Canoeing
Where the Beaver River becomes your classroom for confidence, teamwork, and wild outdoor joy.
Push off from Access Point 2 and paddle the Beaver River with your crew and your instructors all the way to Heathcote Park. You'll learn to steer like a real explorer, splash through small rapids, and stop for a riverside lunch and a supervised swim. By the end of the day, you'll help carry the canoes ashore, strong and proud of every mile you earned.
A day on it
It starts at Access Point 2. You climb into a canoe with a friend, an instructor reads the route and the river, and then you push off into the current of the Beaver River. The first strokes feel wobbly. Then they click. You're steering, the boat answers, and your whole crew of canoes moves downstream together past the trees and the water.
Partway down, the river picks up. You splash through small rapids, then pull over for a riverside lunch and a supervised swim in a calm, controlled spot. After that it's back on the water toward Heathcote Park. At the take-out, everyone helps haul and carry the canoes — real paddlers do the heavy part too. You finish the day a little tired, a lot stronger, and full of stories to bring home.
- 1Push off from Access Point 2
- 2Learn to steer the canoe
- 3Paddle downriver with your crew
- 4Splash through the small rapids
- 5Riverside lunch and a supervised swim
- 6Carry the canoes ashore at Heathcote
Imagine dipping your paddle into the sparkling Beaver River and feeling the canoe glide forward as you steer like a real explorer. You'll move as a team, splash through the gentle rapids, and carry the canoes ashore at the end feeling strong, confident, and proud.
See you on the trail,
The WILDE crew
Real days, real grins
Safety, handled
- All campers wear properly fitted PFDs at all times on or near the water.
- Trained instructors give thorough safety briefings before every launch.
- The Access Point 2 to 3 route is chosen for youth paddlers; staff continually assess weather, water levels, and river conditions.
- Campers paddle in supervised groups, with instructors positioned throughout the flotilla.
- Swimming in the rapids happens only in pre-assessed, controlled sections under direct supervision with clear boundaries.
- Staff carry throw bags and first aid kits, and every instructor is trained in first aid and water safety.
What to bring
Campers bring their own properly fitting, Transport Canada–approved PFD, worn at all times on or near the water. WILDE Camp provides all canoes and paddles. On canoeing days, also pack water shoes (no flip-flops or Crocs), a bathing suit or change of clothes, and a hat.
Earn the Canoeing Merit Badge while you’re at it
Love this? Turn the skills into a merit badge you can show off — earn each level by doing, not just showing up.
