Recently, Rotary District 7090 organized its annual winter excursion to Algonquin Park in support of the Rotary Youth & Exchange Programs. Representing the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise were Rasmus (inbound exchange student from Denmark), Daniel (inbound exchange student from Spain) and Charli (outbound exchange student going to Brazil). Representing the Rotary Club of Simcoe were Richard (inbound exchange student from Germany) and George-Owen (outbound exchange student going to Japan). The whole group (split into two) from D7090 had the experience of a lifetime from 11-14 &14-17 Feb '26 as conducted by the the Algonquin Background Canoe Experiences team.
Go to the ‘Read more …’ tab to read a short summary of the trip as written by the students themselves. Also given is a short video that the students produced that captures their Algonquin experience and excitement.
Story and video provided by our RCNS Exchange Students - Rasmus (inbound from Denmark), Daniel (inbound from Spain) and Charli (soon to be outbound from Canada)
Algonquin is an amazing experience that has been preparing outbounds for their exchange years and giving inbounds unforgettable memories for 38 years. The Algonquin trip first started in 1988 at Northern Wilderness Outfitters, and then it was moved to Temagami in the 90s. In 2005, C amp Temagami closed, and the trip moved back to Northern Wilderness Outfitters, where it has remained. Up until around 2010, the trip was named Temagami; then it officially changed to Algonquin. Regardless of the location or the name, the trip has always been filled with heartfelt lessons and laughs. The trip is led by Greg Norton and Mike Taylor, who have been co-leading since around 2018 and have worked hard to make it as memorable and wonderful as it is. We all believe it’s one of the highlights of our year!
We are so lucky and thankful to have the support of the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise. Without them, we wouldn’t have the takeaways or self-growth we experienced from this trip. We tested our limits and learned we are capable of more than we know. We proved to ourselves our ability to overcome challenges, and no matter the difficulty of something, you leave it feeling stronger than before. Algonquin taught us not only outdoor skills but also better communication, staying in the moment, and to not compare your life to others. It also taught us the importance of teamwork and perseverance. It wasn’t just the snow that made Algonquin so beautiful, it was the people and adventures we experienced there!
