Leadership Trip Descriptions

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. 

Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended. Should be able to swim 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.

Participants will explore the incredible beauty of Georgian Bay which is home to one of the world’s largest freshwater archipelagos, offers spectacular views, and clear crisp waters to play in. The Georgian Bay Sea Kayak will spend a total of 9 days on trip and will paddle approximately 115km. Please note this trip is an all-gendered program. Participants will only be at camp for a total of 4 days: 2 days before the trip and 2 days after the trip.

Some experience with overnight camping is recommended, experience with kayaking is not required. Should be able to swim 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.

The Spanish River is located in Northern Ontario and runs west of Sudbury. The Spanish River was formally 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 Biscotasing, ending at Agnew Lake. Participants will paddle 165km in 9 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. Participants will be at camp for a total of 4 days: 2 days before the trip and 2 days after the trip.

Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended, experience with white water paddling is not required. Should be able to swim 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.

Named for its many rapids, the Petawawa River flows through the northern end of Algonquin Provincial Park. This route has been travelled for generations, where evidence of early travelers can still be found through stunning petroglyphs on breathtaking cliff faces. Participants will learn why this river is popular for its scenic and challenging travel while practicing their whitewater paddling skills. The Petawawa program spends approximately 14 days the river paddling a total of 180km and will spend a combination of 14 days at camp (time before and after trip).

Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended, white water paddling experience is ideal, but not required. Should be able to swim for 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.

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 14 days paddling 250km on the Coulonge River, where they are introduced to whitewater paddling skills. Finally, they return to Pine Crest for a final week of leadership placements and development. 

Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended. Experience white water paddling is not required. Should be able to swim for 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.

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 spend another week and a half collaborating on programming and leadership initiatives, and will have time to reflect on their experiences at Pine Crest. This program is an all-gendered program.

Some experience with canoe tripping is recommended. Should be able to swim for 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.

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 far beyond the reach of the average explorer, you will encounter only a handful of other paddlers as you make your way 750km along the river. There is no better way to learn what you are truly capable of than by embarking on this 30+ day remote expedition. This is an all-gendered program.

Experience with extended canoe tripping and white water paddling is required. Must be able to swim for 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.

Paddling the Harricana in your senior leadership year is the perfect way to put your tripping skills to the ultimate test. You will master flat-water, white-water and portaging skills along this classic Canadian route. Through lush boreal forests and wetlands, over riverbeds of ‘fairy stones’ and under starry night skies, you’ll experience a magical adventure on the Harricana. In total you will spend 25 days on river paddling approximately 380km. This is an all-gendered program.

Experience with extended canoe tripping is suggested. Experience white water paddling is required, white water clinic will be available before the start of the program. Should be able to swim for 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.

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 departing for another YMCA Camp in Canada. In years past we have visited John Island, Camp Kanawana, Camp Elphinstone, and others! The location for Summer 2024 has not been set yet. 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. To finish they will return home to Pine Crest for some valuable time at camp to reflect on their experiences at both sites.

Experience overnight camping is recommended. The type of tripping is dependent on the location of the exchange (ie. Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, etc.) Should be able to swim for 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.