Educational Workshops

This workshop will introduce novice and intermediate canoiests to meal preparation and backcountry cooking for extended canoe trips.
It will cover topics like:

• How to build a meal plan that matches your route.
• How to ensure each meal is getting you enough macronutrients and micronutrients.
• An introduction to dehydrating food.
• Prepping and packaging ingredients.
• How to find recipes.
• Kitchen Equipment.
• Leave No Trace Principles, dishes and bear safety.

The workshop will be interactive, with opportunities to ask questions throughout.

Have you ever thought about winter camping? Not sure where to start? Do you have questions about gear and logistics? Then this is the course for you! We will discuss the basics of winter camping (hot tenting with a portable wood burning stove), gear requirements, tent set-up and such. This one-hour educational webinar will answer all the questions you may have about getting started at winter camping.

This is a Paddle Canada introduction to solo canoe poling certification course only for members of the Wilderness Canoe Association ( https://www.paddlecanada.com/canoe-poling/ ). The cost to you will be only $5 (Yes, "five dollars), which is the administration fee to Paddle Canada. (If could be as much as $8 if there is low registration.)
... So, finally the opportunity to stand up in a canoe and learn to navigate shallows, still waters and currents... in both directions! In spite of the slightly "scary" idea of negotiating a watercourse with a twelve foot pole, this was a standard skill for canoeists until the last fifty years or so. It just got lost, but the value remains. It can be taught to novices and is actually easier and more intuitive than paddling. It will open up local opportunities when water levels drop in the summer or allow you to travel creeks or upstream with relative ease. For a look see, here is my YouTube Channel: "Canoepoler". https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHq9zG2HFxeA6EAD6e1jz3Q
Please note: We won't be doing "most" of what you may see on these demo videos. :)

We going to present a Workshop about Bonaventure River and his challenge,
rapids, outfitters, maps, location, critical points and campsites.

Reserve your Seat for June 23, 7PM

we are sending a link at 6:45pm for a Zoom Call.

WCA Members

We are preparing a Workshop about Navigation and Trip Planning:

- Explore Maps and suppliers
- Satellite Image
- Google Earth Pro
- Prepare Tracks, Distances, Waypoints
- Sources of Information
- GPS units

This workshop is a good source for you if you want be a Trip Leader.

I am sending a link 1 hour before where you can see online on your computer.

Are you heading out for your first hiking or camping trip and confused about what you really need to bring? Are you worried about how you are going to carry all that gear? Or, are you a seasoned veteran who is serious about lightening the load? Then this course is for you! We will be exploring the basics of ultra-lightweight hiking/canoeing/camping techniques, where to start, how to be mindful with gear selection/purchasing and introduction to food dehydrating. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or just beginning your camping journeys, this course has something for everyone.

I will refund all down payments in early April. Sorry but due to a need for social distancing will need to try to run this at another time.

Rationale

There are many areas in Canada where 911 is not an avail­able option in response to a med­ical or trau­matic emer­gency. Weather, remote­ness and lim­ited equip­ment can poten­tially delay access to EMS. This places con­sid­er­able respon­si­bil­ity on the actions and deci­sion mak­ing of res­cuers/first respon­ders. The need for knowl­edge and skills beyond the scope of ‘stan­dard’ first aid is distinct.

This is a 2 day course that is designed specifically for answering the needs of people who like to partake in Wilderness adventures, whether it be canoeing, hiking, etc.

The program is divided between classroom and practical skills, utilizing scenarios and simulations to enhance learning and develop effective interventions and competent patient care.

See the 'Notes' section below for details about signing up for this course.

For all you new as well as experienced whitewater paddlers, we have rented Albert Campbell CI swimming pool in Scarborough again for winter pool training sessions. This is a great opportunity to practice your paddling technique and your roll, or just plain work-out so you're in shape when you hit the spring rivers. OC-1, C-1, or kayaks welcome. If you are having problems with your roll, we can help you. We have 10 rentals of 1.5 hours each from Sunday January 5 to Sunday March 8.Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m. For just $140 for your share of the rental cost, you can have a whole winter of learning and paddling fun. Please contact me to register as soon as possible as space is very limited.

Cheques should be payable to me as I'm paying the rental fee; not the club.

Sorry, but you can't register on-line. You have to contact me personally if you want to join in so I can manage the organization effectively. Thanks.

Have you ever thought about winter camping? Not sure where to start? Do you have questions about gear and logistics? Then this is the course for you! We will discuss the basics of winter camping (hot tenting with a portable wood burning stove), gear requirements, tent set-up and such. This one-hour educational workshop hosted at MEC's North York location will answer all the questions you may have about beginning to winter camp.

 My paddling friend Yiu-Yin called me to say she has just taken a paddling course that included work on recovering broached canoes on the river. She suggested we get together to do some dry-land practice. We thought there might be other paddlers who would like to come along to see how various rope recovery systems are set up or get some hands-on practice.

For those of you who are new to the problems you could be facing if you broach a canoe in a rapid on a trip, we can have a discussion of the problems you will face, and the logistics, equipment and risks associated with recovering it and its cargo. It would be great if some experienced trippers who have been faced with such challenges came along to talk of their experiences, both good and bad so we can learn from them. We'll set up some progressively complicated mechanical advantage rope systems on my front lawn so participants can get hands-on practice. If someone has a vehicle with a towing eye or accessible frame structure, we can set up a Z-Drag and tow it up the street from a tree near the curb to demonstrate the leverage such systems can produce. If anyone wants to heat things ups, we can get into the classic debate on whether on river trips it is better to tie packs in, tether them, or leave them to float free if the canoe comes to grief.

This is an informal, interactive, hands-on skills-building experience that any canoe tripper will find useful. If you have nothing else planned for this Sunday morning, come join us for some rope-slinging fun that will bewilder my neighbours.

We will meet at my house in Scarborough at 9:30 am. And should wrap things up (pun intended) before noon.
Registered participants will be provided with my address.