reach the river and then journey through memorable whitewater to Lake Winnipeg.

Participants will spend a few days at camp getting ready for trip, they will spend 24 days on the river, and will have a few days at camp afterwards to reflect on their amazing month together.

Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender. 

Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced. Experience with extended canoe tripping is suggested. Experience white water paddling is ideal, however not required. Must be a confident swimmer. "

What to expect: 6-8+ hour paddling days, technical whitewater, daily portaging, long train rides, a day in Winnipeg.

The Du Chef and Ashuapmushuan rivers provide fun white water, fast currents, and challenging days — perfect for the LIT year. On this trip, participants work on leadership skills, learn about themselves, and have a greater respect for the original stewards of the land who have protected this river from development. Participants begin with a few days at Camp Pine Crest to pack and prepare for 22 days on the water. The group then travels 12 hours north to the Rivière à la Perche in central Quebec for a challenging start to the program with upriver paddling, lining boats up rapids, and bushwhacking. Once they reach Lac File Axe, they start the Du Chef with fun, long white water and camping on sandy shores. The group will finish their journey in Saint-Félicien, Quebec, before returning to camp to focus on placements and stewardship opportunities around the camp community. Please note that this trip is an all-gender program, and accommodations on the trip and at camp will be all-gender.

Skill Level:  Intermediate-Advanced. Some experience with extended canoe tripping is recommended. Must be a confident swimmer. 

What to expect: 6–8 hour paddling days, bushwhacking, walking up rapids, white water with big waves, and unestablished campsites. 

This program is ideal for participants looking to split their time evenly between an extended whitewater trip and in-camp programming. The program begins with one week in camp, before participants travel to the Ekonakwasi-Sipi (Dumoine River) in western Quebec for a 250km 14 day iconic whitewater paddling experience. The route begins in the town of Kipawa, where the group will paddle a series of lakes and upriver on the Kipawa River.

Once they officially make it to the Dumoine, they will enjoy some amazing technical paddling and experience the beauty of the Grande Chute waterfall and Bald Eagle Cliff. The group will return to Pine Crest for a final week of leadership development and reflection. Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender.

Skill Level: Intermediate. Experience with extended canoe tripping is suggested. Experience white water paddling is ideal, however not required. Must be a confident swimmer. 

What to expect: Lake and upriver paddling for the first half of trip, fun whitewater in the second half.

You’ll begin by preparing at camp and going over flatwater canoeing skills. Upon arriving in Killarney you’ll paddle 10 days through the entire park, leaving full days to hike Killarney’s most spectacular locations, including Silver Peak and the Crack. Some of the lakes you’ll travel on are so clear they have a 28 meter visibility! You’ll spend ten days both paddling and hiking, and will gain a great connection with one of Ontario’s crown jewel provincial parks. You’ll have fun practicing the basics of canoe tripping, camp site setup, outdoor cooking skills, and navigation and risk management. All while enjoying the beauty of nature and learning a thing or two about yourself and your trip-mates! Please note this trip is contigent on Pine Crest being able to obtain Killarney permits. 

Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate. Some experience with canoe tripping and hiking is recommended. 

What to expect: 5–7 hour paddling/hiking days, big lake paddling, some challenging and possibly unmaintained portages

The name Kipawa comes from an Algonquian word meaning “at the narrows beyond which more water opens out,” describing the countless closed-off channels that form the many arms, reaches and bays of Lake Kipawa. The watershed drained by the Kipawa River encompasses close to 6,000 square kilometers of mostly untouched forest and small lakes, much of it within Québec’s largest managed outdoor recreation zone, ZEC Kipawa, with secluded lakes, wild rivers, and uncrowded camping routes.

Participants will travel for 20 days East to West across the ZEC, finishing at the Kipawa Government Dock on Lake Kipawa.

Participants will also have a few days at camp to prep for their trip, and participate in other fun activities, as well as a few days at camp when they get home to share stories and enhance their leadership skills by engaging in meaningful leadership programming.

Please note this is an all- gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all gender."

Skill Level: Intermediate. Experience and comfort with long canoe trips is suggested.  

What to expect: 5–7 hour paddling days, portages, less established campsites.

The perfect balance of time spent paddling through the rugged Canadian wilderness of Temagami and enjoying the beauty of Pine Crest. The four-week Temagami program offers the best of both worlds for participants looking to develop their leadership and flat-water tripping skills. The program begins with one week at camp, engaging in skill and leadership development. From here the group will spend eight days paddling and portaging through the epicenter of Canadian canoe culture, exploring beautiful lakes. They will then spend four days hiking on the Ottawa-Temiskaming Highland Trail, before returning to Pine Crest for a final week of development and reflection.  

Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate. Some experience with canoe tripping and hiking is recommended. 

What to expect: 5–7 hour paddling/hiking days, big lake paddling, some challenging and possibly unmaintained portages, well-maintained hiking trail.

This 5-Week Senior Exchange program is ideal for Senior Leadership participants who wish to expand upon their leadership skills in an exciting new setting. Participants will spend time both at Pine Crest and at another YMCA camp.  

While with Pinecrest, both groups will complete a short canoe trip.  Participants will participate in leadership development and other exciting new programs with our exchange partners at their camp and get to experience a wilderness out trip with them.

To finish they will return home to Pine Crest for some valuable time at camp to reflect on their experiences at both sites. The location for Summer 2027 has not been set yet, but we will announce as soon as it is confirmed.

Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender.

Skill Level: Intermediate. Experience overnight camping is recommended. Participants should be good swimmers, as well as feel comfortable with the idea of hiking.

What to expect: A bigger group combining the two camps, appreciating a new environment and stepping out of your comfort zone. 

The Coppermine River is one of Canada's most sought-after Arctic rivers by adventurers and paddlers alike, and is absolutely unrivaled in its whitewater, wildlife and natural beauty. It originates in the Boreal Forest of the Northwest Territories, runs north through Nunavut, and drains into the Coronation Gulf on the Arctic Ocean. Over the course of 33 days and 700 kilometers, participants will paddle through a series of lakes, forests, tundra, mountain ranges and gorges.

The landscape is also home to a variety of wildlife including tundra muskox, caribou, arctic fox, moose and grizzly bear. Paddlers have often reported seeing between three and five thousand caribou. The September and Coppermine Mountains are often compared to the Himalayas in terms of their grandeur and beauty; their size and sheer slopes dwarf canoes as they paddle through the canyons of the Coppermine. The rapids of the Coppermine are long, technical and challenging. Nevertheless, the river provides numerous vantage points allowing paddlers to safely scout these difficult rapids and choose the cleanest line down the river. Furthermore, the river abounds with Arctic char and whitefish, while overhead golden eagles, Arctic terns, tundra swans and peregrine falcons may be seen.

Skill Level: Advanced. White water paddling experience and strong swimming abilities are required. Participants must understand scouting and how to follow paddling lines, complete eddy turns, and swim confidently in moving water.

What to expect: Seven to eight hours of paddling each day, Class I-III white water, lining boats, and some portages on rough terrain. 

The 4-week French River program is ideal for senior leadership participants who wish to divide their time between a wilderness expedition and in-camp programming. Participants will spend a week and a half at Pine Crest participating in leadership development and skill building, before embarking on an 8-day, 103km flat-water canoe trip through the iconic French River Provincial Park.

During this trip, they will learn the important skills it takes to guide a successful canoe trip. Upon their return to camp, participants will collaborate on programming and leadership initiatives and reflect on their experiences at Pine Crest.

Throughout the month, participants will participate in leadership placements, where they will shadow in areas around camp, such as in cabins, in the kitchen, on the maintenance team, or in OP. These provide amazing opportunities to learn about working at camp and honing their leadership skills.

Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender.

Skill Level: Beginner. Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended.

What to expect: Taking a leadership role at camp through placements, stewardship and leading activities, taking a leadership role on trip with a variety of long paddling days, portaging, and leadership activities at site.

The Hayes River is located in Northern Manitoba and flows from Molson Lake into the Hudson Bay at York Factory. It is the longest naturally flowing river in Manitoba, stretching 483km, and played a very important role in Canada’s early fur trading routes, earning a designation as a Canadian Heritage River. The river traverses the traditional territory of four First Nations: Norway House Cree Nation, Bunibonibee Cree Nation, Shamattawa First Nation, and York Factory Cree Nation. It continues to be an important source of traditional harvesting for the First Nations. 

The Hayes River is still home to a huge range of wildlife including moose, polar bears, sturgeon, brook trout, wolverines, woodland caribou, bald eagles, and beluga whales!  The river remains untouched to this day, bearing no dams or signs of development, making the Hayes a beautiful, pristine taste of the Canada’s historic wilderness.

From camp, participant will travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they will take a shuttle up to Norway House where their 29 day adventure will begin! In total, participants will paddle 630km up the Hayes River system through a mix of flat and white water before ultimately finishing in York Factory on Hudson Bay. From there, they will travel to Gillam, where they will catch a train back to Winnipeg and head back to Pine Crest.

Skill Level: Advanced. White water paddling experience and strong swimming abilities are required. Participants must understand scouting and how to follow paddling lines, complete eddy turns, and swim confidently in moving water.

What to expect: 7–8 hours of paddling each day, Class I-III white water, lining boats, and some portages on rough terrain. 

The Missinaibi River is a river in northern Ontario, Canada, which flows northeast from Missinaibi Lake, north of Chapleau, and empties into the Moose River, which drains into James Bay. It is 755 kilometers in length and is one of the longest free-flowing and undeveloped rivers in Ontario. The river's name means "pictured waters" in the Cree language and the name is thought to refer to the pictographs found on rock faces along the river.

At Thunderhouse Falls, the river drops 40 metres, part of its descent from the Canadian Shield to the Hudson Bay Lowlands.

In the days of the fur trade, this river provided access to James Bay by way of the Moose River and to Lake Superior by way of the Michipicoten River. There is also evidence that native peoples used the river as a trading route long before that time.

We will be traveling for 17 days from the town of Missinaibi, at the top of the Arctic watershed, down the Missinaibi River paddling and portaging through exciting rapids, scenic waterfalls, and a majestic landscape. We will end in the town of Mattice and sign the canoe log, to become part of the Missinaibi's history.

Skill Level: Intermediate - difficult

What to expect: 7–8 hours of paddling each day, Class I-III white water, lining boats, and some portages on rough terrain. 

The white water skills clinic is a program for anyone who is new to white water paddling or folks looking to brush up on their skills!

For one week on the Madawaska River, participants will learn all about canoeing in rapids. Most of their time will be spent paddling rapids with brief breaks to discuss how to understand the features of a rapid, paddling strokes, white water rescue, and how to swim in white water. The white water clinic is short and sweet — participants are always surprised by how much fun they have and how much they learn.

Participants will set up a home base camp on the first day of the clinic and spend the entirety of the trip on the same camp site. The program will start and finish at Pine Crest.

Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender. 

Skill Level: Beginner. This is an introductory program so no white water paddling experience is required! Participants should however be able to swim 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.

What to expect: This is an introductory program, so white water paddling experience isn’t required. Participants should be able to swim 160m and tread water for two minutes.