Quapaw Canoe Company provides summer camps, daycamps, and year-round nature programming and big river adventures for schools, churches and youth groups. Here is an example of a 3-day program, but we can also do day trips, or week-long trips for educational purposes.
Call or write John Ruskey 662-902-7841, john@island63.com , or youth leader Mark River 662-902-1885, for details.
School or Youth Group
3-Day AdventureDescription:
3-Day paddling adventure on the biggest river in North America. Big islands, big sky, big river. Full of wildlife doing the day, the night skies are full of stars! We will conduct workshops on canoeing safety, fire-making, shelter, river geography and geology, exploration of nature, animal & plant identification, and star gazing. And also, group gatherings for spiritual and character development, and also prayer, story-telling, and music. Everyone paddles together in giant voyageur style canoes, which are captained by expert Mighty Quapaw guides. The canoes come from the French voyageur tradition of the Great Lakes, and are very stable, and very safe. 8 people per canoe, including our guides. No previous experience necessary, but must be willing to paddle, and must wear life jacket. All necessary skills will be taught including paddling, fire, shelter, and camping and survival.
Itinerary:
(Note: this is written for the “late arrival scenario” where you guys come later in the day and we camp at Montezuma Landing. If you arrive earlier, we can load canoes and set out for Island camp. Everything else would be the same).
Friday:
Drive to Montezuma Landing, meet Mighty Quapaw for orientation. Put up tents, and set up camp #1. Gather firewood. Hot dog, corn & beans supper. Following supper gather round the fire for spiritual reflections, story-telling, and music. Roasted fruit on willow roasting sticks. Star gazing.
Saturday:
7am breakfast eggs and bacon, granola, fruits and nuts. Nature walk along river learning plants, animals, insects and amphibians. Canoe and water safety workshop. Take down tents. Pack Dry-Bags (provided), load canoes, and set off to Montezuma Islands. 12 noon lunch stop. Swim break at designated safe swimming location. Set up camp #2 on ocean-sized beach of the Montezuma Islands. Explore the island with beach combing, geology, and tracking. Shish-K-Bob supper. After dark, gather round the fire for spiritual reflections, story- telling, and music. Roasted fruit on willow roasting sticks. Star gazing.
Sunday:
7am breakfast eggs and bacon, granola, fruits and nuts. 8am river reflections spiritual celebration, story-telling, and music. 9am Nature walk on island to find and learn about the rocks, fossils, birds, fish, plants, insects and all the rest of creation. 10am take down camp. 11am paddle back to landing. 12noon unpack bags and reload personal vehicles. Lunch and final group sharing and celebration. No later than 2pm on road back to Jackson. 4-5pm back in Jackson.
Requirements:
Primitive camping. Must be comfortable camping and canoeing. No previous experience necessary, but must be willing to paddle, and must wear life jacket. Must practice safe canoeing, safe swimming, and safe camping skills (that we teach). Also, we practice Leave No Trace system (used by scouts, and National Park Service).
Packing:
Bring personal items in duffel sack (or similar) and repack in our backpack style dry bags. Carry everything with you including personal toiletries and any meds. Pack your own toilet paper, and sanitary hand washing and hand wipes. All necessary skills will be taught including paddling, fire, shelter, camping and survival. Pack for sun, possible rain, and bugs. Pack change of clothes, towel and swim gear. Pack 2 refillable wide-mouth bottles. Each participant should wear sun hat and sun screen during day, and drink plenty of water. Pack head lamp or flashlight. Pack sketchbook or journal, art supplies, and any other items in waterproof bag or zip lock bags.
Charge:
$390 each includes meals, snacks, and all canoeing and camping equipment, (canoes, paddles, US coast guard approved life jackets, tents, sleeping bags and pads). All Cookware and eatware provided (enamel plates, bowls, and cups, and silverware provided). Refill water bottles from our 5 gallon jugs.
Sanitary Practices:
Guides have all received C19 vaccine. We are setting up hand washing station at landings and all stop places on trip. We set up a hand-washing station at all landings and at campsite, with soap and water. All participants are required to wash hands before eating. Pack your own personal hand sanitation, and your own personal face mask. If any participant is virus positive, or has been in recent contact with someone, please stay home!