Thank you for exploring our Paddle Camp. We have found immense fulfillment in providing this camp since 2020. Regrettably, we are currently facing a pause in future camps, because of a decision by the NWT Worker’s Safety and Compensation Commission. This decision has resulted in the reclassification of our business into a new assessment category, thereby doubling our insurance premiums.
The nature of running safe and successful wilderness youth programming demands high staff-to-participant ratios. Unfortunately, the reassessment by the WSCC has created a financial challenge that makes it unfeasible for us to continue operating our youth camps for the public.
We are offering a selection of family-orientated 3-5 day guided canoe trips.
Campers will learn the fundamental skills of canoeing including carving the canoe on an edge, teamwork, navigation, paddling strokes, and rescues. There will be lots of time for play, and canoes make the best toys! We’ll have games around camp, go exploring and test our luck fishing.
The aim of the camp is to provide campers with the confidence to plan and take part in trips, and to teach them what is required to be safe in the outdoors. Skill development is a big focus, and many of our camp leaders are also seasoned paddling instructors. Our camp leaders are caring adults, and adventure role models.
Schools and organizations are welcome to contact us for a custom camp or individuals with groups of 8 or more campers.
Dates:
Fees:
Location: Tibbett Lake area (to Terry and Upper Terry Lakes). This area has great pike fishing, awesome camping, lots of islands to explore, and warm water for swimming and water games.
Day 1 is a day camp at a local lake make sure everyone is comfortable in the canoes and with our safety procedures (Long Lake).
Days 2-5 is our paddling trip! We are off for 3 nights and 4 days of self-propelled, learning on the land. It’s a great opportunity to be with a peer group in canoes, setting up camp and learning to navigate amongst islands and along lakes. We focus on paddling skills, leadership, and encourage everyone to support each other in this exciting wilderness adventure.
Building off a successful pilot trip last summer, we are excited to offer a 5-day canoe camp for youth to develop a higher level of wilderness canoe tripping and paddling skills.
Compared to our classic paddle camps, this canoe trip is longer, has more portages, and includes whitewater rapids along the Cameron River.
Campers must not be highly proficient in their paddling skills but they should come into the camp with some canoe tripping experience.
Soft skills are developed throughout the camp. Risk management, teamwork and group decision-making will be covered as instructional topics.
The instructor to camper ratio is 4:1, with only 8 spots available in this camp.
This is a rewarding camp for youth who are ready to take their skills to the next level – in a canoe trip they will never forget!
Dates:
Fees:
Location: Cameron River from Tibbett to Powder Point
Day 1 is a day-camp at Long Lake, with a focus on whitewater skills prep & safety.
Days 2-5 are a 4-day wilderness, whitewater canoe trip.
Please contact us directly for registration in this camp.
Call us at 1 (867) 445-4512 for more information about our summer paddle camps!
The leaders have all been fantastic, and do a great job of making the kids feel comfortable and connected. The days are filled with fun activities and chances for the kids to get to know each other and bond, all while learning a lot of important skills. We are so fortunate to have this opportunity and for our kids to see new places and have amazing outdoor experiences with leaders who are passionate about what they do.
They conquered bugs, weather challenges, and kid issues. They fed them well, played super fun games throughout, taught them paddling skills, and inspired them. What senses of humour!!! The instructors were dedicated to making this a memorable trip from the outset. My kids knew right when we picked them up that they wanted to go again. Don’t hesitate—-sign up when you can!!
Looking forward to returning.
My kids (8 and 10 years old) did the Jackpine paddle youth canoe trip and both loved it. The instructors are enthusiastic and engaging and the whole trip is really well organized. They are already talking about going next year. A great life experience.
Canoes, paddles, lifejackets and all safety and rescue equipment related to paddling (campers may bring their own equipment if they wish)
-Snacks and lunch during the day on DAY 1, and all meals during our over-night trip DAYS 2-5.
-Shuttles
-Jackpine Paddle Gear
-Jackpine Paddle Stickers
-5 days and 3 nights of instruction, coaching and supervision
-5:1 camper to camp leader ratio
-Satellite messaging through a Garmin Inreach device
– Breakfast and Dinner on DAY 1 – which is a day-camp day
– Personal clothing, camping gear, or tents
A detailed personal clothing and equipment list will be emailed to parents/guardians following registration.
Really good. We will provide campers with delicious, nutritious and well-balanced backcountry menu of unique and tasty dishes.
For our Youth Paddle Camps (grades 3-8) previous paddling experience is an asset, but not required. We use the DAY 1 at a local lake to work on basic paddling skills and safety that will be developed as the week goes on.
Our camp leaders are very welcoming and accommodating for campers of all sizes and abilities. We do everything as a team.
For our Canoe Expedition Camp (grades 8-12), previous paddling experience is required.
Jackpine Paddle is not responsible for expenses for campers during an evacuation from a remote site for any reason (medical emergency, personal or family issues, dismissal, weather, etc). Some evacuations may be urgent enough to warrant a float plane or helicopter charter at a high expense. We recommend parents/guardians purchase Emergency Medical and/or Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance for a nominal cost from Group Medical Services (www.gms.ca) to protect them from this risk.
We provide a safe and supportive environment at all Jackpine Paddle Camps free from any kind of discrimination and bullying. Camper safety also relies on our ability to enforce key camp rules, for example wearing lifejackets at all times when in or on the water, wearing proper footwear at all times, and staying within eyesight of camp leaders unless permission is granted.
If we notice inappropriate behaviour that jeopardizes group or individual safety or well-being, camp leaders will work one-on-one to address the issue and if needed, give a camper three warnings before dismissing them from camp. Obviously this isn’t something we like to do and unfortunately no refunds will be made for dismissed campers.
No illicit drugs or alcohol are permitted at Jackpine Paddle Camps – the same rules apply for both campers and camp leaders.
Please complete booking online and submit payment in order to secure a spot in a camp. We understand that life happens and plans to attend camp sometimes have to change. On our end, camps do fill up and sometimes we have to turn campers away based on our instructor availability and shuttle capacity. We also may purchase equipment/food/supplies for your camper in advance. If you need to cancel your registration up to 30 days prior to the start of the camp, we’ll send a full refund less a 20% cancellation fee. Refunds within 30 days of the start of a camp will be at the discretion of Jackpine Paddle and mostly dependent on wait lists and our ability to find another camper to replace yours.
We will do our best to ensure that all kids get to experience our camps, regardless of much income their parents/guardians earn. If you have an interested camper but are unable to afford our camps, drop us a line at info@jackpinepaddle.com. We’ll consider financial assistance on a case-by-case basis and can offer a flexible payment plan.
We also ask eligible families to apply to the following programs available to help those in need send kids to camp:
1. JUMPSTART.
Jumpstart is run from the Canadian Tire family of Companies and offers parents/guardians up to $300 of assistance per child for registration fees and equipment. Some tips for applying for Jumpstart:
Under “activity” you can select “Sailing/kayaking/canoeing”.
Don’t worry when it asks for the “Program Registration Number” you can leave that field blank.
Please keep your submission number provided at the end of the application, as it will not be emailed to you.
You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as application review can take up to 6-8 weeks.
2. KIDSPORT.
Kidsport offers up to $300 per child, per year in support for registration fee and equipment funding on a first come – first served basis. In 2015, KidSport NWT provided over $43,000 to 1,300 kids from 12 communities in 13 sports.
Jackpine Paddle is affiliated with the NWT Kayaking Association and eligible for Kidsport funding.
Do you have questions about our youth camps? Wondering if they are a good fit for your child? Don't hesitate to contact us at info@jackpinepaddle.com or call 867.445.4512. We love to talk about camp and would be happy to chat with you!