Get Out!
A new FREE outdoor activity group for LGBTTI2ASQQ youth aged 15-29.

Get Out is a Supporting Our Youth (SOY) initiative dedicated to providing opportunities for LGB2TQ youth to get outdoors, get active in Toronto and in the Ontario wilderness.

For more info contact getout(at)sherbourne.on.ca

 

GET OUT in a CANOE 2013

SOY's Get Out Youth is planning canoe trips for LGBTTI2SAQQ youth ages 16-29. Planned in partnership with Project Canoe, these trips are an opportunity for participants to build confidence and self esteem, as well as to learn to work in a cooperative environment. The trips are scheduled for August 2013 and are free for youth to participate!

What is it?

• A five day canoe trip in Lake Temagami, Ontario (Near North Bay, ON)
• An opportunity to learn wilderness skills, camping, explore the outdoors and so much more
• A positive experience in a safe LGBTQ group setting
• No previous experience necessary, everyone is invited to join

For an application, please attend one of our open groups:

1. Sunday April 7, 2013 @ 1 pm – 3 pm @ the Sherbourne Health Centre, 2nd floor – 333 Sherbourne Street
2. Sunday April 14, 2013 @ 1 pm- 3 pm @ the Sherbourne Health Centre, 2nd floor – 333 Sherbourne Street

Q: Who is Project Canoe?
A: Project Canoe uses the outdoors, including wilderness canoeing, to create a transformative environment in which young people develop life skills, social competencies, and resiliency, thereby fostering their own personal success. We partner with our youth, supporting them as they carry these skills and successes forward to manage the complex challenges of their lives.

Q: How much do trips cost?
A: This is a free event. There are no costs involved to participants.

Q: Who is this trip for?
A: This trip is open to all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual, 2-spirit, intersex, queer and questioning youth aged 15-29.

Q: When is the canoe trip?
A: There will be 2 canoe trips in August 2013. They are 5 days long including a weekend.

Q: What is a typical day on trip?
A: After your first night on trip your group will wake up, eat breakfast and get ready for the day. Everyone helps to clean up the campsite and get all the tents taken down, and all of the gear packed up. Once everyone is ready to go, the group will get into their canoes and start paddling! While in the canoe you can play games, sing, talk with your peers and staff or just enjoy the scenery. You and your group could stop for a snack, a swim, a hike or to go exploring, before arriving at your campsite for the night. If your group needs to cross over land between two lakes on the way, you carry all of your gear and your boats across a trail (Portaging). When you get to your campsite, everyone pitches in to get ready for the night. This could include setting up tents and tarps, collecting firewood, helping with dinner or other trip tasks. When you are on your campsite, your group might want to play some games, go for a swim, or just hang out and relax.

Q: Where do we sleep?
A: We don’t have cabins or bunks. Since we travel to a different campsite every night, we pack tents and sleep in sleeping bags inside.

Q: Can I bring my partner?
A: Absolutely. However, like everyone else, your partner will need to apply separately to participate. Getting on the canoe trip does not automatically mean that your partner will. If you do both end up on the trip together, we ask that you be respectful of the group you are travelling with and refrain from public displays of affection while on the trip.

Q: Are there showers? Are there toilets?
A: Out on trip there is no running water, which means there are no showers or toilets. To make sure everyone is healthy and clean we swim a lot. We ask that people don’t bring soaps or shampoos on trip, as they can be harmful to the environment, but we make sure that we bring safe soap that people can use if they need to. Since there are no toilets in the woods, we find a private spot, away from the water and go to the bathroom outside. We always carry toilet paper and hand sanitizer on our trips. Some campsites will have a ‘kybo’ nearby. A kybo is like an outhouse, but without any wall! (Don’t worry, they are always in a private spot)

Q: Why can’t we bring our electronics and cell phones on trip?
A: On this trip, we think it is really important to leave the city in the city. Having electronics like iPods or cell phones can be really distracting and take away from amazing wilderness experience that you are going have with us! On top of that, it is hard to guarantee that things won’t get wet, dirty or broken on trip (it’s likely that they will) so it is better to leave them at home where they will be safe.

Q: Can I come on trip if I don’t know how to swim?
A: Of course you can! Knowing how to swim is not a requirement for our trips. It is important that you are comfortable in the water, but since we always wear life jackets while we are canoeing it’s ok if you aren’t a strong swimmer. Lots of our trip leaders are also lifeguards or swimming instructors and could even help you to learn on trip, if you wanted to try.

Q: What are the bugs like?
A: Summer in Northern Ontario can mean mosquitoes and black flies. Depending on what time of the summer you come on trip there might be lots of bugs (earlier in the summer), or there might not be as many (later in the summer). We always have bug spray and calamine lotion on trip with us to help bug bites, and we recommend wearing light colors and long sleeves to help keep the bugs away. Some people like to wear a bug jacket or a bug net to help with this as well.

Q: What will we eat on trip? What if I have special dietary needs?
A: One important thing to know is that we usually eat vegetarian on trip. Although sometimes we will have tuna, or dried meat like beef jerky. We eat lots of foods that you might eat at home, like pancakes, bagels, grilled cheese, pizza, pasta, stir fry, burritos and chili. We always have snacks like trail mix, granola bars and fruit on hand, and if you don’t like what is being made, the staff will always find something that you will eat. If you have special dietary needs, let us know when you apply and we will do our very best to accommodate you!

Q: Do I need camping/canoe tripping experience?
A: No! Lots of youth who come on trip with us have never done anything like it before. We will support you and teach you all the skills you need to know. What you do need, is a willingness to try, and a sense of adventure!

Q: Will I be safe?
A: Safety is a number one concern at Project Canoe. They have been leading youth on canoe trips for 36 summers and have lots of experience in the wilderness and in Temagami. Project Canoe trippers all have Advanced Wilderness First Aid training, as well as water rescue training (like their Lifeguarding qualifications or their Bronze Cross), as well as lots of experience planning and leading canoe trips. They know what to do in all kinds of situations, and there is always someone at base camp who knows where your group is and how you are doing, thanks to SPOT Satellite GPS Messengers (http://www.findmespot.ca/en/index.php?cid=102) that we have on every trip.

Q: Who will be in my group?
A: Each group will be made up of eight youth participants as well as staff and volunteers from GetOUT and Project Canoe.

Q: What is the Staff to Participant ratio?
A: All of our trips have at least 1:2 staff to participant ratio. We feel that the combination of our low ratio and our small groups really makes for a unique experience. Our small groups are also conducive to building relationships and group bonding.

Q: How do we get to and from Temagami?
A: Project Canoe provides transportation from Toronto to Temagami and back for every youth who is coming on trip. Youth and staff will meet at the Lawrence Heights Community Centre at 7:30 on the first day of their trip and will return to the same location around 5:30 on the last day of their trip. At this time, we are not able to provide transportation to Toronto for youth who live out of town, but are willing to work with individual caregivers and referrers to find solutions. With special arrangements made beforehand, youth can also be dropped off at our base camp in Temagami, if this is a closer location than Toronto.

Q: How do I apply?
A: Come to a one of our GetOUT Canoe Trip open group meetings to find out more about the trip, fill out an application, and meet other youth interested in tripping with you. Groups will be held at Sherbourne Health Centre, on the second floor, on April 7th and April 14th from 1-3pm.
Starting in May, we will get together once a month on a Sunday afternoon.

Q: What am I expected to contribute?
A: Canoe tripping is fun, challenging and rewarding. There will be opportunities to push yourself but we work as a team and leave no-one behind. You will be expected to put in your best effort in paddling, carrying gear, and setting up camp, and to voice your concerns and needs so that we can help find a solution. We ask above all that you be open minded, respectful, and encouraging to others.