Experience Canoe Camping
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Ottawa is in the middle of a canoeing paradise! Beautiful lakes and rivers are within a short drive. Enjoy a range of relaxed evening paddles, day trips and weekends, to extended wilderness expeditions. Come and explore these and other wonderful wilderness areas with us!
Everyone is welcome! Individuals wishing to experience Canoe Camping may:
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RACCC Website
Please visit www.raccc.ca for detailed information on the RA Canoe Camping Club's activities and programs.
RACCC website is maintained by Club volunteers. |
RA Canoe Camping Club Open House
April 30, 2025 from 6:30-9:00pm
Clark Hall (RA's West Wing)
Open to everyone!
No registration necessary.
Clark Hall (RA's West Wing)
Open to everyone!
No registration necessary.
Learn about the RACCC and the 2025 course offerings.
Buy or sell gently used gear (must be clearly marked with prices).
and more!
Buy or sell gently used gear (must be clearly marked with prices).
and more!
Join the RA Canoe Camping Club
The RA Canoe Camping Club (RACCC) is all about friendship, paddling and exploring our amazing Canadian lakes and rivers. We have over 270 members including adults and families of all ages and abilities. Their skills range from novices to advanced paddlers, from beginner campers to expedition leaders. The Club offers both flatwater and whitewater programs, with tandem and solo boats.
Club members enjoy evening outings, day trips, weekend trips or extended wilderness expeditions. RACCC offers a wide variety of recreational trips organized under flatwater, whitewater programs, complemented by a well-rounded training program. Club members collaboratively host hundreds of trips, training and social events during the paddling season and throughout the year, offering an opportunity to participate in recreational canoeing and canoe tripping in a safe, well organized environment. The co-operative trips involve everyone which keeps costs down. RACCC trips and training are for beginners through advanced paddlers interested in both flatwater (lake) and whitewater (river) paddling.
We look forward to welcoming you to our family.
Club members enjoy evening outings, day trips, weekend trips or extended wilderness expeditions. RACCC offers a wide variety of recreational trips organized under flatwater, whitewater programs, complemented by a well-rounded training program. Club members collaboratively host hundreds of trips, training and social events during the paddling season and throughout the year, offering an opportunity to participate in recreational canoeing and canoe tripping in a safe, well organized environment. The co-operative trips involve everyone which keeps costs down. RACCC trips and training are for beginners through advanced paddlers interested in both flatwater (lake) and whitewater (river) paddling.
We look forward to welcoming you to our family.
Club Membership Fees & Options
When you join an RA Club you are joining our not-for-profit Association. Active Club Members enjoy the benefits and privileges of an Association Membership for the duration of their Club membership.
Season: One year from date of purchase
Fee (plus hst): $59 + $4.43 Facility Renewal Fee* = Total Cost: $63.43
*A 7.5% Facility Renewal Fee is applied. Read more about the Facility Renewal Fee here.
Adult may add their children (17 years or younger) to their membership at no additional cost.*
*Family Participation: No programming specific to children or teens is planned in 2024. Families that wish to participate together on a club trip can ask the trip leader if children or teens are permitted. A parent or guardian must be present throughout the trip.
Season: One year from date of purchase
Fee (plus hst): $59 + $4.43 Facility Renewal Fee* = Total Cost: $63.43
*A 7.5% Facility Renewal Fee is applied. Read more about the Facility Renewal Fee here.
Adult may add their children (17 years or younger) to their membership at no additional cost.*
*Family Participation: No programming specific to children or teens is planned in 2024. Families that wish to participate together on a club trip can ask the trip leader if children or teens are permitted. A parent or guardian must be present throughout the trip.
RACCC Registration Form required -
Download the Registration Form (below) or complete one at RA Centre when you purchase your Canoe Camping Club Membership. If you are registering over the phone please complete the registration form and scan/email it to Guest Services at [email protected]. Guest Services have been instructed not to register any new members without first receiving the RA Canoe Camping Club Application Form.
Download in PDF - print & complete
Adult Registration Form | Adult with Children Registration Form
For more information on fees and how to join the RA Canoe Camping Club, please call RA Guest Services at 613-733-5100 (360) or drop-by the RA Centre's East Wing Desk.
Download the Registration Form (below) or complete one at RA Centre when you purchase your Canoe Camping Club Membership. If you are registering over the phone please complete the registration form and scan/email it to Guest Services at [email protected]. Guest Services have been instructed not to register any new members without first receiving the RA Canoe Camping Club Application Form.
Download in PDF - print & complete
Adult Registration Form | Adult with Children Registration Form
For more information on fees and how to join the RA Canoe Camping Club, please call RA Guest Services at 613-733-5100 (360) or drop-by the RA Centre's East Wing Desk.
Winter Seminar SeriesOnce again, the RA Canoe Camping Club (RACCC) is hosting its popular winter seminar series.
The seminars cover a wide range of topics related to paddling and the outdoors. Seminars are open to club members as well as non-club members. How to participate:
RACCC Club members can get the joining instructions from the calendar on the club website. For security reasons and to help ensure that we do not exceed the capacity of our Zoom account, we ask club members not to share the zoom details with non-club members. Non-club members can get the joining instructions by contacting Mark at [email protected]. The details will be sent starting about 2 weeks before the seminar up until the day before the seminar. Check out this season's seminars
UPCOMING SEMINARS:
Wednesday April 2, 2025 from 7:00-9:00pm Paddling Trips in Eastern Ontario NOTE: This seminar is being held virtually using Zoom. This seminar explores some of the best canoe trips in eastern Ontario. Most trips feature gently flowing rivers or lakes. Details show how you can explore these places too! This seminar builds on "Paddling Day Trips Near Ottawa" (2020) which can be found on YouTube here. Wednesday April 23, 2025 from 7:00-9:00pm Arctic Canoeing & the Inuit Homeland as a Landscape of Stories NOTE: This seminar is being held in person in the Clark Hall at the RA Centre 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa This diverse and exciting two-hour program will carry you north to the Arctic barrenlands in your imagination. Jackpine Paddle’s founder/owner, Dan Wong, will entice you with contemporary tales of northern paddling adventures, which his company offers in the wake of his mentor, the very first Arctic canoe guide, Alex Hall. A 15-minute documentary film produced by Jackpine Paddle offers a lasting tribute to this giant of a man, a paddling legend. To follow this, Jackpine Paddle is pleased to present David Pelly, a seasoned northern canoeist and author, who will share his reflections from a lifetime in the North, and how it changed his perceptions of the “wilderness” we all dream to paddle. PAST SEMINARS: Wednesday February 5, 2025 Canada's Newest National Park: Thaidene Nene Ideal for canoeists & kayakers, Thaidene Nene means the “Land of our Ancestors”. Four times bigger than Algonquin - it guards 27,000 square kilometres of spectacular and pristine waterways, forests and Canadian Shield. Thaidene Nene stretches from Great Slave Lake out towards the Thelon River & barrenlands, where muskox patrol the shores, and the northern lights glitter overhead. There is decent fishing almost everywhere, and especially great in some parts. This presentation will cover the political, geological, and archeological history of the park, from the point of view of canoe campers and river runners. Featuring stunning photos from all corners in various seasons. Learn about what the park has to offer as a paddling destination and the best times to visit, from wilderness paddle guide Dan Wong. Watch the seminar here. Wednesday February 19, 2025 Paddling for Caribou: Citizen Science and Conservation in Wabakimi NOTE: This seminar is being held virtually using Zoom. Wabakimi is the second largest park in the Ontario Parks system at just under 900 000 hectares, larger even than the province of Prince Edward Island. This huge sweep of Canadian Shield encompasses over 2,000 kilometers of canoe routes and contains upwards of 10,000 lakes and is home to a Threatened population of woodland boreal caribou, the iconic animal on Canada's quarter. Friends of Wabakimi will kick off the second year of the Wabakimi Boreal Caribou Citizen Monitoring Project (WBCCMP) in 2025, a unique initiative that blends canoe trips with citizen science to support the conservation of boreal caribou in the Wabakimi Area. Kate Prince, the WBCCMP Project Manager, will outline key threats to boreal caribou, and share compelling trip photos, videos, and stories from volunteers, highlighting the project's progress and impact to date. Learn about why protecting caribou is critical to our boreal forest ecosystem, and how you can get involved. Watch the seminar here. Monday March 3, 2025 Canoeing Alone Across the NWT NOTE: This seminar is being held virtually using Zoom. Calem presents an exciting and inspiring slideshow on his 3000 km, 122-day solo canoe adventure across the Northwest Territories. He tells stories of wilderness adventure, spectacular scenery, incredible fishing, wildlife encounters, overcoming challenges, being alone, lessons from the land and the incredible people he met along the way. Calem hopes that sharing his story can inspire others to pursue their own adventures. Wednesday March 5, 2025 Four days on the Rideau Canal NOTE: This seminar is being held virtually using Zoom. The Rideau Canal is the oldest and best-preserved “slackwater” continuously operated canal in North America. First opened in 1832, it features 24 lockstations that connect Lake Ontario in Kingston to the Ottawa River in Ottawa. In late September 2024, a father (Cory) and son (Riley, 15) duo set out to see how far they could paddle along the Rideau Canal in four days. Join us to learn a little bit of the history of the Rideau Canal, some of the great paddling opportunities, what you need to know for a successful trip, and of course pictures and video from our short but epic journey from Kingston to Merrickville. Watch the seminar here. Wednesday March 12, 2025 The Art, Life, and Times of Frances Anne Hopkins: Artist, Adventurer, Inspiration NOTE: This seminar is being held virtually using Zoom. Frances Ann Hopkins was the wife of Edward Hopkins, a Hudson Bay Manager. She accompanied him on extended voyageur canoe trips from Montreal to Fort William (now Thunder Bay). Her paintings documented the life of voyageurs during her time in Canada (1858 - 1870) in the fading glory days of the fur trade. She was a trained, professional artist at a time when women “didn't' do” that kind of thing. As descendent of several notable English explorer-artists, Frances Anne longed for adventure and opportunities to use her talents to forge a successful artistic career. This presentation will delve into the life and times of 19th C. British artist Frances Anne Hopkins -her iconic drawings and paintings, her influencers and contemporaries. What's more, her long-distance canoe trips are impressive and inspiration for current day canoeists. |
The "Canoeing Across Canada" video (above) is part of the Club's Winter Seminar Series. The complete series from this year as well as past seasons are available to view on the RACC YouTube channel by clicking here.
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Summer Training & Courses – No membership required - Open to everyone.
RACCC offers Paddle Canada Certification Courses and non-certification Skills Coaching Sessions.
All our Paddle Canada Certification Courses are taught by our nationally certified Instructor Team. We are fortunate to have assistance from other club members with extensive knowledge and experience allowing a low instructor-student ratio and maximizing instruction and learning.
All our Paddle Canada Certification Courses are taught by our nationally certified Instructor Team. We are fortunate to have assistance from other club members with extensive knowledge and experience allowing a low instructor-student ratio and maximizing instruction and learning.
Summer 2025 registration now open!
Registration may be done on-line through PlayRA, the RA's on-line registration system (please follow the directions on the site to activate your account), in person at the RA's East Guest Services desk or by phone with RA Guest Services at 613-733-5100 (360).
Please note: When registering on-line through PlayRA, the non-member price will initially appear in your basket. If you are eligible for the RA Canoe Camping Club member discount, the price will be automatically adjusted at check out. If the fee does not discount as expected, please contact RA Guest Services at 613-733-5100 (360) or [email protected].
Registration may be done on-line through PlayRA, the RA's on-line registration system (please follow the directions on the site to activate your account), in person at the RA's East Guest Services desk or by phone with RA Guest Services at 613-733-5100 (360).
Please note: When registering on-line through PlayRA, the non-member price will initially appear in your basket. If you are eligible for the RA Canoe Camping Club member discount, the price will be automatically adjusted at check out. If the fee does not discount as expected, please contact RA Guest Services at 613-733-5100 (360) or [email protected].
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Whitewater Courses
whitewater season opener & rust remover
Ages 13 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the clinic. This course is designed to get rusty paddlers back on the river with instructor support and coaching. The Season Opener, will be based out of Jessops campground and be comprised of two river runs. Either the lower or middle Madawaska. Participants are expected to arrive at Palmers Rapids on Friday evening. SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
Whitewater Introduction to Tandem canoeing
Ages 13 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the course. This course is specifically designed for paddlers who are new to Whitewater canoeing. A heavy emphasis is placed on safety, canoe skills, and river reading. Successful participants will receive Paddle Canada Introduction to Moving Water certification and may be also admitted to the club Whitewater List which will allow them to join club whitewater trips. A partner is not required, pairs will be arranged by certified instructors. *Students who did not achieve the skills minimum to qualify for the club white water are encouraged to take the make up session on June 28-29. Each of the following weekend sessions consists of an in town preparatory segment as well as an out-of-town, 2-night camping weekend and course. The course includes canoes and gear for the lessons, (including PFD and paddle if participants don't have their own). In town preparatory session - May 10, 8:00am-4:00pm Location: RA Centre boathouse AND 2-night camping weekend and course
SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
Whitewater Introduction to Tandem canoeing make-up session
Ages 13 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the course. RACC MEMBERS ONLY This course is specifically designed for paddlers took the Whitewater Introduction to Tandem course but whose skills were not sufficient to let them join the RACCC whitewater list. Students who did not achieve the skills minimum to qualify for the club whitewater are encouraged to take this make-up session. Participant are expected to arrive at Palmers Rapids on Friday evening. There will be an in-town session May 10, 2025 (8am-4pm). SUMMER 2025 SESSION | Registration now open! Whitewater Introduction to Solo canoeing
Ages 13 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the course. This course is specifically designed for paddlers who are new to Solo Whitewater canoeing. A heavy emphasis is placed on safety, canoe skills, and river reading. Successful students will also acquire the set of basic skills and techniques needed to manoeuvre through white water and a Paddle Canada Introduction to Moving Water certification and may be also admitted to the club Whitewater List which will allow them to join club whitewater trips. Each of the following weekend sessions consists of an in town preparatory session as well as an out-of-town, 2-night camping weekend and course. The course includes canoes and gear for the lessons, (including PFD and paddle if participants don't have their own). In town preparatory session Location: RA Centre boathouse AND 2-night camping weekend and course
SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
whitewater Intermediate & advanced tandem Canoeing
Ages 13 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the course. The Intermediate Tandem course introduces the canoeist to more complex tandem whitewater river manoeuvres. The course will teach paddlers to;
The Advanced Tandem course builds on all the skills described in the intermediate portion, but in a CIII setting. Advanced paddling certificates will be available to successful students. Prerequisites Both Intermediate and Advanced Solo students require instructor permission or proof of prior learning to participate in the course. Intermediate students should be at the top of the WW Novice spectrum and WW Advanced students should be at the top of the intermediate spectrum. Participant are expected to arrive at Palmers Rapids on Friday evening. Each of the following weekend courses consists of an out-of-town, 2-night camping weekend and course at Jessup’s Campground at Palmer Rapids. The course includes canoes and gear for the lessons, (including PFD and paddle if participants don't have their own). 2-night camping weekend and course Location: Jessup’s Campground at Palmer Rapids
SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
whitewater intermediate & Advanced solo Canoeing
Ages 13 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the course. The Intermediate Solo course introduces the canoeist to more complex Solo whitewater river manoeuvres. The course will teach paddlers to;
The Advanced Solo course builds on all the skills described in the intermediate portion, but in a CIII setting. Advanced paddling certificates will be available to successful students. Prerequisites Both Intermediate and Advanced Solo students require instructor permission or proof of prior learning to participate in the course. Intermediate students should be at the top of the WW Novice spectrum and WW Advanced students should be at the top of the intermediate spectrum. Participants are expected to arrive at Palmers Rapids on Friday evening. Each of the following weekend sessions consists of an out-of-town camping weekend and course. The venue will depend on water levels, but Palmer Rapids, the Ottawa River, the Petit Nation, the Rouge, and the Gatineau are all possible locations for this course. Camping weekend and course Location: TBD
SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
whitewater paddling skills session
This course is designed specifically to fine tune; WW paddling skills, river rescue for both solo and tandem canoes and canoe rolling for solo canoes. The course will be good practice for those who have their roll and for laying out the fundamentals for those just starting. This course will be run over two evening sessions from 6:30 to 9:00pm at Brewer Park. The focus of the course will be on the 3 main items mentioned above: strokes, canoe rescue and rolling. It will be open to both solo and tandem paddlers, but obviously the rolling will only apply to solo. SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
Sea Kayaking CourseSea Kayak Level 1
Ages 16 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the course. This course is aimed at new kayakers who are looking to plan and take day trips in mild conditions. Mild conditions have light winds, little or no current, easy landings. People who successfully complete the course can confidently paddle in class-1 conditions in the company of one or more paddlers with similar skills or knowledge. Participants will meet at the RA Centre boathouse at 8:30am on Saturday and Sunday and return around 5:00pm each day. Carpooling to the training site at Shirleys Bay Boat Launch will be arranged. SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
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Flatwater Courses
Lake (Flatwater) Introduction to Tandem Canoeing
Ages 12 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the course. This course is for paddlers new to canoeing or those who have not taken any training and/or would like to update their skills. At the end of the course participants will have the confidence and basic skills to venture out on short paddling adventures in calm water conditions. To the extent possible, RACCC instructors tailor the course to the skill levels of the course participants. This helps to ensure that everyone gets value out the course. Read more... Prerequisites:
SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
Lake (Flatwater) Introduction to Solo Canoeing
Ages 14 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the course. This Paddle Canada certification course introduces paddlers to solo canoeing in calm water. It assumes the participant has learned to paddle a tandem canoe previously (can control and steer from the stern). Read more... Prerequisites:
The course includes canoes and gear for the lessons, (including PFD and paddle if participants don't have their own) and a "what to bring checklist". Participants will meet at the RA Centre boathouse at 8:45am on Saturday and Sunday and return around 5:00pm each day. Carpooling to the training site will be arranged. SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
Lake (flatwater) Intermediate tandem Canoeing
Ages 16 and up. Minors require a parent or guardian to be present throughout the course. The Intermediate Tandem Lake Canoeing certification expands of the paddlers canoe experience through skill refinement, additional skill development and awareness of environmental hazards. Participants will learn how to avoid and react to those hazards. At this level manoeuvres require expanded levels of teamwork and greater precision. The progression of activities will focus on safety, refinement of skills, introduction of new strokes and manoeuvers, environmental challenges and perform assisted rescue techniques. Read more.... Prerequisites:
SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
Private Flatwater lessons
Ages 16 & up Minors need to have parent/guardian on site during the training. Three hours of private lake canoeing skills coaching at any level. Learn the basics of paddling a canoe or improve your paddling techniques or learn more advanced canoe strokes, maneuvers and boat control (find out what a canoe can do). Read more... Prerequisites:
Solo or Tandem Options You need to organize your tandem lesson partner. SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
Canoe Tripping & Camping CourseIntroduction to Canoe Tripping & Camping
Ages 18 and up. This course is intended to provide an introduction to canoe tripping for those who have no previous camping experience or who have “car camped” but done little or no backcountry camping. The course will focus on skills and gear suitable to canoe tripping. While there is a considerable knowledge and theory component to the course, the course is very “hands on” and centres on the planning and conduct of a weekend trip in Algonquin Park. Prerequisites
Part two will be a camping weekend at Stratton Lake in Algonquin Park on June 6-8, 2025. The first evening session (May 14) will be about using a map and compass for navigation. The second evening session (May 21) will be about selecting meals, preparing food, packing it and stoves and cooking. The third evening session (May 28) will be a discussion and demonstration of gear. This will include personal gear such as clothes, sleeping bags, tents and packs and group gear such as paddling safety equipment water filters, tarps and cooking equipment The fourth evening will be devoted to actually planning the trip: tenting, food and cooking, transportation, selection of boats and reserving and sign out any club gear required. The actual trip itself will be from the Stratton Lake boat launch to sites about 4 km away on Stratton Lake. Camp set-up, camp sanitation, cooking, knots and tarps, portaging, risk management and expedition behaviour will all be discussed. Time will be also spent on improving paddling skills as needed. Read more... SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS | Registration now open!
* Course fee covers Paddle Canada registration, boat rental and use of any club gear required. The club has pfds and paddles for all, a good assortment of canoe tripping packs, cooking gear and stoves and a limited number of tents. Transportation will be with participants’ vehicles with shared expenses, including park parking fees (not included in course fee). Food expenses are also not covered by the course fee. The group will decide as to whether they wish to share meals or all pack individual food. |
