About Us – The Basics

Investments in Life

The Wanapitei experience promotes self-reliance, cooperation and personal growth, through community living, team work and challenging canoe trips in Canada’s north.  Our highly skilled staff has introduced children and young people from around the world to adventures in beautiful and majestic northern landscapes.  An experience with Wanapitei is truly an investment in life and we invite you and your family to be a part of our community.

Leadership

Leadership is what sets Wanapitei apart.  For decades Wanapitei has been the leader in providing formative experiences to young people, teaching them the skills to be leaders in life.  Wanapitei is committed to excellence in skills, to safety and to promoting sensitivity to the environment.  Wanapitei canoe trip leaders are highly qualified professional women and men who have a passion for canoeing and for working with young people.  The minimum age for our leaders is 18; however, most are 21.  All trip leaders have a minimum of Standard First Aid, CPR and Bronze Cross.  Additional staff qualifications include Ontario Recreational Canoeing and Kayaking Association (ORCKA) and Paddle Canada certification, Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT), Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and National Lifesaving Society (NLS).  A number of staff have backgrounds in education and many have been through Wanapitei’s Wilderness Leader in Training program.  We usually exceed the minimum one-to-six camper-staff ratio set by the OCA.

Canoe Trips

Canoe trips offer life skills education and a chance for a young person to explore their limits in the context of a team adventure set in a safe and fun environment.  Wanapitei’s canoe trip participants learn self-reliance and responsibility, as well as develop an appreciation for their impact on their environment, the team and natural settings.  These adventures cultivate lasting friendships forged on shared experiences.  Wanapitei campers of all ages learn paddling and wilderness camping skills and so develop self confidence and self awareness.  These adventures are based on age-appropriate experiences and challenges for young people.

Accessibility

Camp Wanapitei welcomes people with disabilities.  Please visit our Accessibility Policy  For an expanded, in-depth accessibility policy with definitions, click here.  If information is needed in alternate forms (i.e.larger print, oral communication, face-to-face communication) please contact us.

We welcome your feedback.  Camp Wanapitei welcomes and appreciates feedback concerning the accessibility of our services. Individuals who wish to provide feedback on the way Camp Wanapitei provides service to people with disabilities can do so in the following ways:

  • Email [email protected].
  • Phone the Camp Office 888-637-5557
  • Schedule an appointment to talk to a Camp Director

All feedback will be directed to Erin Sunstrum and Gill Thompson, our Directors.  We will ensure that feedback is responded to within 30 days of the date that it was issued.

View our most recent Accessibility Report HERE.