YOUR INNER JOURNEY
Outward Bound Canada’s Journey courses are designed to help you take charge of your life and realize what you are capable of. Each experience begins with a physical journey – stepping out of the comforts of day-to-day routines and into an environment that may be very new, adventurous and exciting, but also foreign and uncertain. Facing these changes helps to bring out new perspectives. Using the challenges of the course as a starting-point, our skilled instructors will teach you how to transfer the skills learned on course to your life at home. These important life skills include caring for yourself, taking responsibility for your choices, expressing your needs and opinions with confidence, and working with others in your life at home.
AREA & ACTIVITIES
The Missinabi River is a 755 km river that has been home to Cree and Moose Cree as a traditional trapping and fishing grounds. The name itself means Pictured Waters in Cree and some pictographs can be found along the river. During colonialization the area was essential to the development of trade from Lake Superior and many trade outposts were developed along the route. The James Bay Treaty (No. 9) was signed in 1905 and addressed hunting and trapping rights as well as resource development. Like many Treaties it has been challenged, updated, and challenged some more. Today this route is visited by recreationists who are seeking out the quiet boreal forests that descend the Canadian Shield to the Hudson Bay lowlands. After reaching the Northern terminus of the river, students navigate south by the Polar Bear Express Train.
Students will progress from navigating calm flat water in a canoe to more lively white water. They will carry everything they need for the expedition with them packed using waterproofing methods. The skills students will learn will range from paddling strokes, map reading and navigation, camp skills, Leave No Trace, as well as teamwork and leadership. This route includes a number of portages where students will need to work together to carry their equipment around unnavigable rapids.
learning outcomes
Our expert instructors will lead participants through novel, real-life experiences that require groups to collaboratively problem-solve through challenges, failure, and success. This course is designed to have a lasting and measurable impact in three key areas:
- Improved sense of resiliency
- OBC is building a generation of physically and mentally healthy citizens
- Participants choose to improve their physical and mental health
- Greater leadership skills and social connectedness
- OBC is teaching the skills needed to succeed at school, work and in life
- Participants become more confident, collaborative and respectful team members
- Stronger connection with nature
- OBC is promoting greater levels of environmentalism
- Participants develop stronger life-long connections to the natural world
There will also be a solo experience during the course that provides participants with the opportunity to reflect on their Outward Bound experience and make decisions about their future. Students are given a secluded spot to reflect alone and are monitored by staff to maintain safety.
FUNDING & SUPPORT
Outward Bound Canada is a charitable, educational organization. Our goal is to increase the ability of Canadian residents experiencing socio-economic barriers to access Outward Bound Canada’s impactful programs. In order to support this goal, Outward Bound Canada offers funding designed to assist eligible participants and their families with financial assistance. If you would like to learn more, please visit our Fund Your Adventure page.
