The Immersive Conservation Training (ICT) program is one-of-a-kind, part critical reflection, part naturalist skills, and part citizen science training. Dive deep into the world of conservation, investigating the theories, history, science, tools, and practices of wilderness and wildlife preservation. The best part? Do all of this while on an 8-day adventurous canoe trip in the heart of some of our province's most significant wild places! Through immersing ourselves into the wilderness we engage directly with the natural world, practicing the skills we're learning and gaining a new perspective on our relationship with nature.
A true experience of the head, the hands, and the heart, ICT program participants leave the trip with the knowledge and abilities to practice conservation. Perhaps more significantly, they also leave with a deeper understanding of the world and their place in it, having engaged in a transformative experience with a community of their peers which will forever change their perspective on – and relationship with – our natural world.
On the final night of the trip, we host a grand dinner and ceremony, recognizing and celebrating the journey that they've been on together. Following the trip, all participants will receive a certificate, marking their new status as Immersive Conservationists.
The Old Growth Forests of Temagami Canoe Trip is the flagship trip of our ICT program. Covering all of the same theory, experiences, lessons, and training as the Algonquin version of the ICT program, our Temagami canoe trip is special because the work we do has a direct impact. The program is being run in partnership with a national environmental conservation non-profit. During the middle of the trip, we will meet-up with them for two days in the backcountry. There, on an old growth forest lake, we will camp with their team, assist in on-the-ground conservation work of identifying old growth trees, and learn from this invaluable experience before continuing on for the rest of our trip.
Home to the world's last remaining stands of old growth red and white pine forest, Temagami is a special place that leaves those who visit forever changed. Yet, despite its beauty and ecological significance, the region and its old growth forests remain largely unprotected from logging, mining, and development.
We begin the trip by boarding a float plane in the town of Temagami. Soaring above the landscape of lakes, rivers, and forests below, we get a bird's eye view of the region's ecological beauty as well as the effects of logging and forest fires. Landing on a lake deep in the heart of Temagami, we begin our journey.
During the trip, we will be looking to identify previously unknown stands of old growth trees and cataloguing our findings. We will also be attempting to identify and classify an endangered species of moth. Following the trip, all of our findings will be shared with national environmental conservation non-profit organizations with whom we partner. They will use our findings in their efforts to see the old growth forests of Temagami become protected in perpetuity. This unique opportunity gives youth the chance to learn about the natural world and conservation, practice new skills, and apply their abilities toward making a positive impact on the world, all while on a fun and adventurous canoe trip.
Going beyond social media campaigns and online activism, the Old Growth Forests of Temagami Immersive Conservation Training program allows young people to form a real, personal relationship with a threatened landscape while also making an immediate and positive difference toward its conservation and protection from logging.
A few highlights of the ICT Old Growth Forests of Temagami canoe trip:
- Float plane ride into the heart of Temagami to begin the trip
- Assist with conservation professionals in the backcountry, learning and partaking in on-the-ground work of a national conservation organization striving to protect Temagami's old growth forests
- Learn about the ethical theories of conservation, and deepen your own relationship with nature
- Learning how to identify an old growth forest compared to new growth
- Identify and classify an endangered species of moth
- Participating in a citizen science project to track the movements of wolves in Ontario based on their scat
- Learning to read and follow animal signs, tracks, and trails
- Learning to identify plants as well as how to harvest edible plants
- Sharing our findings with a national environmental non-profit to help protect the old growth forests of Temagami
- Having a lot of fun! This is a canoe trip, not a high school biology class. Having fun is always at the forefront. Everything we learn and do is woven into the adventure of the canoe trip. You won't find any textbooks here!
Canoe tripping experience necessary: None. This trip is slow paced and suitable for all experience levels
