School Outdoor Activities Toronto Ontario

 Welcome to a unique floating classroom adventure on the Grand River near Paris, Ontario!

The cost for this 4 hour rafting trip is $35 per student plus tax...  includes the guided aboriginal & wilderness rafting adventure, all equipment. Transportation not included.  More Info

 

The Itinerary of the Aboriginal & Wilderness Floating Classroom...

  Rafting is the safest way to paddle the Grand River...  with the "Floating Classroom" there is no fear of tipping... which students often experience when canoeing or kayaking.

The students are not at risk because the guide has steering control of the raft... allowing everyone to safely enjoy a paddling experience on the river.
  History that is real... visit a gypsum mine from the 1830's... see the conditions that miners endured... learn how plaster put the town of Paris on the map... discover where the plaster mills where and the river steamship routes to move the material.

 Taste fresh spring water... students delight in dumping the contents of their water bottles and filling up with the real thing. At the springs, students experience the coldness and the uniqueness of taste.

 
 The return of wildlife to the Grand River Valley... is a story in itself. Along the Cayuga Route the rafts drift by one of the largest blue heron rookeries in the valley. In early June there is a unique noise in the air... the chattering of over 200 nesting herons. Learn about beaver, turkey, brush wolves and, fish... even a true cougar story.

 Experience the river water power that turned the mills... "Shoot the Bloop".  This 2 foot high rock shelf knocks over canoes and kayaks... but the rafts glide over with ease.

This standing wave is always a thrill to students... bringing forth the cry... "can we go back and do it again?"

 Learn about medicinal and edible plants... the guides bring along samples of local fauna that are in season. This is a chance for students to taste wild ginger...  wild leeks... ginseng and make herbal vitamin teas.

The shoreline Carolian forest is the perfect background for short hikes from the rafts to to identify local trees and plants.

 Aboriginal history at its best... learn about the legendary Attawandarons. An amazing nation that ruled this valley with ruthlessness. At one time they dominated both the Huron, Petun and Five Nations.

Circle Talks are done at bluffs or the old Oak during lunch. Students learn about this extinct nation... their wars... their lifestyle and their quirks!

The story telling of the history not only keeps the students captive... but the teachers too!

 

Team building competitions of laughter and imagination... that require the rafting teams to work together to win.

Competitions from "cook dat egg" ... to the "Office Fishing Kit"... the Joe Bushman Quiz with questions like "what animal invaded the United States in hordes by swimming across the Niagara River?".

Group body-surfing on a river swift.

Learning adventures that no one will forget...