Young Women ages 11 - 14
NORTHERN LIGHTS IS A FUN and challenging 2 week program that allows a girl to connect to her authentic self—apart from the expectations of today's media and culture. Weaving current educational, psychological and anthropological research with our 32 years of experience in outdoor education, we believe we offer an experience that will help your daughter enter adolescence with enhanced confidence and strength of spirit.
When the girls arrive at our island basecamp we welcome them with dinner and leaders share stories of their own first experiences at Northwaters. The next day to orient girls to the Temagami region and its rich cultural history, we gather around a fire in our tipi to hear stories from an Anishinabi elder from neighboring Bear Island. The next several days in basecamp we weave practical canoe tripping skills with native crafts, storytelling and fun activities designed to foster trust and inspire sharing.
Our goal is to make each girl feel a part of the community from the beginning. Once we have gotten to know each of the girls, we split the larger group into smaller sections of 6-8 (based on age, experience level and individual needs). Each section, guided by two of our leaders, sets out on a 10 day canoe journey tailored to meet the specific goals of its group.
Our girls' canoe trips paddle through some of the most beautiful country in eastern Canada—from pristine lakes with crystal clear blue water and ancient pine forests to gentle rivers that wind their way through the Cambrian Shield. Girls will learn how to set up and take down camp, care for equipment, cook meals and share responsibilities as they travel. The primary goal of each canoe trip is to create a trusting community in which each girl can find her own voice.
WHEN THE GIRLS PADDLE in to basecamp at the end of their trip, each section is greeted with cheers and a warm welcome! The air is filled with laughter, excitement and a sense of justifiable pride. That evening the girls share stories about their adventures with poetry, songs or skits. The celebration continues the following day with creative projects that honor their adventure and the rest of the day is spent preparing for the celebration feast. Girls gather in the kitchen with our cook to make pizzas which we then bake in our own outdoor brick oven. There is also time spent decorating the basecamp. Then its time for singing, dancing and enjoying the feast! Finally, as the sun begins to set, we close the evening with our traditional ceremony in which each girl is individually honored by her trip leaders.
Early the next morning, the girls pile their gear into our boats for the journey back to the village of Temagami where they will begin their trip home to family and friends. There are lots of hugs and some tears as good-byes are exchanged. It is our hope that each girl is left not only with memories of a very special wilderness experience, but with an enduring strength of spirit to help her make her way in today's world.
What parents have said:
This letter has been long in the writing, but the feelings of gratitude which are at its core have been living in us since Ava's return from Northern Lights in July. She had such a wonderful experience. It was such a big deal for us to send Ava, who'd really never been away from us for any length of time, on an airplane alone to Canada! Yet it worked wonderfully, due to all the conscientious hard work of all your staff. Ava found the experience challenging, fun, exciting, and most of all, a confirmation of all she is and hopes to be. We couldn't have asked for more. Her trip guides, Estair and Alex, also were so wonderful. She loved and admired them both. Their strength, skill, and grace made a big impression on her. We're so grateful for her to have such admirable role models. She loved their sense of fun and good humor, too, and she loved being read to-what a lovely idea! So, thanks so much to all of you. We'll definitely hope to send Ava back and I will tell my friends about you. —All the best, Carol and Jack
What the girls have said:
Since I returned home, things are different-clearer. I realize it's not the things I have that are important—it's what's in my heart. For the first time I had a glimpse of who I really am
There's a saying which goes: 'the best way to find yourself is to go where you don't have to be anything else then yourself'. I found that place-it's up in Canada where the trees are one's soul mates and the water surrounding you is the biggest source of energy. I just want to thank you for introducing me to this place, and helping me find myself.