Kayak-Camping builds character!
This July, intrepid teens from the area will be setting off on their third Kayak-Camping trip on the Chateauguay River.
Six supervisors will lead the trip of up to 30 youth on the expedition organized by Maison des Jeunes Huntingdon. The kayakers will depart on their voyage from Huntingdon on Tuesday, July 4th and arrive in Chateauguay on Friday, July 7th, overnighting in three riverside locations along the way. Two mandatory days of training are required to participate in the trip, which will highlight teamwork and responsibility towards the environment.
The non-profit worked hard to organize this free kayaking adventure for the first time in 2015 when it was accepted as a Build Your Region project, proposed by Lianne Finnie. Thanks to that boost of funding, Maison des Jeunes now owns all of the camping equipment to make such a trip possible. Previous participants loved the experience and learned from it as they pushed their limits and accomplished feats they didn’t know they were within their capabilities. “One year it rained relentlessly and when the kayakers were given the option to bow out, they determined to continue. In the end, they were proud to have pushed their limits!” said project organizer Rose Choinière.
This year’s trip will once again focus on the environment and teach responsible camping like packing out your garbage and leaving the landscape as you found it. Participants will learn practical wilderness skills and boost their confidence. Throughout their 31 years of programming, the non-profit has worked hard to provide fun, teamwork oriented, and confidence building activities for local youth ages 12 – 17.
This year’s unforgettable trip will take place from July 4th to 7th, 2017, with two days of training mandatory on June 26th and 28th, 2017. Registration is currently still open!! Call 450-322-6140 or search Maison des Jeunes Huntingdon on Facebook.