Toronto Urban Wild: 5-Day Canoe Skills Camp

Join our team of experienced instructors for a week of adventure, learning and discovery as you paddle your way through Toronto’s urban wilderness. 

Our Urban Wild paddle program promises an unforgettable experience that combines outdoor exploration, skill development, and a deeper connection to one of Canada’s most vibrant cities.
Get ready to explore the heart of Toronto’s waterways via canoe. You’ll discover the city’s hidden treasures from a unique perspective.

Each day begins (9:00am to 4:00pm) at our base at Don Valley Brickworks Park where you’ll receive instructions and prepare for the day. Then participants will travel by TTC to the launch of that day’s adventure. You’ll explore a different location each day. From the calm waters of Ashbridges Bay and Cherry Beach, to the flowing channels of the Rouge, Don and Humber, students will experience Toronto from a vantage point few get to experience. Thursday will see participants overnight on Toronto Island or in Rouge National Urban Park for a truly spectacular camping adventure.

Area and activities

For a century, Don Valley Brick Works Park was the site of a major brick manufacturer and supplier of buildings throughout Toronto. That changed in 1989 when the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) acquired the site and began restoration work with the City of Toronto in 1995. This involved creating a series of wetlands that provide habitat for aquatic plants and wildlife, and channeling water from nearby Mud Creek through the wetland to filter it naturally before it flows into the Don River and eventually Lake Ontario.

Today, the 200-hectares of wetlands, dry wildflower meadows and forest plant communities create a variety of ecosystem types that provide the ideal setting for Outward Bound Canada’s urban programs, where participants can hike the many nature trails, paddle the Don River and perfect their outdoor skills surrounded by nature in this special area – all within 10 minutes of downtown Toronto and accessible by car, public transit, foot or bike.