Traipsing Through Temagami: 2024 Canoe Trip Reflections

“There’s the portage!” Amy says, as she points to the little yellow sign that is attached to the trunk of the evergreen. Beside the slim opening between the bases of the trees along the shoreline, a chorus of groans and cheers float from the four canoes traveling behind. The sun is uncharacteristically hot for a mid-September day in Temagami. The paddle slices through the water, the drip drip drip drip of water droplets from the blade with each stroke is a soothing sound. A welcome motion of monotony in a world that praises productivity. This is the wilderness. This is the breath of fresh air we crave, both physically and metaphorically.

For me, the wilderness is a second home. I spend my summers leading others through remote areas, breathing in God’s creation and leaning into challenge. Yet instructing a group of students I was going to be spending the next seven and a half months with… that was an entirely different ballgame. Still, I am in awe at how God met us, and how each student continually rose to the challenge. To experience the wilderness is a gift, and to get to walk alongside students as they excavate meaning from the wilderness on the other side of the trip is an experience I am deeply grateful for. 

To share some of these reflections, three of our students were asked to share about their trip. Megan, Miranda and Daniel’s thoughts are just a glimpse of what the Temagami wilderness held for them.

Enjoy!

Jana, Act Five Resident Leader and Coldwater Canada Wilderness Instructor.  

Megan

When asked what a highlight was from the trip Megan shared; 

“One day after a few portages we saw this huge cliff face and our instructors wanted to paddle over and see what it was like up close. Little did we know, they were actually trying to determine if it would be safe to jump off of! That cliff jump was definitely one of my favourite moments on the trip. It was really cool that we all got to do it together. It became a really special moment that we all got to encourage each other to jump.

Another highlight for me was reaching Lake Obabika and seeing just how big it was. The elevation on the horizon; rolling hills and beauty. Being able to look out and see how beautiful and untouched the area of the world is was a really special moment for me.” 

Throughout the trip Megan experienced quite a bit of pain because of pre existing conditions and past injuries. When asked what she learned in the wilderness she had this to share: 

“A lesson I learned from the canoe trip is probably that I can depend on other people. This is definitely an aspect of community while living together in Hamilton too. It’s okay to rely on people.  I think this is something God has been trying to teach me for a while and my stubbornness has stopped me from actually listening. I think being able to lean in and trust people more, because I had to while dealing with injury and pain through the trip, showed me that there were people for me to rely on and lean on through that.”  

Miranda

Miranda shared about a specific moment that she’s been remembering since returning to the city. “Honestly seeing the really really big tree! Near the end of one of the longer portages on the trip there was a tree that was absolutely huge and it had fallen over. I stood next to the trunk and the diameter was a foot taller than I was! It was really cool to see the tree and how big it was. I really just felt God in that moment. And to be honest I’ve been thinking about that tree so much since then too.” 

When asked what she learned from the trip Miranda shared; 

“I learned a lot of lessons on the trip. I learned that I am capable of doing so much more than I thought I was. Not only in a physical capacity but also in the way that I can get through things that are hard for me mentally and emotionally. Just do things that I didn’t think I was capable of doing… Like jumping off a cliff, completing portages, and spending a day alone. All of these were hard things for me and yet I thrived anyway.” 

Daniel

Daniels highlight comes in the form of sharing meals; 

“The dinners at night were a favourite part for me. After we had a really long day and worked really hard and went through adversaries and we failed and then we get to sit down, relax and laugh together and eat together. I think my favorite times were being able to sit down, look at everything and think “this was a good day”. Getting to sit down, look back and laugh makes it all worth it.” 

The wilderness creates a container to be in the moment. Daniel shares how this shaped the lesson he is carrying with him outside of the wilderness. 

“I learned to pay attention, to slow down to rest and to see God through the everyday things. I learned to bring the spiritual life into my ordinary life. I praised God in a different way, not just through songs or words but through admiring and being in awe of God around me. It happened, I think by not overthinking everything but experiencing and just being in the moment. When I’m at home I have time to think about all of the what-ifs and doubts. I get worked up about what I have to do. In the wilderness, it was just a “I have to do this and I will do it right now” and it felt simple. And you have time to actually look around and be where you are. To sum it up I think I learned simplicity and simplicity goes a long way.” 

We are settling into life in Hamilton and our wilderness trip is a sight in the rearview window. Still, students are being shaped by the memories and lessons. It is a blessing that we prayerfully expect what more God has in store for us through our future wilderness experiences and through everyday life, as we are being shaped as individuals and as the collective year six cohort.