7 ingredients of a successful canoe trip

Trip planning is a big part of our program. It might seem strange to plan a canoe trip when the boys already live in the wilderness and have access to lakes and canoes every day. Why bother?

The purpose of camp is to help boys learn new skills that will last a lifetime. But if the boys only ever use skills like overcoming frustration while at camp, it’s not going to help them very much when they go home. Canoe trips give campers a chance to practice their skills in an unfamiliar environment with new challenges.

When you see Facebook posts about trips, you usually see a photo like this:

Here, the boys are smiling and completely organized.

What you don’t see is the hours of preparation the group has done in the days, weeks, and months before. And that preparation can make the difference between a great trip and a less-than-great trip. Not planning is a recipe for disaster.

Here are 7 ingredients of a great canoe trip:

A goal

The boys decide they would like to do a trip. They discuss where they want to go and for how long. They write down their ideas and sketch out some preliminary plans.

Advice

Learning to ask others for advice is a skill that all of us need; when we rely only on our own wisdom, we can miss key facts that can save us from disaster. The boys bring their ideas to their supervisors and other people who are knowledgeable about the area. Who are the experts? Who should they ask?

Right-sizing

The supervisors help the group calibrate their goal to their abilities. They ask questions like, “How long do you think you can canoe in one day?” or “How many portages are on this route?” They may suggest smaller trips to test the group’s ability, like canoeing for an afternoon with a short portage. Or if the group has never been away from camp, they will suggest starting with two nights away instead of a week.

Staff make sure the boys have learned all the skills they need to be successful. If they don’t, staff plan sessions to learn those skills. Can the boys steer a canoe? Do they know what to do if their canoe tips? Can they set up their tents? Do they know how to light a fire? Can they cook over a campfire?

Below, the boys did their first camping trip in April, long before canoe season. In fact, no canoes were involved. This gave the group a chance to learn how to set up their tents and operate well as a group away from camp. Even in the snow! (They were toasty warm, by the way, and even went swimming).

Anticipation

Now that they have finalized their goal, the group has something to look forward to. This excitement is a necessary part of propelling them through the research and planning phase. Most of the boys detest school work, and they are about to embark on lots of planning, research, and logic. Below, the boys are planning a trip to the French River. The maps are up in the Chuckwagon (dining hall) and the boys talk about it often.

Research & Planning

Once the goal is set, research begins in earnest. Which maps will they need? What kinds of wildlife are they likely to encounter? Are there rapids? Do they need permits for overnight camping? As a group, the boys talk about questions they need answered. Then they search out the information they need from books, maps, and experts. These types of planning and research skills will be useful for their entire adult life, whether they are at work, school, or at home.

The boys finalize their plan through several planning meetings. They plan their daily schedule, including camping spots; they plan their menus; they set up their budget; they write out packing lists.

Packing

They pack their supplies, food, and clothes in waterproof barrels for the canoe trip. These barrels also strap on their backs like backpacks. It takes lots of organizing and checklists to get this done.

A good attitude

Now they are ready to enjoy their trip. It might not go as smoothly as they had planned but that’s ok. They have done all they could to prepare, and will learn to handle obstacles as they come. As they face the unexpected with good attitudes and group spirit, they will experience a great adventure.