Manitouwadge High Students Partner with Pukaskwa National Park to Maintain a Local Canoe Route
By: Gord Martin
Picture by John Robarts
PUKASKWA NATIONAL PARK, ON – May 28th, thirteen grade 11 and 12 students from the Manitouwadge High School’s Environmental Science SHSM program, their teacher, Gord Martin, two co-leaders and two Pukaskwa National Park staff pushed their canoes into the upper headwaters of the wild Pukaskwa River to begin an epic paddle toward the
coast of Superior.
As part of their class, the students and their teacher, Gord Martin, volunteered to clear the portage trails along the river during the trip. This was the second time in the last three years that Gord and his students have partnered with Pukaskwa Park to clean the portages on the park’s namesake route.
In preparation for the trip, the students trained hard learning how to manoeuvre canoes in rapids and moving water. The water levels in the river were near perfect for the students, who enjoyed the swifts and small rapids that define the essence of the river. The larger, more difficult rapids were portaged.
During the trip the students worked hard as a team, facing challenges like erratic weather, bugs and long portages. In the end the hard work they put into preparing and executing the trip was rewarded with a week of fantastic experiences and lifelong memories. They made their teacher proud.
MORE INFO
- Read about a spring backpacking adventure the students took in March
- Read about the students’ Winter Overnight adventure
- Learn more about public education on the Superior-Greenstone District School Board website
- Plan your outdoor adventure in Manitouwadge, visit Turner’s Northwood Adventures
