May 18-20, 2007
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to view a printable version
Trip Price: $410
Thank you for the terrific whitewater weekend…You and
Marti make a great team. Terrific instruction in a very
encouraging environment…You build increased
self-confidence in so many ways. I appreciated the
thorough review of canoeing principles in the comfort of
our campsite, the detailed instruction at the bank and
in the water, then the chance to run the river for fun
after a day of practice.”
 Come
and play; experience the joy and exhilaration of moving
water and
springtime! You’ll learn how whitewater canoeing can
feel like a dance, with the river as your partner.
If
you’re new to whitewater canoeing, this trip is a
wonderful introduction. If you’ve ever found yourself
in some whitewater and muscled your way through…not
quite sure how you stayed upright (or maybe you didn’t),
this trip will offer you some wonderful alternatives.
Or if you’ve done some whitewater canoeing and want to
improve or brush up on your techniques, you’ve come to
the right riverbank.
 With
a little instruction, you’ll learn basic whitewater
techniques that abundantly increase your pleasure in
paddling, while significantly reducing any fear you
might have. Our emphasis is fun, with gentle and
thorough instruction. Our guides truly love whitewater
canoeing, and have taught beginners for decades.
For
alumni and more experienced paddlers, you’ll learn some
more intermediate techniques, and we’ll have a solo
whitewater canoe for you to try. You’ll paddle a more
challenging section of river on the first day, then join
the full group for a longer run on Sunday.
Beginners do not need
any previous whitewater canoe experience.
You need to be comfortable in a canoe, and ok with the
possibility of getting very wet. Though not common, a
canoe occasionally capsizes, which is not a big deal.
We paddle with extra clothes in dry bags so you can
change clothes if you get chilled. Feeling nervous is
fine—and very normal. Our instructors are thorough,
very safe, fun, and experts at teaching whitewater (no
yelling).
Many women come on our whitewater weekends time and time
again. They come to brush up on or add to their skills;
they come for the fun; they come for the camaraderie of
other women who love the water.
Watch the feature that
National Geographic Today did on
The Wild Institute’s whitewater weekend on our
website at
www.thewildinstitute.com.
The details…
What to bring:
When you
register, you’ll receive a detailed packing list, so
you’ll be sure to have what you need. You bring only
your personal gear, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. You
are welcome to bring your own tent either as a solo or
to share. Otherwise, tents are provided at double or
triple occupancy.
How much experience, how in shape
do I need to be:
Though many women use
their trip as motivation to get in better shape before
they go, no particular level of fitness is necessary for
this trip. You need to be comfortable in a canoe, but
do not need any previous whitewater experience. Expect
several hours of kneeling in the canoe (for stability
and leaning into turns). The days are full, so plan on
playing hard during the day, and sleeping hard at night.
Can I sign up on my own:
All women are
welcome. Most women sign up on their own, others
register with friends, mothers, adult daughters,
partners, sisters.
Weather:
Plan on anything from
gorgeous spring weather in the 70’s to chilly days in
the 50’s. It gets cold at night (usually in the low
40’s), but typically warms up significantly during the
day. The suggested clothing in the packing list that
you receive when you register will help you be
comfortable in all kinds of weather.
Meals:
Food matters! We bring
along a professional wilderness chef, who teaches
whitewater by day, and creates delicious meals by
night. Hearty and delicious, primarily vegetarian
meals-- you won’t go home hungry!!
What does my trip fee cover:
Your trip fee
of $410 includes all canoe and camping equipment,
permits and campground fees, all meals (by our
professional wilderness chef) from Saturday breakfast
through Sunday lunch, and guides who have taught
whitewater for decades.
Schedule:
Plan on arriving in the
evening on Friday, May 18th. We’ll set up a
base camp at a campground near the river. For those who
can arrive by dinner time, we’ll visit a favorite local
restaurant in town (the upper Midwest is known for its
Friday fish fries), then head back to camp for a fire
and a good night’s sleep. The next two days will be
packed with instruction, paddling and fun! Though
outdoor travel is never predictable, we’ll try to be off
the river by early afternoon on Sunday to give you time
to re-enter the much scarier world of cars and gasoline.
Group size:
Groups are small, typically 6-10 participants with a
very high ratio of instructors.
Transportation:
Closer to the trip,
we’ll send out directions to the river, as
well as the names of the other women
registered for the trip so you can carpool and/or share
car rentals if you like. Typically, the rivers we
paddle are within about a four-hour drive of the
Minneapolis/St Paul area. If you are flying, the
closest major airport is Duluth, MN. If possible, plan
your flights for Friday afternoon (May 18) and Monday
morning (May 21). It’s likely you could make a Sunday
evening flight, but weather and capsizes can sometimes
delay your departure from the river.
Payment information:
Your deposit is not refundable. If you must cancel,
please do so in writing. If you cancel 50 days prior to
the trip or more, the balance of your trip fee is
refundable; 30 to 49 days, the balance of your trip fee
is transferable to any other Wild Institute trip through
the end of the following year; 0-29 days, the trip fee
is not refundable or transferable.
We strongly recommend
that you purchase travel insurance so that you can
recover your losses should you need to cancel your trip.
Some companies that Wild Institute participants have
used are: CSA Travel Protection (800-348-9505)
www.csatravelprotection.com/comfort; Travel Insured,
800-243-3174; or working with Karen Mason at The Travel
Concern, 612-331-4100. The Wild Institute reserves the
right to alter trip plans due to severe weather,
water/snow conditions, or other unforeseen
circumstances.
How do I sign up:
A deposit of $125
holds your spot, and payment in full is due by April 6,
2007. Mail deposit and registration form to :
The WILD Institute
P.O. Box 353
Loretto, MN 55357
Click Here to view and print registration form
(This document requires
Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view.)
*Our canoe trips follow the American Canoe Association
standards for instruction and safety*
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