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Quetico Ontario Canoe Trip, Headwaters Wilderness Program, Lake, Forest, Portage, Canoes

Event | Workshop | Trip | Course | Symposium

Eco-Social History

Trails Through the Past, in the Present, for the Future

To know oneself is to know the history of one's place: the history of the ecological place and the history of the cultural place. At Headwaters, we refer to this as eco-social history – the combined, overlapping, and inevitably intertwined story of a particular place's natural and human past.

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As a country born from rather than in spite of its vast landscape, Canada has a rich tapestry of stories to tell. When on the wilderness trail, whether by land, water, or snow, from the St. Lawrence to the Nahanni, the past of our country speaks to us. From fur trade posts to millennia old portages, our place in the present is elucidated, helping to chart a path for our future.

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An eco-social history voyage at Headwaters brings history, philosophy, and social studies to life. Pre-trip lessons, readings, and planning sessions establish a strong background knowledge, priming an awareness and sense of curiosity for when we set out on the trail. Following historical routes, the past comes alive as we directly engage with it – coming to know history by living it. More than a history lesson and with greater intentionality than a typical wilderness trip, an eco-social history voyage provides a unique and impactful educational experience.

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For a sample of what an eco-social history voyage can look like, please see our upcoming Fur Trade Trilogy program.

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​If you're interested in how this program might be a good fit for you or your organization, or would like to chat and learn more, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you!

Program Details

Curricular topics addressed

  • Canadian History

  • Canadian Geography

  • Canadian Studies

  • Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology

  • Philosophy

  • Outdoor Education

  • Physical Education

Ideal for

  • Grade 9-12, high schools

  • Nature & Outdoor Centres

  • University students

Headwaters Highlights

An experience of living in community

  • A sense of belonging and purpose toward the larger group, beyond oneself. In addition to developing both leadership and teamwork capacities, knowing what it is to live in a community who rely on you and on whom you rely is a profound experience, and a rare gift​

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A meaningful relationship with the natural world

  • Unique to Headwaters, we intentionally weave environmental philosophy, naturalist knowledge, and eco-social history into everything we do, developing a relationship with nature far more meaningful than simply "enjoying the outdoors"

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Time away from cellphones

  • With no cell phones or other electronic devices permitted on our trips, it is a gloriously rare opportunity to unplug and re-connect

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Traditional travel

  • We travel by canoe and wooden paddle, we portage on foot. We cook on an open fire that we made ourselves, preparing each meal communally. Our food consists of homemade recipes long perfected for the canoe voyage, with fresh baking savoured when we please. We sleep in tents. We awake when our bodies are rested, rather than by the clock. We gather blueberries from the land and our water from the lake. We travel as according to how the weather dictates. We take rest days whenever we find a good spot. We live without haste, for the trip itself is the point.

Character Development

All of our programs intentionally develop moral character, with a special focus on the following traits:

  • Joy for life and its experiences

  • Care for others and our world

  • Wonder about life's mysteries

  • A feeling of awe for both the grand vistas and the little things

  • Respect for the wellbeing of others and our world

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We place an emphasis on developing resiliency as the groundwork of moral character

  • Resiliency teaches us to keep going even when things are uncomfortable. Because of this, it is the core of moral character, enabling us to ask, "what is worth doing, even if I fail?"

Where this program can take place

  • On a school campus (for pre- and post-trip sessions)

  • Local green space or nearby park (for pre- and post-trip sessions)

  • In a wilderness setting (for trip portion)

Program length

  • Multiple 2 hours in-school sessions, followed by wilderness trip of a length to be determined before commencing this program

  • The length of this program can be modified based on the needs of the participants

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