16 Camping Tools You’ll Need This Summer!

The weather is warming up. Snow is melting and we’re starting to see the beginnings of Spring. Summer will be coming quickly, so start planning now for your trip. While you’re at it, how about planning to visit us at Algonquin Canoe & Kayak Company? We have two locations to serve you better. Over the next few weeks, we’ll provide more information about the kinds of tours we do, as well as other useful tips for your trip. So follow up!

Below are 10 really useful tools for camping:

1. A good backpack

There are many ways to find a good backpack, but if you’re looking to purchase a new backpack, there are many varieties available. Consumer search has an online store, as well as Amazon, but you can always come by the store and check our our selection.

2. First-aid kit (The Campfire! recommended) including

• Pair of tweezers
• Pair of safety scissors
• 10 safety pins
• 1 emergency eyeglass repair kit
• 1 triangle bandage
• 2 rolls Gauze
• 1 Gauze bandage (3″x4″)
• 1 10 meter roll Johnsons First Aid Tape
• 1 foil emergency blanket (space blanket)
• 2 Johnsons burn pads (2″x3″)
• 2 Dr Scholls  Self Adhesive Moleskins (2″x3″) …for foot blisters these are indespensible, cut to desired shape or size
• 12 alcohol pads (also great as an emergency firestarter)
• 15 assorted Johnsons Band Aids (The knuckle bad aids seems to get replaced most often)
• 12 Advil and 4 Tylenol 2′s in a small plastic tube for pain relief
• 4 Clariten Extra Strength Allergy Tabs ( non drowsy for minor incidents)
• 4 Benadryl Allergy Tabs (maximum strength allowed over the counter for major incidents)
• 8 Pepto Bismol  Chewable tabs (to dry up a case of the “runs” while in the country)
• 6 Johnsons Iodine swabs
• 2 Johnsons Blister Relief packs
• 2 pairs latex gloves
• 6 waterproof/windproof strike anywhere matches

This seems like a lot, but it still all fits in the original Life Brand kit and it covers the spectrum of minor to moderate emergencies that you will encounter in the field.

3. Sleeping bag, pillow and Thermarest sleeping pad

4. Food bag (along with ropes and pulley to raise the food bag from animals)

5. Toiletry bag

6. Tackle box

7. Cookset with stove

8. Water bottle

9. LED Headlamp

10. Coffee pot, travel mug, reusable plates & cutlery for food

11. Canoe bag (for keeping gear dry)

12. Toilet paper

13. Tent

14. Canoe or kayak

15. Knife

16. Bearshield Bearspray

You can use this as a guide line when preparing your next camping trip, as these are the essentials for any successful camping trip, but don’t forget to bring some great food, friends and family! No camping trip would be complete without them. Oh and speaking about food, check out our great Algonquin recipes from previous blogs too!

Top 10 Benefits of Outdoor Activity (this Summer & Beyond)

We nearly can’t imagine but there is such a thing as Nature Deficit Disorder. This happens when one lives without seeing nature and being outdoors, while on the other hand being more likely to consume electronic media by children. Simply crazy!

Not to worry, spending more time outdoors understanding and spending time relaxing is key. Starting to plan your next moves outside, being active, plays an important role in your health. So start planning now for your summer break (and do it with Algonquin Canoe & Kayak Company if you can).

Below are the top 10 reasons to go outdoors (this summer and beyond):

1. Jumping & Leaping. There are many benefits from physical activity like jumping rope, running, walking, cycling or just jumping around. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are at least seven good reasons to get moving.

2. Take a hike. Seriously. It’s not only great physical activity, but it’s good to clear your head acording to Board Certified Ray Sahelian, M.D. While you’re out there, you’ll also benefit from the Vitamin D, which ensures healthy teeth and bones.

3. & 4. Canoe & Kayak. Any paddler knows how fun and exhilarating escaping the wrath of a tree trunk, fallen leaves or otherwise knows how great it feels to complete a trip. According to the Australian government, the low-impact activity of ‘paddling’ increases muscular strength while reducing the risk to bones-and-joints (because its not as much impact as, say, running [below]).

5. Go camping. Enjoying Mother Nature can be serene, and exactly what a hectic life calls for! Camping can be economical, build family spirit (especially on the road and during camping outtings). According to the National Wildlife Foundation, getting outdoors benefits everything from improved eyesight to more brain function through being more creative.

6. Explore. The Livestrong Foundation talked about the many benefits of exploring the outdoors, including de-stressing and increasing confidence.

7. Climb a tree. We just learned about Treeclimbers International, who you might like if you or your children like climbing trees. Note: tree climbing is not just for kids anymore. Benefits include feeling more alive because you’re getting closer to something natural–a tree that’s alive and growing–like you!

8. Learn about nature. According to Benefits of Nature for Children’s Health Fact Sheet, “Access to nature contributes to the health and well-being of young people, and helps to form a foundation for the development of responsible environmental behavior. The planning and development professions can play a key role in ensuring that young people have access to nature in their everyday lives.” Thanks also to the Forest History Society.

9. Play. The Government of Alberta says playing outdoors provides children (and adults) and opportunity to “recharge” their batteries, while being able to have more social interactions–as well as building the link between physical health and outdoor play.

10. Learn more about Canadian parks. There’s no need to travel outside of Canada to view the most beautiful scenes–from skiing, to canoe and kayaking, in every season nature’s beauty has many activities to offer. Just check out Parks Canada, for example.

Algonquin Moose Stew Recipe

It might be the first day of spring, but the snow is still coming down out there. We thought we’d share a traditional algonquin recipe to help you guys stay warm today: Moose Stew.

Ingredients:

• Moose
• Onions
• Carrots
• Turnips
• Potatoes
• Flour (Gravy Mix)
• Salt & Pepper

Directions:

• Fill up pot with water
• Put the meat and onions in and let boil for 15 minutes
• Add carrots and turnips and let boil for 15 minutes or more
• Add potatoes, a dash of salt and pepper and let boil for another 30 minutes
• Mix ¾ cup of water and 3 tablespoons of flour In a cup
• Add gravy mixture to stew
• Boil for another 5 minutes

Because moose stew just isn’t the same without it, check out our home-made bannock recipe too.

Bonne Appetit! Enjoy!

And don’t forget to check back this week for some more yummy recipes and updates from us at the Algonquin Canoe Company.

Spring is just around the corner!

Spring is just around the corner, and the warmer weather is heading our way, but don’t forget to enjoy the snow while it’s still here. We still have our snowshoeing group meeting weekly, and will keep meeting until the snow melts. It’s not too late to get out there, get some  great exercise and enjoy the outdoors. For more information on our weekly group you can visit the Algonquin Canoe Company facebook page, or contact us directly at the following number: 705-981-0572.

Over the next few weeks we at the Algonquin Canoe Company encourage you to keep reading the blog for more great ideas and tips on planning your spring/summer outings. Spring is just around the as you can see.

Top 10 reasons to visit Temiskaming, Ontario

Everyone’s been talking about it; the summer is almost over. We’re sad to see it go, but happy to say we had an amazing summer–so far! We’ll be the first to say–summer is still not over yet.

But July and August have been a good run. In addition to tours, we also took part in Foire Gourmande on August 14-16, a celebration of local food, music and family around Abitibi-Temiscamingue and Ontario’s Northeast Region. There, delicious food and impressive local and national musicians, entertainers and buskers under their giant tent with 1,400 seats could see a panoramic view of Lake Temiskaming.

As for our tours, they continue to be excitement-filled as ever. We’ve paddle, canoe and kayak throughout this beautiful region and continue to be surprised by the amount of birds and wildlife we can see. The summer has been hot but gorgeous! Though we’re almost through peak season, now is the time to get your last taste of summer, we hope to see you soon!

Below are ten reasons to get your last taste of summer with Algonquin Canoe Company:

10. It’s not sweltering, so you may not need SPF 45

9. When the heat dissipates, less bugs bite

8. Don’t worry if you missed Ontario’s August Civic Public Holiday. Labour Day, an internationally for laborers and politicians is just around the corner!

7. Go Birding! In Ottawa River alone, more than 300 species of birds have been inventored along the river. Other species, including several rare and risk species are also present, including 33 species of reptiles and amphibians, 53 species of mammals, and 85 species of fish.

6. Eat local. Algonquin’s have made locally grown and enjoyed food for centuries, like bannock. We even recently found a wild nut bannock recipe! We love making food during trips that satisfies your hunger, while teaching you about deeply-rooted Algonquin culture.

5. Enjoy the Maple! All around Temiscaming, trees and animals thrive. The Dumoine River, for example, provides water for the Bourel Forest which include black spruce, white and red pine, pockets of white cedar, and white and yellow birch and the delicious Maple towards the south.

4. Learn more about Canada. Experience is the best way to learn. Did you know? Lake Timiskaming (French: Lac Témiscamingue) is a large freshwater lake on the provincial border between Ontario and Quebec, Canada.

3. Go camping, get smart. Camping brings you closer to the outdoors, and closer to germs that research shows actually makes you both smarter and less anxious.

2. Visit Ontario, Canada’s 2nd largest province covering more than one million square kilometres (415,000 square miles), an area larger than France and Spain combined. If nature makes you as excited as it makes us, you’ll have just a little more energy to visit the other lovely sites.

1. You be relaxing and not working when you come!

Summer Solstice Canoe & Kayak Race Winners

The race was a good turn out, the water was calm the weather was nice, what else could you ask for! Cody St. Denis and Mark Grandlouis finished 1^st in the Tandem Canoe category in a time of 2 Hours and 10 minutes. In the Kayak category Jason Chaput finished in 1^st in the kayak category and finished the race in only 2 Hours holding the fastest time. Way to go Jason!

Here are the top 3 participants for the Canoe and Kayak Category:

Canoe 15km Family Fun Race

1^st Cody St. Denis and Mark Grandlouis:   $300.00

2^nd Rosanne, Johanna, Peter and Georgia Vanschie:   $200.00

3^rd Billy McKenzie and Donna Pariseau:   $100.00

Kayak 15 km Family Fun Race

1^st Jason Chaput:               $300.00

2^nd Collin McKenzie:         $200.00

3^rd Connie Lafrance:         $100.00

We would like to extend our appreciation to the following businesses for their valued support and contributions:

Wolf Lake First Nation, Aurizon Mines, Matemec, Home Hardware, Provigo, SAQ, Hong Kong Restaurant, Subway, The Centre, Restourute, Fleuriste de Temiscaming La Balance.

Summer Solstice Canoe & Kayak Race: Our Fav Pics

We had an amazing day at the Summer Solstice Canoe & Kayak Race last week and just wanted to share photos of what happened. Due to a thunderstorm, we postponed the event from 19 June to 21 June but glad we did because the weather turned out much better!

It was also a great day because we launched our new and interactive Aboriginal Kiosk that engages visitors about Algonquin culture and history. Overall, Algonquin Canoe Company was excited to play an important role in Aboriginal Day 2010! Thanks very much to the 100+ participants, local news and radio station that covered the event!

Thanks so much for your great feedback on Twitter and Facebook!

Algonquin Canoe Company Founder, Rosanne Van Schie & Family get to paddling

First Place Winners Canoe & Kayak Tandem

Are we there yet? Friends canoe in Lake Temiscaming

Don't rock the boat! Canoeing for Summer Solstice Race

Office Manager, Connie LaFrance, makes waves in Lake Temiscaming

Canoe demonstration: how do I do this?

Tour guide Lloyd LaFrance helps participants relax & enjoy the day!

Pitching a tee pee is a community effort

June: perfect for canoe & kayaking!

Did you know our season starts 16 June? We’ve been revving up to provide you the best possible experience and we’ve started June off right with lots of lovely trips, which we’ll post pictures of soon.

But before that, we thought we’d share this lovely but slightly cheesy advertisement for Algonquin Canoe Company. What do you think?

Attend for Paddling, Adventure & Family Fun!

On 19 June, just days before National Aboriginal Day, several organizations are coming together to organize the 1st Annual Summer Solstice Canoe & Kayak Race. Hosted by the Algonquin Canoe Company, in partnership with the Wolflake First Nation, the day will be filled with family-friendly outdoor adventure and fun.

Participants will paddle either solo kayak or tandem canoe down Lake Temiscaming for a chance to win great prizes. Participants can choose between two options during this day of fun and adventure.

For tenacious-spirited and experienced paddlers, they recommend the 75km race, beginning at the Fort Temiscamingue Historic site (Ville-Marie) at 8AM and paddling 75km to the end point at “the Marina” in Temiscaming.

For novice and intermediate paddlers, the 15KM race is recommended, beginning at Cedar Pine Road launching area (off Hwy 101) at 10AM and paddling 15km to the end point at “the Marina” in Temiscaming.

After completing the race, paddlers will be shuttled with their vessels from the Marina to the Algonquin Canoe Company (Long Sault Island) for a traditional supper of moose stew, fried fish, and bannock.

More about Lake Temiscaming:

Lake Temiscaming flows through Algonquin territory and its surrounding area are a popular destination for outdoor recreation. Historically, its name comes from the Algonquin word Temikami or Temikaming, meaning “deep waters”. It’s a large freshwater lake on the provincial border between Ontario and Quebec, and forms part of the Ottawa River.

For more information about this event, visit the event website. Algonquin Canoe Company is on Twitter at  and Facebook.

Our plans for National Aboriginal Day 2010

Here at Algonquin Canoe Company, we’re starting a new leaf this April. Spring has sprung; trees have started to bloom, and we’re excited for summer to come. Guided tours officially start on 15 June–but summer officially starts on 21 June during the longest and maybe the most beautiful day of the year–National Aboriginal Day! We’re planning a festival-style Summer Solstice Canoe and Kayak race on that day and we can’t wait to give you details!

National Aboriginal Day is important for all Canadians–starting officially in 1995, with calls to action in 1982 from National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations). As one of few countries internationally to salute Aboriginal culture and contributions, Canada is a beckon of hope for other Aboriginal tribes internationally. According to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, it’s a “fun-filled day for the whole family to enjoy together”. We hope you’ll come along and RSVP via our Facebook page. You can receive more information via Twitter or e-mail Connie at info@algonquincanoe.com.

Our Aboriginal Day festivities will be super exciting, including:

• Kayak or Canoe race of 75km & 15km
• Games & Crafts for kids
• Native drum & dance circles
• Traditional dinner of Moose stew, Fried Fish & Bannock
• Relaxing in traditional teepees