Overnight Adventures
Duke of Edinburgh
Adventurous Journey Camps and Expeditions
Our Adventurous Journey Camps are multi-day experiences, carefully designed to challenge and inspire the next generation of young people. Each of our Adventurous Journeys deliver powerful learning experiences, allowing your child to explore their full potential and create the foundation for shaping citizens who care for the natural world and their communities.
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It is our shared values in youth development that have allowed us to develop a partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Canada to deliver these local world class experiences to the larger community, whether you are from Ottawa, or wish to join from anywhere else in the world.
Though camp participants do not have to pursue the Duke of Edinburgh Award to get full value from our camps, all our overnight camp participants complete all the required expectations of the Duke of Edinburgh Award levels specified in the trip description. So regardless of whether you have started the Duke of Ed Award before signing up, we view this as an amazing opportunity for those new to the award, to start their Duke of Edinburgh Award with a significant achievement.
Here at Kanata Camps at Kanata Montessori we truly recognize and value that the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is one of the most significant global non-formal education and learning programs for recognizing and celebrating young people's achievements outside of the classroom. In fact we believe the Adventurous Journey model is truly exceptional and that is why we are proud to deliver the following programs.
Our Adventurous Journey Expeditions and Explorations
For each level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the Adventurous Journey has both a practice journey and a qualifying journey of different lengths that can be combined into any of our Expeditions or Explorations The Bronze Adventurous Journey, encompassing both the practice and qualifying journey, is 3 days and 2 nights. The Silver Adventurous Journey, encompassing both the practice and qualifying journey, is 5 days and 4 nights. Each of the camps and expeditions we offer will specify which level of the Award can be achieved during our Adventurous Journey Camps. Of course, completing the Duke of Ed Award levels is a benefit of our program but it is not the only reason to participate.
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Adventurous Journeys can be either EXPEDITIONS or EXPLORATIONS
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The Expedition: is a multi-day adventure where there is a start and finish and participants plan a route and move from a starting point to a finish point camping in a different location every night. Each day is filled with purposeful physical activity that can vary in length from 5-7 hours per day.
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The Exploration: is a basecamp adventure where participants camp at a single destination and explore a destination over a number of days, often participating in a variety of different types of recreational activities. However common to the Expedition is the fact that each day will be filled with purposeful physical activity that can vary in length from 5-7 hours per day.
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Registration is online ONLY
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The Register button links directly to our online payment and registration system. We encourage you to add your child to the waitlist if camps are full so that you are the first to hear about increased spaces or additional camps. If you need assistance, please email programs@kmscrhs.ca.
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These camps have very limited enrolment and sell out fast, so book early.
Below are the detailed camp descriptions for our Adventurous Journey Camps and the dates offered.
Click the Register button to enrol your child now!
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Overnight Adventure Camps
Adventurous Journey Exploration: Cycle Touring the National Capital
Qualifies for the Duke of Ed Bronze Adventurous Journey
Price
$395.00
Age
Ages 14-18, Grades 8 - 12
The National Capital Region is a cycling paradise with over 350 kilometers of bike paths and cyclable gravel pathways that wind their way through urban and green spaces on both sides of the majestic Ottawa River, or as the Indigenous Algonquins called it the KichiSibi (Kichi-Great, Sibi - River) We will use Kanata Camps at Kanata Montessori to meet and plan our journey and as the starting point for our trips. Our overnights will be in the spectacular Wesley Clover City Campground, located in a 400 acre nature oasis in the Green Belt between West Nepean and Kanata. Both locations are adjacent to the dedicated multi-use pathway system where our adventurous journey will take place. This active trip will combine appropriate award level physical activity in our day long cycling, which will be interspersed with regular breaks. As well, there will be both cultural and environmental connections made as we visit and stop at significant historical and ecological sites. We also can plan for fun breaks at swim spots, beach cafes, and ice cream spots conveniently located on the bike path system. The Cycle Tour will be supported by an experienced Duke of Ed Award leader and cycling guides at industry standard participant-to-leader ratios. Our leaders will be there to provide appropriate planning advice, guidance and support to all participants. Food will be provided as part of the fee and participants will participate in cooking and daily clean up. This trip qualifies for the Duke of Ed Bronze Adventurous Journey.
Group camping gear and food will be provided: Tents, food, cooking equipment, tarps and other basecamp necessities.
Individual gear needed by participants: A suitable bike in well maintained condition, individual clothing, sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Detailed equipment list will be provided at registration.
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Weeks Available
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June 9 to June 11, Fri, Sat, Sun
More Dates: coming soon.
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Adventurous Journey Exploration: Following the Path of the Paddle Qualifies for both the Duke of Ed Bronze and Silver Adventurous Journey
Price
$795.00
Age
Ages 14-18, Grades 8-12
The Path of the Paddle Adventurous Journey Exploration is a Base Camp Experience, featuring an intense week of learning on the world class whitewater of Rocher Fendu section of the Ottawa River. The Camp will be based at the National Whitewater Park and we will be camping at the Wilderness Tours Adventure Resort. The base camp experience will investigate the reasons why the Ottawa River has received the Canadian Heritage River designation along with efforts to preserve this section as a National and Provincial park. The week will include five to six hours of daily physical activity that includes four days of river-based learning on rafts, canoes, and other water-based crafts. The experience will include lessons on Ottawa River; History, Geography, Ecology, and Civics. In addition, campers will learn a variety of skills that are the foundation for river safety and recreation. Our Lead Outdoor Educator, Dave Stibbe, is a raft guide instructor, trip leader, whitewater canoe and kayak instructor and will deliver this immersive experience. River skills and knowledge that will be gained during this week include reading whitewater, understanding currents and hydro dynamics, paddle skills, self rescue skills, steering whitewater rafts, and safety briefings and risk management. This Trip qualifies for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Adventurous Journey or the Duke of Ed Silver Adventurous Journey. The program is a five day program regardless of the Duke of Ed Adventurous Journey qualification level a participant is seeking.
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Group camping gear and food will be provided: Food, tents, cooking equipment, tarps and other basecamp necessities.
Individual gear needed by participants: Individual clothing, sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Detailed equipment list will be provided at registration.
Weeks Available
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July 17–21 Mon-Fri
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Adventurous Journey Expedition: 1000 Islands Sea Kayaking Tour
Qualifies for both the Duke of Ed Bronze and Silver Adventurous Journey
Price
$795.00
Age
Ages 14-18, Grades 8-12
Thousand Islands National Park, is located on the mighty St. Lawrence River, accessible from the 1000 Islands Parkway, between Brockville and Kingston. Ten thousand years ago, retreating glaciers scraped sediment from the landscape near what is now Kingston, Ontario, leaving behind a granite chain of more than a thousand mountains. Today, these hills are the Thousand Islands—a winding necklace of glittering river jewels. Whispering marshlands, rugged rock outcroppings, and a rich diversity of plant and animal life characterize the 24 islands, 129 islets, and 8 mainland tracts that compose the St. Lawrence Islands National Park.
During our five day Adventurous Journey Expedition, we will paddle the St. Lawrence River’s blue-green waters, past remote granite shoreline and historic estates. We will tour by sea kayak and camp in serenity at National Park Island campgrounds. As well, campers will learn basic paddling skills, basic sea kayak safety and rescue systems, marine navigation, and expedition camping skills. We also learn about the history of the region and discover the unique wildlife and ecosystems of this National Park destination. This Trip qualifies for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Adventurous Journey or the Duke of Ed Silver Adventurous Journey. The program is a five day program regardless of the Duke of Ed Adventurous Journey qualification level a participant is seeking.
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Group camping gear and food will be provided: Food, Sea Kayaking equipment, tents, cooking equipment, tarps and other basecamp necessities along with sea kayaks, sprayskirts, PFD's, paddles and self rescue equipment.
Individual gear needed by participants: Individual clothing, sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Detailed equipment list will be provided after registration.
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Weeks Available
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August 14 to 18
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Adventurous Journey Expedition: Georgian Bay Sea Kayak Expedition
Qualifies for Duke of Edinburgh Silver and Gold Adventurous Journey
Price
$795.00
Age
Ages 14-18, Grades 8-12
Georgian Bay is a 100 mile long bay of Lake Huron and the eastern shore of the Bay is dotted with over 30, 000 islands which are recognized by the UN as a unique ecosystem of international importance that are designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
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The 5 day Adventurous Journey Expedition kayak trip is intended for those youth interested in experiencing the awesome wilderness beauty of the 30,000 Islands of Ontario’s Georgian Bay, “the best wilderness fresh water kayaking area in the world” while learning more basic and more advanced kayak paddling skills and wilderness camping techniques.
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This trip will be lead by our Professional Paddle Canada certified instructors / guides. They will teach you the appropriate kayak handling and paddling skills necessary for safe and confident flat water kayak travel. You will learn wet exits, assisted and self rescue techniques, Strong powerful strokes that you can keep up all day with out fatigue. What makes the best kayak design and materials for different types of trips. What gear is appropriate for kayak tripping and how to pack it. How to select and set up a good campsite for the time of the year, weather conditions and group size.
We will be paddling single and double person sea kayaks through the Franklin Island Wilderness Reserve and the inner and outer island chains of the 30,000 island group of Georgian Bay on 5 day trips while camping on various islands along the way.
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This Trip qualifies for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Adventurous Journey or the Duke of Ed Silver Adventurous Journey. The program is a five day program regardless of the Duke of Ed Adventurous Journey qualification level a participant is seeking.
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Group camping gear and food will be provided: Food, Sea Kayaking equipment, tents, cooking equipment, tarps and other basecamp necessities along with sea kayaks, sprayskirts, PFD's, paddles and self rescue equipment.
Individual gear needed by participants: Individual clothing, sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Detailed equipment list will be provided after registration.
Weeks Available
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August 14 to 18
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