Dear Friend of Project Canoe,

I recently returned from sending off the very first trip of the summer season. You could feel the excitement and nervous anticipation on that school bus. For most of the youth heading up to Algonquin Park, this would be their first ever camping trip, and the longest stretch of time they’d spent away from home.

As the days go by I find myself imagining what those long trip days feel like for them. An exhilarating swim after a sweaty portage, a rush of excitement as a tailwind picks up behind you, hoisting a canoe over a beaver dam, hysterical laughter around a campfire...

The bus ride back down will be—as it always is—a completely different experience from the ride up. Nervous anticipation gives way to feelings of group cohesion, playful camaraderie and a firmly rooted sense of accomplishment. When they arrive back in Toronto, these youth will go home with new friendships, newly discovered skills and unforgettable stories.

Each moment of trip is made possible by the generosity of donors like you. Can you support a youth this summer? We want to keep doing this all summer long but we need your help to do so. While any amount is hugely appreciated, with a gift of $300 you’ll be providing a youth with three days of a canoe trip.

I hope you can join us in giving a young person an opportunity they will never forget and a truly life-changing wilderness experience.

My warmest wishes,