Keewaydin Club – Adult Trips
Camping, canoeing, and fishing in the Canadian Woods.
Open to Keewaydin alumni, parents, Ojibway guests, and anyone who is ready to experience a Keewaydin canoe trip.
2025 offerings listed below. Please be sure to read our participation expectations before registering.
For Temagami area trips, most trippers begin their adventure by arriving in the early evening, with 2 nights at Devil’s Island, providing time to acclimate, and jump into learning or remembering tripping skills, paddling, and portaging gear. On the second morning, trip
staff will ready the crew for their canoe trip, paddling away from the main dock after a belly-filling Keewaydin breakfast. Following your trip, upon your return, and a hearty Keewaydin cheer, trippers can take a hot shower, and enjoy cocktails and dinner.
As the sun dips on the western horizon, Keewaydin’s tradition of trippers sharing stories around a fire is an essential and wonderful finale for a life-changing event. We are confident you will have some wonderful and likely comical stories to share! The next morning, after one last perfect sleep under the Canadian sky, trippers will head home after breakfast.
Why join us? Because…
Keewaydin Club adult trips provide the opportunity to hit the reset button by immersing oneself in the beautiful paddling of the Temagami region, cooking over an open fire, taking in the beauty of the tall pines and clean water, and SLOWING down. Trippers embrace the Keewaydin Way and feel the support and guidance of our veteran Keewaydin staff as you learn new or regain old skills, form connections, unplug, grow stronger, face challenges, build resilience and adapt and learn. Most trips are open to all abilities and will be strenuous at times. Note: This program is different from our “Ojibway Club Trip” program which is more self-designed and independent in nature.
Expectations for trippers include:
Being in good health, being physically able to be a contributing member of the section, and providing us with your up-to-date medical history. The Director of Keewaydin may, if necessary, decline a tripper’s participation if there is a concern for their health and physical ability to participate fully. Once registered for a trip, you will be sent a tripping and health questionnaire.
These trips are open to all abilities but will be strenuous at times. Participants should be able to lift 30-50 pounds, be prepared for physical work, carry things over uneven ground and challenging terrain and be comfortable spending long periods of time on the water. The group will paddle and portage according to the section’s abilities.
2025 Adult Trip Offerings Register Here
5-Night Women’s Temagami Region Canoe Trip: July 31 – August 8, 2025
8-Night Men’s Temagami Region Canoe Trip: July 28 – August 8, 2025 (scroll down)
Step away from the hustle of everyday life and into the serene beauty of Temagami’s wilderness. This transformative journey invites you to paddle through pristine waters, portage under towering pines, and connect deeply with yourself and others as you embrace the rhythm of a Keewaydin canoe trip. Whether you’re an experienced adventurer or a first-time paddler, this trip is designed to inspire, challenge, and rejuvenate.
5-Night Women’s Trip
Details
Arrival: July 31, 5:00 p.m. Pick-up from Lake Temagami Access Road (free parking available).
Departure: August 8, 8:00 a.m. from Devil’s Island back to the Lake Temagami Access Road.
Open to: All skill levels.
Participants: Maximum of 8.
Cost: $1600 per participant (plus 13% HST).
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Pick-up and drop-off from Lake Temagami Access Road.
- Canoe and Camping Gear: Including PFDs, paddles, duffle bags, Duluth packs, tumplines, and emergency equipment like satellite phones and first aid kits.
- Meals: Hearty, nutritious meals and snacks on the trail. We accommodate many food allergies and sensitivities—please let us know in advance.
- Basecamp Comforts: Canvas platform tents, delicious dining hall meals, abundant coffee, and tea.
- Expert Guidance: Instruction in Keewaydin’s time-honored tripping skills, from paddling and portaging to campsite setup and cooking over an open fire.
- Supportive Leaders: Our experienced guides are ready to carry the load, take on extra tasks, and ensure every participant has a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. The pace of the trip is customizable to the group. The leaders are always ready to take an extra load, carry the canoes, and ensure you are physically tested while also providing the support you need to stay healthy from beginning to end.
Itinerary
July 31: Arrival and orientation at Keewaydin’s basecamp on Devil’s Island. Meet your trip leaders and fellow trippers, and settle into the welcoming camp environment.
August 1: A full day at camp to prepare for your adventure. Learn essential canoe tripping skills, explore the island, review your gear with trip leaders, and stow away extra items for safekeeping.
August 2 – August 7: Embark on your canoe journey through the breathtaking lakes and rivers surrounding Temagami. Each day brings new opportunities to:
- Paddle through serene waterways
- Portage
- Explore a few scenic trails
- Fish, swim, and enjoy the refreshing waters
- Cook meals over open fires
- Build connections, share stories and laughter under the stars
Experience the rewards of wilderness living and the camaraderie of group travel while immersing yourself in Temagami’s stunning natural beauty.
August 7: Return to Devil’s Island in traditional Keewaydin fashion with a celebratory paddle-in. Unpack and dry gear, settle back into camp and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. In the evening, Keewaydin will host a special cocktail hour followed by dinner and a campfire, where trippers can share reflections and join in singing camp songs.
August 8: After a final breakfast at 7:30 a.m., trippers depart, carrying home unforgettable memories.
What’s NOT Included?
- Personal gear: Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and dry bags (packing list provided).
- Wine or spirits.
- Fishing license.
- Insurance (medical, evacuation, and trip cancellation).
What Do You Need to Bring?
Please refer to our Essential Gear – Packing for a Keewaydin Canoe Trip guide for detailed recommendations.
8-Night Men’s Trip
Details
Arrival: July 28, 5:00 p.m. Pick-up from Lake Temagami Access Road (free parking available).
Departure: August 8, 8:00 a.m. from Devil’s Island back to the Lake Temagami Access Road.
Open to: All skill levels.
Participants: Maximum of 8.
Cost: $2250 per participant (plus 13% HST).
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Pick-up and drop-off from Lake Temagami Access Road.
- Canoe and Camping Gear: Including PFDs, paddles, duffle bags, Duluth packs, tumplines, and emergency equipment like satellite phones and first aid kits.
- Meals: Hearty, nutritious meals and snacks on the trail. We accommodate many food allergies and sensitivities—please let us know in advance.
- Basecamp Comforts: Canvas platform tents, delicious dining hall meals, abundant coffee, and tea.
- Expert Guidance: Instruction in Keewaydin’s time-honored tripping skills, from paddling and portaging to campsite setup and cooking over an open fire.
- Supportive Leaders: Our experienced guides are ready to carry the load, take on extra tasks, and ensure every participant has a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. The pace of the trip is customizable to the group. The leaders are always ready to take an extra load, carry the canoes, and ensure you are physically tested while also providing the support you need to stay healthy from beginning to end.
Itinerary
July 28: Arrival and orientation at Keewaydin’s basecamp on Devil’s Island. Meet your trip leaders and fellow trippers, and settle into the welcoming camp environment.
July 29: A full day at camp to prepare for your adventure. Learn essential canoe tripping skills, explore the island, review your gear with trip leaders, and stow away extra items for safekeeping.
July 30 – August 7: Embark on your canoe journey through the breathtaking lakes and rivers surrounding Temagami. Each day brings new opportunities to:
- Paddle through serene waterways
- Portage
- Explore a few scenic trails
- Fish, swim, and enjoy the refreshing waters
- Cook meals over open fires
- Build connections, share stories and laughter under the stars
Experience the rewards of wilderness living and the camaraderie of group travel while immersing yourself in Temagami’s stunning natural beauty.
August 7: Return to Devil’s Island in traditional Keewaydin fashion with a celebratory paddle-in. Unpack and dry gear, settle back into camp and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. In the evening, Keewaydin will host a special cocktail hour followed by dinner and a campfire, where trippers can share reflections and join in singing camp songs.
August 8: After a final breakfast at 7:30 a.m., trippers depart, carrying home unforgettable memories.
What’s NOT Included?
- Personal gear: Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and dry bags (packing list provided).
- Wine or spirits.
- Fishing license.
- Insurance (medical, evacuation, and trip cancellation).
What Do You Need to Bring?
Please refer to our Essential Gear – Packing for a Keewaydin Canoe Trip guide for detailed recommendations.
Booking and Cancellation Policies
- A $500 non-refundable deposit secures your spot.
- The remaining balance is due by March 1, 2025.
- If you cancel your participation, we cannot refund your tuition unless we find a replacement.
- We strongly recommend purchasing:
- Emergency Medical/Evacuation Insurance.
- Trip Interruption Insurance.
- Trip Cancellation Insurance.
How Do I Get to Lake Temagami?
Depending on your location, you can fly or drive. Lake Temagami is approximately 5 hours north of Toronto and 1.5 hours north of North Bay, Ontario. Rental car services are available from Toronto, and taxi services operate in North Bay. Alternatively, you may drive directly to the Lake Temagami Access Road.
Questions?
We’re here to help! Contact Emily Schoelzel, Director, at emily@keewaydin.org or 802-352-4709.
Come paddle with us and create memories that last a lifetime!
“The women’s trip was a great way to feel connected with nature, with the amazing women I met, and also with myself. It came at a perfect time in my life where I needed to refocus and balance myself. It did just that.”
Philosophy and Goals
Our philosophy is to offer trips for men and trips for women in the Keewaydin Way while acknowledging that adults travel differently than teenagers within the “way.” The trips are one to two weeks in length, often beginning and ending on Devil’s Island in Lake Temagami for orientation and organization. The shorter trips are for the less experienced canoe tripper who wants to see the Temagami area and experience a canoe trip the way their family and friends have. The longer trips are for experienced canoe trippers and can include river travel; these trips will be more physically challenging. Women are led by women and men are led by men.
The goal of any Adult Trip is for participants to connect with a Keewaydin they do not know personally or reconnect with the camp they attended. The group will become a team, where each member is essential to the group’s success. Through teamwork, a section grows into a cohesive unit, setting and achieving goals together, rather than surviving solely on the strengths of individuals. We hope the trips will foster further growth in self-confidence, strength, leadership, and self-reliance.
In order to achieve the goals mentioned above, the staff strives to help each participant learn:
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- Respect of oneself, others, and the environment
To improve and master canoeing skills- To camp for extended periods of time in a wilderness environment
- Decision-making for and with the group (vital to the success of the section)
- Cooking and food preparation skills
- Navigation skills
- To care for and respect Keewaydin equipment
- To recognize the accomplishments that occur over the course of the summer camp season
I am writing to thank Emily and their great staff for the fantastic adult women’s trip I experienced at Temagami. Our Wabimaqua section was fantastic and the staff was so excellent that I wanted to let you know in writing. Sarah Robbins, Lizzie Bourdelais, Maddie McClure, and Sarah Ingersoll were just stellar. These are very strong, impressive, cheerful, knowledgeable leaders. Their teaching, guidance, judgment, and attitudes were exceptional. They were able to judge our skills and our levels of abilities and adapt the trip to us perfectly. It was the right blend of challenge and enjoyment, and we had enough downtime to truly enjoy the wonderful campsites, swimming, sunshine, and delicious food they cooked for us. They taught us a lot, all the while taking on most of the most difficult duties and making them look easy.
We all had a fantastic time, and I know I speak for my fellow trippers in saying that we were both grateful and impressed with the staff’s level of expertise and ability to ‘read’ the group.”
