Testimonials

Just wanted to write a quick email expressing how great of a trip that Adventure to Understanding is. I met many new people and made new friends, I enjoyed canoeing, and I learned many new teachings. I was very grateful for this opportunity and loved every minute of the trip. Thank you for helping organize an amazing trip. (Participant-2024)

With this email I would like to say thank you for the good organization of the canoe trip. I really enjoyed the evenings by the fire, the paddling during the day and all the other activities. I hope that this offer will continue for a long time so that many other young people can also enjoy it. I will have fond memories of it for the rest of my life and wish it wasn’t over yet. (Participant – 2024)

I want to say the trip went better than I imagined. It was incredible and if I have to do it all over again, I will definitely do it. The experience was amazing, getting chances to engage in teachings from Elders and talk about water and land was really a highlight. The connection and friendship you made while on the trip is truly a highlight. Thank you to you and anyone else who was involved in getting me to be part of this experience. I truly appreciate everything.  (Participant -2024)

This trip taught me a lot about Indigenous cultures and the Trent Severn Waterway, finding common ground with people I had never met before, perseverance and tackling a challenge head-on. (Participant – 2023)

I wanted to express how grateful I am for the amazing canoe trip my son had this summer. I can’t thank you enough for your kindness and hard work in making it happen.The photos you took during the trip were absolutely fantastic! I was truly impressed. It’s clear to me that this experience had a profound impact on him. He’s returned as a more mature and stronger young man than when he left. It’s incredible to think that he started as a kid on the first day of the trip and came back as a young man. This transformation is something I’m overjoyed to witness, and I know that both you and the beautiful Canadian nature played a significant role in it. (Parent -2023)

Canoes + No Phones = Friendship
(Participant - 2023)

I liked everything about the program. Meeting other students, canoeing, camping—it was a really fun program. I also enjoyed travelling to different places which included visiting Curve Lake and learning about the traditional harvest of wild rice, and going to the Petroglyphs and learning about native traditions. I’d like to see other young people do this. I made new friends from different cultures. They learned about my ways and traditions and I learned about theirs. We shared a lot.. (Participant -2016)

The trip was a very incredible experience, it allowed me to meet new people and make new friends that I still have contact with. 
The canoeing was very difficult but fulfilling. Arguably the pain that came with sitting for long was the worst part of canoeing, but even that wasn’t awful. 
The food was great and I wish I grabbed a recipe from someone for that soup. 
Meeting the elders and teachers helped me learn more about the culture lost to me. I owe a lot to those who allowed me to come on this trip knowing that without this experience I never would’ve learned any of these things about the waters, fires, community and our relationships to the living things around us. 
Singing in the canoes was easily one of my favourite parts of the experience, it helped pass the time and frankly I don’t think I’ll ever beat that ’Down By the Bay’ record in my lifetime.  
I wholeheartedly recommend this trip to anyone who can go, it is refreshing and truly did help me on my quest to find myself.  
 I appreciate this opportunity to learn likely more than you’ll ever know. (Participant - 2024)

Thank you for taking care of my son while he was on the trip. He had a wonderful time and learned a lot from this wonderful experience. (Parent -2024)

Spectacular pictures!!! I am so pleased and content the numbers are intact after COVID and the youth are obviously enjoying the fellowship.  Good job Don for keeping this journey alive. My very best wishes. (Sponsor -2023)

Thank you, Don. The adventure in understanding experience was amazing for my daughter. (Parent -2023)

Participating in Adventure in Understanding 2023 was truly the highlight of my summer. I learned so much about reconciliation, Indigenous issues, as well as the natural world. I had so much fun paddling the 100km, camping, rock climbing and participating in archery. On the trip I was also able to connect with so many amazing youth and make some great friends with who I am still in contact. Thank you for all the work you have done in order to ensure the program was a success. (Participant -2023)

.This is my first camp in my life. This Camp helped me to know and see how the First Nation live and how they love their land.
It was six days without any electric technology.It was six days on the water under the sky – six days and my eyes kept looking to the sunbeam in the morning and to the glitter of stars in night – six days my breath mixed with the smell of the plants, with the smell of water and with the smell of burning wood – six days I heard the sounds of wind, the voice of the trees moving, the waves of water, and the beat of my heart increasing…..
Six days with beautiful places and wonderful people around me. (Participant – 2016)