Family Week

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Course Overview

Family Week is a 5 Day family vacation where both parents and kids learn how to paddle whitewater in their choice of kayak or canoe while enjoying the comforts of our Wilderness Resort. Learn to canoe with your kids in preparation for future family adventures, or take part in a kayak course, learning at your own pace while your kids take our kids-focused kayaking programs.

Kids ages 8 to 11 take part in the Kids Kayak or Kids Canoe sessions in the morning & Adventure Camp, an afternoon of on-land adventures and activities around our wilderness resort. On Friday, a day-long paddling adventure awaits!

Youth ages 12 to 16 can canoe with their parents or participate in our Youth Kayak Course.

Adults can choose to canoe or kayak. A truly unique and uplifting getaway for the whole family!

Who is this Course for?

Our 5 day courses are ideal for all skill levels – beginner to advanced. We divide kayakers and canoeists into small groups based on skill level the first day of the course to ensure the learning progression will suit your needs. Kids must be a minimum age of 8 years old to participate in paddling programs (Or a minimum of 5 years old August 12-16, 2024)!

Please note: For kayak – kids will paddle with peers of a similar age. For tandem canoe – kids must paddle with an accompanying adult.

Itinerary

Course Location

Our wilderness classroom is the beautiful Middle Madawaska River, located a short distance from our Resort, and just south of the town of Barry’s Bay, Ontario.

  

Cost

Instruction Fee

$1030 Adults
$824 Youth 12-16 (20% off)
$650 Kids 8-11

Accommodation + Meals

From $175 to $900. See below for various accommodation & meal packages

Rental Package

$365 (for boat, paddle, helmet, lifejacket). Individual items also available to rent

All costs are in Canadian dollars & subject to 13% taxes

Accommodation + Meal Packages

Cozy Lodge rooms, off-the-grid Cabanas, budget-friendly Dorms or wooded Campsites. Our Wilderness Resort offers something for everyone. Please note: Kids 16 & under receive a 20% value discount on accommodation and Kids 12 & under receive discounted Kids Meal Pricing. Please inquire with our office for your customized family package.

Shared Lodge Plan* | $900

Our rustic Lodge rooms have everything you need! Choose either a queen bed or 2 twin beds. Rooms are at ground level with nearby washroom facilities (en suite not available). Meals included.

Shared Cabana Plan* | $900

Enjoy our off-the-grid Cabanas tucked in the woods! Choose either a queen bed or 2 twin beds. Washroom facilities are a short walk away. Meals included. No electricity.

Shared Glamping Plan* | $900

Come glamp in MKC's forest! Our newest accommodation options are cozy, comfortable, canvas tents. Two twin beds with bedding can be converted into a single queen bed. Washroom facilities are a short walk away. Meals included. No electricity.

Dormitory Plan* | $750

Dorm room accommodation sleep up to six per room. Dorms are on the second floor with nearby washroom facilities. Meals included. Bring your own bedding.

Camping Plan | $650

MKC's wooded campsites are great for tents, trailers and campervans. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, onsite parking, and access to nearby washroom facilities. Meals included. No electricity.

Camping No Meals | $175

MKC's wooded campsites are great for tents, trailers and campervans. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, onsite parking, and access to nearby washroom facilities. Bring your own camping and cooking equipment to enjoy meals at your site. Dishwashing station available. No electricity.

Check In

The evening before your course between 7 & 10pm

Check Out

Friday at 7pm

*For those booking for one for Glamping, Cabana, Lodge or Dorm: it is likely you will stay with other students of the same gender. As a wilderness resort we have chosen to not expand too far into our surrounding forest and therefore have limited indoor accommodations. To book a private room as an individual is an additional cost.

About our Meals

We take pride in serving healthy, hearty and delicious meals. As a proud member of FeastON, we source locally when possible and add our special touch with herbs and edible flowers from our own garden. Meals start with breakfast the first day of the course and include: 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners plus an après-paddling snack. Coffee, tea and juice are complimentary. BYOB.

Locally roasted specialty coffee and homemade snacks can be purchased from our Riverside Shop & Café.

   

Group Discounts

We welcome groups of 5 or more at a discounted rate (conditions apply)

Youth aged 12-16 years receive 20% off, youth aged under 12 receive 30% off

Testimonials

Our family of 4 spent 5 days learning whitewater kayaking with MKC. We thoroughly enjoyed our week and look forward to returning to "our paddling summer camp". This was definitely one of our most memorable weeks we've spent together as a family and look forward to doing this again and again.

Nat

Now that our kids were old enough to try the sport, we booked a week of instruction and adventure at MKC. Consensus among all of us - one of our best trips ever. If you have any interest in whitewater (kayak or canoe) this visit is a must do.

Tim C

I took my 2 teenage sons for the family week. We were all beginners. The instructors were fantastic developing our skills and building our confidence over the 5 days. A very caring staff, a well structured course and great food made for a fun week.

Arden

The sleep was great! The fires were good! The games were good too! My goal was to learn new skills like the T-Rescue, wet exit, and steering, and they were achieved!

Ruth K, age 9

Family Week is running three times this season!

July 1 – 5
July 22- 26
August 12 – 16

Book Now

We welcome groups of 5 or more at a discounted rate (conditions apply).

Related Courses

Weekend

Family Weekend

Bring the kids for this fun-filled weekend getaway! Learn to kayak or canoe as a whole family at our Riverside Wilderness Resort!

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Intermediate
Advanced

$475 / Per person

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Whitewater Riders Youth Teen Kayak Camp

Two weeks of whitewater – freestyle, slalom, creeking, expeditions, and rescue – building positive whitewater leadership.

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$2999 / Per person

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5 Days

Mini Kids Kayak

*NEW!* For keen kids aged 5 to 7 years who want to play in the river in and around kayaks and canoes.

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Intermediate
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$650 / Per person

COURSE DETAILS

Reviews

5 star ratingA great week at MKC I have been to MKC many times over the years, and it is a fabulous way to spend a weekend or a week. I did the 5 day kayaking course with my daughter and granddaughter this year. The instruction at MKC is some of the best you will find anywhere in the world. The facilities are beautiful. It is set in a wooded area of north east Ontario. August is a great time to attend because the water is warm, and not a lot of bugs. July may be a bit warmer, , and early September in this area can be very beautiful, and the water is still warm. May and June in this area can be a bit buggy so come prepared if you are going in the early summer.

The river is dam fed from a top release dam, so the conditions are consistent and the water warm-- no need for dry suits-- I think the water was around 80 degrees this past week. The river itself is probably a class 2-3 river, but has some good technical lines for more advanced paddlers.

MKC is great at accommodating all levels of paddlers. I have gone with paddlers who have never been in white water, or a kayak for that matter, and by the end of the week, they are running the river with confidence. I have been doing white water kayaking for around 30 years, and I still learn something new every time I go. More importantly, I have fun with both the family I bring and the staff at the facility.

The business is now being managed by the founder's granddaughter. It is a third generation business. Stefi holds true to her grand parents and parents vision of a top notch teaching facility, but at the same time brings her own touches and personality to the operation. Since Stefi has starting running MKC, I have notice some really nice changes to the facilities, and the food is excellent-- I am vegetarian and really enjoyed the vege dishes. Lots of good looking meat dishes for those who like them. The staff all seem to be very happy and excited to be doing what they are doing. They clearly have a solid team that makes every part of the experience excellent.

There are various packages available. You can camp and do your own meals if you are on a budget. They have bunk style rooms for groups, and individual rooms for individuals and couples. There are also several screen walled cabins up in the bush that I love-- feels like camping but with a real bed and no wet tent to deal with when you get home. The accommodations are not fancy, but clean and comfortable. The chalet where meals are served and where people gather is beautiful. If you have kayaks (or canoes if that is what you are doing) you can use your own equipment or rent from MKC. There equipment is top of the line.

Price wise, I view it as an all inclusive vacation with the added benefit of instruction. It is a lot less money that you would pay for an all inclusive vacation pretty much anywhere else, and you are building skills and great memories.
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Chris C Avatar
Chris C
8/13/2023
5 star ratingFamily adventure! When we arrived at the facility, we were greeted with such warmth and hospitality. The staff in the store were so kind and had great vibes. On the actual tour, we were greeted with jokes and clear instructions. Very entertaining and informative.
We had such an exciting and adventurous adventure with our two children (ages 7 and 4). Our guide Alex was so knowledgeable and approachable. She helped make my kids feel comfortable and excited about rafting. Such a wonderful day on the raft. At times, my 4 year old was afraid of the rapids, but by the end she was smiling and so proud of herself for doing something so adventurous! We were on the raft with another family with an even younger child. I know the website says that even 2 year olds can go on the raft, but just be aware that some of the rapids are a bit intense and your child may be afraid. The great thing is that we felt safe with our helmets and lifejackets, and we were given clear instructions on what to do if we did fall in the river. All in all, it was a fantastic activity, and our most adventurous one as a family to date!
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503travellingtania Avatar
503travellingtania
8/17/2023
5 star ratingAdventure Rafting Great day adventure rafting with friends and family. From bridge jumping, surfing, flipping the raft and the laughs in between. Thanks to our guide Tatiana for an entertaining 2 hours.
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Sherpa57752201563 Avatar
Sherpa57752201563
8/05/2023
November 17th 10am - 6pm EST

Early bird sale.

20% OFF

all 2 and 5 day MKC kayak and canoe programs. Includes Yoga Week, Slalom Week, Week of Rivers, Women’s Week and Weekend, Family Weeks and Weekends, Senior’s Week, Kayak and canoe instructor courses

Must place deposit to receive discount. We cannot combine discounts.

early bird sale heron
BOOK A COURSE
March 4th - 8th 2024

10% off

5 day kayak + canoe courses

5% of all revenue from this week is donated to your choice of three organizations

We are forever grateful for the support we continually receive from our communities. To say a small thanks, we want to give back.

BOOK A COURSE