Canoe Trip to Hudson Bay

Earn 3 High School Credits

DAYS

LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY

HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS

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"The most special experience of my entire life. The time I've spent on the river will forever change how I think about my own country."

~ Sam M.

Missinaibi Trip 2026 student

Journey to Hudson Bay

The Experience of a Lifetime

Step beyond the classroom walls and into a canoe. Dip your paddle as we make our way to Arctic waters of Hudson Bay, immersing ourselves in the natural and cultural history of a region which few Canadians ever get to discover.

Not your average school experience, this trip is a profound integration of academic learning, personal growth, community engagement, and wilderness adventure. In the form of a canoe trip down the Missinaibi River to Hudson Bay, this trip immerses students deep into a new form of learning, revealing an interdisciplinary, multifaceted approach to our complex world, and their place within it. The learning outcomes that emerge from this unique trip will see students develop a real, interwoven understanding of geography, history, literature, and ecology through an authentic, once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

In a time of AI and ever-proliferating screen time, young people need meaningful lived experiences more than ever. Experiences packed with adventure, joy, challenge, discovery, and wonder.

It all takes place on a journey to James Bay (the southern section of Hudson Bay) down the Missinaibi, one of Ontario's most historic and awe-inspiring rivers. A famous, bucket-list destination for canoe trippers all over the world, the river and the Bay itself – with its significant cultural and natural history – will be a central component in students' learning. Get ready for the trip of a lifetime.

We are proud to partner with Keystone School in delivering this world-class student experience. Sharing a commitment to learning that is authentic, personal, experiential, and heartfelt, we can't wait to see you out there.

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A partnership between Headwaters Wilderness Program & Keystone School

Earn 3 Ontario High School Credits

All three of the credits in this course package are university/college prep level courses, making them of a high academic standard and applicable towards post-secondary applications.

Upon completion of the trip and its required coursework, students will earn three high school credits recognized under the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Coursework includes:

A book which students are required to read prior to the trip.
On-trip learning and assessment, including: ongoing writing, projects, group activities, verbal assessments, and an Individual Inquiry Project.

This trip is open enrollment. Any student who meets the below criteria can attend.

Student eligibility includes the following:

Able to confidently swim head-up front crawl for at least 100 metres and tread water for 5 minutes.
Entering Grade 11 or Grade 12 in September of 2027.
Have the following prerequisite courses: Grade 9 Geography (academic or applied) and Grade 10 English (academic or applied), or equivalents.
- Student report cards and/or a letter from the student's teacher will be requested upon enrollment to confirm course prerequisites are met.
Be a Canadian student. Or, be an international student currently enrolled at a Canadian school or from an English speaking country.
- International and out-of-province students entering an equivalent grade will be assessed accordingly for eligibility based on OSSD guidelines.
- English-language proficiency test scores may be requested upon enrollment if necessary for eligibility assessment.

Questions?

Questions about the trip? We are happy to help! Get in touch with us at the following email and one of the lead teachers will help answer any questions you may have:

info@headwaterswildernessprogram.ca

Request 2027 Trip Info

Trip Details

Length: 36 days (July 11 - August 15, 2027)

Ages: students entering Grade 11 or Grade 12 in September 2027

Ratio: 1 teacher/guide for every 4 students

Trip cost: $7,580 + $380 transportation & hotel supplement (plus tax)
- No-interest custom payment plans are available. Contact us if you'd like to explore that option. We're committed to finding something that works for your family

Canoe tripping experience required: None. This trip is suitable for beginner and experienced trippers alike! We begin the trip by teaching flat water canoeing before moving to whitewater. Our approach to canoe tripping is not one of gruelling portages or "suffering that builds character." While there will certainly be challenges, our style of travel sees us slowing down, noticing our surroundings, and really connecting with the landscape. Learning to live well in a wilderness setting. The trip is slow-paced, with short paddle days and plenty of rest days that give us time to truly explore and connect with the land in a way that simply can't happen on canoe trips where you paddle long distances every day.
A canoe trip should not be a race to some finish line. Rather, the journey is the point. And it is this intentionality that allows students on the trip to determine what they'd like to do and where they'd like to go each day. Something that can't happen if the trip length necessitates moving as quickly as possible through the landscape. We believe that when travel prioritizes speed and convenience, what is lost is the wonder and awe that comes from choosing one's own path, moving slowly, and discovering all there is to find along the way.

Academic prerequisites: Grade 9 Geography (academic or applied) and Grade 10 English (academic or applied), or equivalent.

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Trip Itinerary

Education Beyond the Ordinary

An experience you'll tell stories about

Students arrive to Algonquin Provincial Park on July 11 (Day 1), between 10:00 - 10:30am.

Algonquin will serve as our place to practice canoe skills and get to know each other for a day before heading north to the river.

Day 1 is spent camping in Algonquin, getting to know each other, learning camping and canoeing skills, and setting the foundation for the course.

Day 2 is a travel day: we will travel north by bus to the small town of Mattice, located on the shore of the Missinaibi River, where we will camp overnight and which will be the starting point for our canoe trip the following day.

On Day 34, we take the scenic Polar Bear Express train from Moosonee to Cochrane, arriving in the evening with a celebratory meal and staying overnight at the lovely hotel next to the train station.

On Day 35, we travel by bus from Cochrane back home to Algonquin (the same location where we began the trip).

On Day 36, students are picked-up by their parents between 11:00am and 11:30am.

On Day 3 we begin our canoe trip, with our first rapids being an easy set where we will learn the skills of whitewater canoeing before progressing down the river.

Days 3-33 are spent on the river and on arctic shores of James Bay. Of these 31 days, approximately 10-15 will be paddle days (where we travel down river), with the others being rest days, where we will explore the local areas of our campsites.

Upon reaching the end of the river, we will paddle out to James Bay to set-up camp for a few days. A unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience that most trips on the Missinaibi don't do, camping on the shores of the Arctic Ocean – with views across the unlimited horizon and the chance to see seals and beluga whales up close – is an experience that students will remember for the rest of their lives.

Rest days give us more time to discover specific areas, and are picked strategically to highlight the significant natural and cultural features of the river and to support the learning of the credit courses. Rest days are also opportunities for students to have plenty of free time to swim, fish, explore, and play games with their friends.

Some highlight rest days include:
- Thunderhouse Falls, Ontario's most impressive waterfall and a significant geological feature of the river
- Camping on the Arctic shoreline of James Bay
- Moosonee and Moose Factory: the two towns at the end of the river, at the mouth of James Bay. We will spend two days in Moose Factory, engaging with and learning from the local Moose Cree First Nation community, including preparing a traditional feast and learning land-based crafts
- Hudson's Bay Company fur trade posts and old trappers cabins: historically significant sites which bring the history of the region alive and provide a lived story for our Canadian Literature course studies
- Interested in learning more about the Missinaibi River? Explore this map created by the Canadian Heritage River System (the Missinaibi was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 2004 for its ecological and cultural significance)

The Teachers

Wilderness Guides and Educators

Not your average trip guides

With decades of experience between them in teaching, outdoor education, curriculum development, academic research, and wilderness trip guiding, logistics, and risk management, the Headwaters team brings a unique combination of expertise and a high standard of professional background. Our team has led and overseen remote wilderness canoe trips across Canada; guided Indigenous cultural programs; worked and conducted academic research at outdoor schools throughout the country; regularly present at conferences, publish papers, and sit on educational Boards and advisory councils; hold Master's degrees, teaching certifications, and industry leading wilderness guide qualifications.

Visit our Community page to learn more about the Headwaters team.

What's Included

Breakdown of what is included in the course fee

Teachers/guides: the teachers guiding this trip are not camp counsellors nor tour guides. They are professional educators highly qualified in both academic teaching and wilderness guiding. Not only are they leading the trip, they also developed it's innovative curriculum from the ground up.

Cost of each credit: the cost of the three high school credits is included, along with the canoe trip itself.

Gear (canoes, tents, cooking equipment, etc.): all of the gear required for this trip is provided and included in the cost. The only things students need to bring are their personal items.

Food: all food for the entire 36 days is included. Each day has a breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with plenty of snacks. Our food is hearty, healthy, and delicious, with generous portions so no one goes hungry. See the FAQ below or the Family Handbook for more info.

Travel & hotel supplement: this is to cover the cost of the bus, the train, and one night hotel stay we will be using to travel to and from the river. It is included as a supplement because it is provided by external service providers (Ontario Northland Train, hotel, and school bus providers).

Payment Schedule

Trip Cost: - $7,580 + $380 transportation & hotel supplement (plus tax) Deposit: - Make a $500 (plus tax) deposit when registering to secure your spot - The deposit is applied toward the trip cost and is non-refundable First Installment: - The first installment of $3,730 (plus tax) (50% of the remaining cost) is due 60 days after enrollment Final Installment: - The second and final installment of $3,730 (plus tax) is due April 1, 2027 Full trip cost must be paid by April 1, 2027 (unless a custom payment plan has been made) Registrations received after April 1, 2027 must include payment in full at the time of registration (unless a custom payment plan has been made) Custom payment plans: - If the above payment schedule does not work for your family, please get in touch with us. No-interest payment plans are available on a case-by-case basis that extend the payments into smaller amounts over a longer time frame. We're committed to finding something that works for your family. Please contact us if you'd like to utilize this option.

All payments (excluding the deposit) are fully refundable until April 1, 2027. Click here for the full Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Partnership

Specializing in developing and delivering exceptional outdoor education programs for schools and universities, which merge academic and nature-based learning, Headwaters Wilderness Program created and runs this unique high school credit trip.

Responsible for developing the curriculum and running the trip, Headwaters' staff will be the teachers and wilderness guides. Scroll up to read more about them, or get in touch to say hello!

Keystone School is collaborating with Headwaters to deliver this program. Keystone provides academic oversight by approving student prerequisites, accrediting the three-course package, and ensuring rigorous standards. As the accrediting institution, Keystone is the school of record for all high school transcripts.

Keystone is a co-educational independent school in downtown Toronto that believes meaningful learning extends far beyond the classroom. We value experiences that challenge students, foster independence, and deepen their connection to the world around them. Our partnership with Headwaters Wilderness Program reflects our commitment to experiential education and provides students with a unique opportunity to develop resilience, confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world while earning Ontario high school credits.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is paddling or canoe tripping experience required? While students who enroll in the trip should be comfortable sleeping in a tent for extended periods, this trip is suitable for all experience levels in paddling and wilderness camping. We spend the first part of the trip easing into paddling and canoe tripping, teaching students everything they need to know. As the trip progresses, they will master flatwater and whitewater paddling skills, wilderness camping techniques, and much more. Students who come with prior experience as canoe trippers will be supported in learning more and advancing their skills and abilities in paddling, backcountry tripping, and wilderness living.

What do students need to bring? Everything students need for the 36 days will be provided, except for the following: personal clothing, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, PFD (lifejacket). A detailed packing list will be sent upon registration.

What if I am not a student in Ontario? While the credits granted are Ontario High School credits, students from throughout Canada and around the world are welcome to join this trip. Ontario's curriculum is renowned worldwide, and credits can be transferred to equivalents in your home jurisdiction.

Who should attend this trip? Students should attend if they are curious, enjoy adventure, feel limited by the regular classroom environment, and want to experience the trip of a lifetime while earning 3 high school credits!

How rigorous is the academic component? This is a rigorous academic course. With Keystone School and Headwaters Wilderness Program jointly ensuring high academic standards. This being said, this is not a typical school course. The curricular components of the three credits will be taught in an experiential, immersive format. You won't see any tests or quizzes on our trip. Rather, students will learn directly from the natural and cultural landscape in which they're travelling, being supported by expert teachers to explore the environment, make connections between ideas and what they're experiencing, partake in meaningful discussions and activities, and engage in learning in a whole new way. It is our belief that students will learn far more than they ever would in a classroom, coming away with not only the experience of a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but also with a profoundly deepened understanding of the nuance, complexity, beauty, and interconnectedness of our world.

What are the qualifications of the teachers? The teachers on this trip are both highly experienced wilderness guides while also being professional and experienced educators from a variety of backgrounds. Visit the "Our Community" page of our site to learn more about our staff.

What happens in the case of an emergency during the trip? Headwaters and all of its staff (including all of the teachers on this trip), are trained to follow a rigorous and detailed risk management plan and emergency procedures protocol based on industry best practices. The teachers leading the trip hold professional Whitewater Rescue, Wilderness First Responder (first aid), mental health, and canoe tripping certifications. In the case of a medical or other emergency, they are well equipped to respond in the field, and are also in frequent communication throughout the trip with staff back in the city, who are able to arrange evacuations and emergency services if necessary.

What is the food like? All food for the entire 36 days is included. Each day has a breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with plenty of snacks and fresh baked desserts. Our food is hearty, healthy, and delicious, with generous portions so no one goes hungry. Examples of some of our food include: breakfast wraps, meat-sauce pasta, burritos, Japanese curry, shepherd's pie, apple crumble, cinnamon buns, and more. We begin the trip carrying half of our food with us. At the midway point of the river we will receive a delivery (via float plane!) of the food for the second half of our trip.

Have more questions? Please get in touch, we'd love to hear to from you!

Get in Touch

ENROLL

Killarney Provincial Park, Philip Edward Island, Ontario, Canada, Headwaters Wilderness Program, Island Campsite, Tents, Canadian Shield, Rocks, Rocky Outcrop, Lake, Trees, Sunset, Canoe Trip

It has been said that "what gives each person his or her personal identity is that person's private store of recollections. If so, then people should be careful curators of the assortment of memories that they collect over the years."

~ John Locke, Kathleen Dean Moore

Memories make us who we are – the experiences and ideas that are powerful enough to remember are the ones which come to form the character of our lives.