Missinaibi River Canoe Trip
Earn 3 High School Credits
36
DAYS
500
KILOMETRES
3
HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS
A partnership between Headwaters Wilderness Program & Rosseau Lake College
Beyond the textbook
The Experience of a Lifetime
Beyond the textbook and the classroom walls, and deeper than simply learning outdoors, this trip is a profound integration of academic learning, personal growth, community engagement, and wilderness adventure. Merging the form of a canoe trip down the full length of the Missinaibi River with real academic learning, this is education beyond the ordinary: a course package which does more than teach, it immerses students into a type of learning that reveals an interdisciplinary, multifaceted approach to our complex world, and their place within it. The learning outcomes that emerge from this unique trip will encourage students to develop a real, interwoven understanding of geography, history, literature, and ecology through an authentic lived adventure. This is education of the head, the hands, and the heart.
It all takes place on 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 itself – with its significant cultural and natural history – will be a central component in students' learning. Get ready for the trip of a lifetime.
Rosseau Lake College is excited to work with Headwaters Wilderness Program in a collaboration that celebrates land-based learning, character development, and education beyond the classroom. This experience reflects RLC’s belief that challenge, immersion, and connection to place are essential to developing curious, resilient, and engaged learners.
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 required coursework and the trip component, students will earn three high school credits recognized under the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Coursework includes:
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A book which students are required to read prior to the trip.
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On-trip learning and assessment, including: ongoing writing, projects, group activities, verbal assessments, and an Individual Inquiry Project
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A post-trip written assignment depending on student progress during the trip.
Questions?
Questions about the trip? Anissah is happy to help! One of the lead teachers, she is part of the team guiding the trip.
She can be reached at:
Trip Details
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Length: 36 days (July 19 - August 23, 2026)
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Ages: students entering Grade 11 or Grade 12 in September 2026
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Group size: 6 to 24 students, 5-6 teachers, and 1 accompanying University of Toronto professor
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Ratio: 1:4 teachers to students
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Trip cost: $6,860 + $260 transportation & hotel supplement (plus tax)
Spots available: Yes
Trip Itinerary
Education Beyond the Ordinary
An experience you'll tell stories about
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Students arrive to Rosseau Lake College (RLC) on July 19 (Day 1), between 10:00 - 10:30am.
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RLC is located on the picturesque Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, about a 2 hour drive north of Toronto, Ontario.
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Days 1 & 2 are spent camping at RLC, getting to know each other, learning camping and canoeing skills, and setting the foundation for the course.
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Day 3 is a travel day: we will travel north by bus to Missinaibi Lake in Missinaibi Provincial Park, where we will camp overnight and which will be the starting point for our canoe trip the following day.
The Teachers
Wilderness Guides and Educators
A look at the teachers who will be leading this trip
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, from Ontario to the Northwest Territories; guided Indigenous cultural canoe trips in arctic regions for Québec CEGEPs; worked and conducted academic research at outdoor schools from Ontario to BC to the Yukon; 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.
Claire Lunan
Wilderness guide extraordinaire! Claire plans and leads extended canoe trips in some of the most challenging – and awe inspiring – locations, from Northern Ontario to the Northwest Territories and beyond. Qualifications: - H.B.A. (Anthropology & Indigenous Studies) - Wilderness First Responder - Whitewater Rescue - Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor
Maya Davidson
A high school geography and English teacher specializing in outdoor learning and wilderness tripping, Maya is a human encyclopedia of nature knowledge and has previously taught in the far north of Manitoba. Qualifications: - H.B.A. (Media Studies & Geography and the Environment) - B.Ed. (Outdoor and Experiential Education Program Track) - OCT (Geography & English) - Mental Health First Aid - Wilderness First Aid - Tandem Moving Water Canoeing
Keilan Baker
With a background in history and literature, Keilan's teaching practice merges remote wilderness travel with academic learning, teaching students from the elementary school level all the way up to post-secondary. Qualifications: - D.E.P. (Creative Arts, Language, and Literature) - B.A. (Specialization in History) - Wilderness First Responder - Whitewater Rescue - Tandem Moving Water Canoeing
Devin Mutic
Philosopher, teacher, and wilderness guide, Devin is an educator with experience teaching outdoors and leading trips from Ontario to the Yukon. Merging wilderness travel with academic research, he studies the intersection of education and the environment, delivering seminars and workshops both throughout Canada and internationally. Qualifications: - H.B.A. (Philosophy & Media Studies) - M.E.S. (Environmental Studies & Environmental Education) - Wilderness First Responder - Whitewater Rescue - National Lifeguard (NLS) - Tandem Moving Water Canoeing - Outdoor Council of Canada Instructor
Anissah Rajpatee
Having taught at an outdoor school on Vancouver Island and worked extensively with Ontario summer camps, Anissah's work aims to integrate land-based learning approaches into the Ontario curriculum. Qualifications: - H.B.A. (Indigenous Studies & Teacher Education) - M.A. (Canadian and Indigenous Studies) - Wilderness Advanced First Aid - Whitewater Rescue - Tandem Moving Water Canoeing - Psychological First Aid, Caring for Others
What's Included
Breakdown of what is included in the course fee
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Teachers/guides: the teachers guiding this trip are not camp counsellors nor tour guides. They 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.
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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.
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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.
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Cost of each credit: the cost of the three high school credits, as well as the Paddle Canada Tandem Moving Water Canoeing certification, is included, along with the canoe trip itself.
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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, Cochrane Station Inn, and school bus providers).
Payment Schedule
Trip Cost: - $6,860 + $260 transportation & hotel supplement (plus tax) Deposit: - Make a $500 deposit when applying to secure your spot - The deposit is fully refundable (minus a $50 admin fee) up until April 1st - The deposit is applied toward the trip cost First Installment: - The first installment of $3,310 (50% of the remaining cost) is due April 1st Final Installment: - The final installment of $3,310 is due June 1st
Partnership
Specializing in developing and delivering exceptional outdoor education programs for schools and universities, which merge academic and nature-based learning, Headwaters Wilderness Program, in partnership with Rosseau Lake College, created this unique 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!
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 Rosseau Lake College 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.
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 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 stop at the town of Mattice (the only town along the way), where we will receive a delivery 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!
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.