This is 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. During the week, the group will participate on a one-night hiking trip to one of our back-lakes site. 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: Beginner. Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended.  

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

Our Coulonge adventure program offers an introduction to extended tripping while also giving participants time at Pine Crest to enjoy traditional camp programing. 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 250 km 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 the sandy cliffs. Finally, they return to Pine Crest for a final week at camp filed with debriefs, stewardship projects and a skills program placement. 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 with canoe tripping is recommended. Experience white water paddling is not required. Must be a confident swimmer. 

What to expect: 6–8 hour paddling days, fun and simple whitewater, 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 9 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 4 nights: 3 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 with canoe tripping is recommended, experience with white water paddling is not required. Must be a confident swimmer. 

What to expect: 5–7 hour paddling days, fun whitewater, 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 a skills 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 10 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 2 nights: 1 before the trip and 1 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 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 before trip preparing, and then will have a few days at camp after 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 

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 two-week 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 

A new program for Summer 2026! A 3 week LIT trip that also gives you time at camp to enjoy all the fun on site programing. You’ll begin by preparing at camp and going over flatwater canoeing skills. Upon arriving in Killarney you’ll paddle 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 10 days both paddling and hiking, and will gain a great connection with one of Ontario’s crown jewel provincial parks. Be prepared for full days of paddling. 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 teammates! Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender.  

Note: This trip is subject to change depending on the availability of permits. 

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

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

Quetico is an iconic wilderness park renowned for its rugged beauty, towering rock cliffs, majestic waterfalls, pine and spruce forests, and picturesque rivers and lakes. The remote area has over 2,000 lakes which are home to many different animals such as moose, porcupines, and bald eagles! The trip will explore this beautiful park for 19 days, and participants will get a chance to truly experience this world-famous paddling destination to its fullest. 

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. Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended.  

What to expect: 5–7-hour paddling days, big lake paddling, some challenging and unmaintained portages. 

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 one week paddling and portaging through the epicenter of Canadian canoe culture, exploring beautiful lakes. They will then spend one week 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 

Wabakimi Provincial Park is located approximately 200km north of Thunder Bay and is Ontario's second largest provincial park. It straddles a height of land whose waters empty into the Hudson or James Bay, and Lake Superior. 

The area is one of the largest expanses of boreal forest in North America and a premier destination for deep lake fishing. The Canadian National Railway runs through the south edge of the park, making access by train the most convenient way to get to Wabakimi. 

Participants will spend roughly 21 days on river with the first two weeks being a whirlwind of white water, with minimal portaging and rapids ranging from Class I to Class III, as you travel north through the Allanwater waterway. From there participants will reach Whitewater Lake, named for its wavy conditions, but truly characterized by its vastness and exquisite skies. Just before leaving Whitewater Lake, you will visit the historically preserved, handcrafted Beckwith cabins on Best Island. By this time, you will personally understand why Wendell Beckwith chose here to live out the remaining two decades of his life as a humble hermit. His structures not only serve as a glimpse into another way of life but are also detailed with creative feats of engineering and artistic design.  

You may be feeling nostalgic already when you exit the park through the southern border, thinking the experience is coming to an end, but make no mistake: the final section along the Kopka River provides some of the most awe-striking views and worthwhile challenges of the whole adventure. There is a descent of 200m in elevation over the course of one day. And the result: mesmerizing waterfalls and jagged cliff faces that tower and envelop you. 

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, 

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 their first few days at Pine Crest before having 10 participants from another YMCA Camp join them at Pine Crest. All the participants will go on a 3–4-day trip on the French River along with some fun team building activities at Pine Crest before heading out to another YMCA Camp in Canada. They 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, likely to be a hiking trip. To finish they will return home to Pine Crest for some valuable time at camp to reflect on their experiences at both sites. In years past we have visited Camp Chief Hector, Camp Kanawana, Camp Elphinstone, and others! 

The location for Summer 2026 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: Beginner. 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, a challenging hike with some elevation gain. 

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, day camp, in the kitchen, on the maintenance team, or in our tripping department. 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. 

Another new addition to the Summer 2026 trip list, a 4 week Missinaibi for our SL participants! 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 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 history. 

This program will spend roughly 15 days on the Missinaini River with about a week before and after trip at camp to work on leadership skill development and leadership placements, where they will shadow in areas around camp, such as in cabins, Day Camp, in the kitchen, on the maintenance team, or in our tripping department. 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: 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: Seven or eight hours of paddling each day, Class I-III white water, lining boats, and some portages on rough terrain. 

The Moisie River is considered by many to be one of the most rugged wilderness canoe routes in Eastern Canada. The Moisie offers spectacular scenery, challenging white water and a true wilderness experience. The challenge level of the Moisie is a perfect climax to the Pine Crest Leadership skill progression. Participants are required to take a high level of responsibility for themselves and for the safety of the group, dealing with decision making and risk management on a daily basis. They have an opportunity to visit a spectacular part of Canada on a river that they wouldn’t be able to run without prior skill investment 

With its headwaters in the remote Labrador Plateau, the Moisie slices through a series of canyons and gorges and finishes in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is the longest, largest and most powerful of all the rivers of Quebec’s North Shore region. This trip is sure to meet or exceed your expectations. The Moisie is also considered one of the best salmon fishing rivers in Canada.  

Participants will spend roughly 27 days on river and will use time on site before and after trip to continue to work on their leadership skills through multiday placements in different areas of camp as well as through stewardship projects. Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender. 

Skill Level: Advanced. Experience with extended canoe tripping and white water paddling is required. Participants must understand scouting and how to follow paddling lines, complete eddy turns, and swim confidently in moving water. Confidence sterning in white water is ideal. Participants are required to be able to swim 160m and tread water for 2 minutes. 

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

With each paddle stroke taking you further and further into the untouched wilds of northern Ontario, paddling the Winisk River in your Senior Leadership year will be the journey of a lifetime. As an area that is far beyond the reach of the average explorer, you will encounter only a handful of other paddlers as you make your way along the river. There is no better way to learn what you are truly capable of than by embarking on this remote expedition.  

As you journey through vast lakes and rushing whitewater flowing off the Canadian Shield towards Hudson Bay, you will feel the immense power of the river beneath your paddle, and build a deeper connection with your environment and those around you. You’ll paddle through windy or rainy weather, take on technical whitewater sections, and learn how to live as part of a small community. By overcoming these challenges, you’ll be rewarded with the many gems that the Winisk has to offer. 

After paddling through Polar Bear Provincial Park, you will dip your toes into the cool Arctic Ocean, as feelings of pride and accomplishment wash over you, along with the waves. There is no better way to conclude your time in the leadership programs at Camp Pine Crest, than gazing out into the vast waters with lifelong friends by your side.  

Participants will spend roughly 35 days on river returning to camp to take part in some group debriefs, stewardship projects and leadership placements, where they will shadow in areas around camp, such as in cabins, Day Camp, in the kitchen, on the maintenance team, or in our tripping department. 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: Advanced. Experience with extended canoe tripping and white water paddling is required. Participants must understand scouting and how to follow paddling lines, complete eddy turns, and swim confidently in moving water. Confidence sterning in white water is ideal. Participants are required to be able to swim 160m and tread water for 2 minutes. 

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 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 are required to be able to swim 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.