Adventures in Algonquin
Perhaps one of the best start of year traditions I've ever come across is Lakefield's Grad Expedition to Algonquin Park. Graduating students arrive at the school a week ahead of everyone else and after one day of preparation and packing take off for the Park for four days. In groups of 5-7 students with 2 staff they paddle and portage their way through some of the most exquisite wilderness in Ontario. This is a long standing tradition spanning generations, and there are many students who can point to siblings, parents, and even grandparents who've gone on Expedition during their time at LCS. I was lucky enough to get to participate in this for my second time starting my third year with the school. Algonquin Park has always held a special place in my heart and canoeing through the Park is something that I could easily be convinced to pay for, so being asked to do it as part of my job is even more amazing.
Anyone who was around Ontario this past summer is likely aware of the tragedy that occurred in the Park, and can probably imagine what kind of extra precautions and preparations would be needed to run a trip like this. Many schools had turned around after this summer by cancelling all their planned trips while they figured out whether or not they would be feasible in to run in the future. Lakefield's approach came from an understanding that this was an essential experience for the school, and that with the right planning and preparation the risk could be managed and reduced. When the expedition staff came together for our pre-trip/pre-student preparations I was blown away by the amount of experience and training in the group. Between all of us there were decades of trip leading experience, tons of lifeguarding certifications, and plenty of wilderness first aid qualifications, all coming from staff who fully believed that we were offering the students a life-changing experience.
The actual trip in the Park is hard to put into words that share the adventure fully. Whether describing the weather, the food, the canoeing, the portaging, the companionship, or any other aspect of the trip is beyond me. I can only say that it was more than worth the efforts and that I will remember that trip for many years, something that I know the grads can say as well.
Anyone who was around Ontario this past summer is likely aware of the tragedy that occurred in the Park, and can probably imagine what kind of extra precautions and preparations would be needed to run a trip like this. Many schools had turned around after this summer by cancelling all their planned trips while they figured out whether or not they would be feasible in to run in the future. Lakefield's approach came from an understanding that this was an essential experience for the school, and that with the right planning and preparation the risk could be managed and reduced. When the expedition staff came together for our pre-trip/pre-student preparations I was blown away by the amount of experience and training in the group. Between all of us there were decades of trip leading experience, tons of lifeguarding certifications, and plenty of wilderness first aid qualifications, all coming from staff who fully believed that we were offering the students a life-changing experience.
The actual trip in the Park is hard to put into words that share the adventure fully. Whether describing the weather, the food, the canoeing, the portaging, the companionship, or any other aspect of the trip is beyond me. I can only say that it was more than worth the efforts and that I will remember that trip for many years, something that I know the grads can say as well.
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