Programs - Ridley Wilderness Youth Program

Programs Introduction | John B. Ridley Research Library | Research & Publications | Summer Student Research Program | Biology Internship Program | Ridley Wilderness Youth Program | Artists in Residence Program | Other Programs

This past summer marked the third year of the Quetico Foundation’s Ridley Wilderness Youth Program. The Program is supported through a generous donation to the Foundation from the Estate of Norma Ridley, widow of one of the Foundation’s founders, Jack Ridley whose own bequest 20 years earlier supported many Quetico Foundation projects such as the John B. Ridley Research Library and the Summer Student Research Program.

Pristine wilderness, like Quetico, is one of the defining characteristics of Canada. Another equally important defining characteristic of Canada now and for the future is the multicultural dimension of our population. Unfortunately, the makeup of visitors to Quetico and other Wilderness Parks is not reflective of the new multicultural face of Canada. In fact for most new Canadians, their definition of and experience with wilderness is vastly different from what we value in Canada. If we as a Foundation wish to protect Canadian wilderness values as we know them today, then it is imperative that our future political, business and educational leaders share those same values.

This Program is designed to introduce a broad spectrum of Canadian youth - our future business, community, and political leaders - to the wilderness experience and the value of our natural environment. The Foundation has been working in cooperation with Agincourt Collegiate Institute, a high school in the Toronto District School Board, to give a group of students enrolled in an Interdisciplinary Studies course: Environmental Leadership and Outdoor Education, the opportunity to take a week long canoe trip in Quetico Park as the culminating activity of their course. The school population of Agincourt CI, where the first language of more than two thirds of the students is other than English, is truly representative of the Canadian cultural mosaic.

On August 26, 2009, eight students from Agincourt CI, accompanied by 2 teachers and 2 previous program participants arrived at Canoe Canada in Atikokan to start their adventure. Following a welcome from Trustee Emeritus Dave Elder, a meeting with the Mayor and Council and an orientation to both the Town and the Park, the group headed out on their 6 day trip from Beaverhouse Lake. Perfect weather, spectacular country, abounding wildlife, beautiful sunsets and misty mornings characterized another highly successful trip. The students pulled out at Nym Lake on September 2nd from a life changing experience complete with fond memories of adventure, friendship, tranquility and the spectacular beauty of Quetico Provincial Park.

Quetico Foundation Trustee, Keith Robinson and the Summer Student Research Program team hosted an informal BBQ for the weary paddlers following some volunteer activities in the Park. Plans for the 2010 trip under the Ridley Wilderness Youth Program are underway!