Canoeing

Canoeing - Girls Summer Camp Canoeing

Canoeing is offered as a full day adventure activity on many of our Alpengirl camps in Montana. Montana’s flat water rivers welcome us to bask in the sun and have some relaxed fun on the river while enjoying canoeing, swimming, viewing nesting osprey, discovering mysterious underwater grasses and spying a moose in the willows. Canoeing provides summer camp girls with a nice pairing of outdoor physical activity with natural relaxation.

Canoeing in Montana near Idaho

Alpengirl camp sessions that offer canoeing are …

Canoes, Paddle, Life Jackets

Alpengirl rents canoes from rental companies who provide us with the canoes, paddles, and a life jacket for everyone. You will be fitted into one of those life jackets, handed a paddle, and taught canoeing basics by your Alpenguides along the river.

Canoeing at camp is usually an all day event and we’ll bring along lunch and have a riverside picnic. We will also bring our little backpack packed with the essentials like a water bottle, sunscreen, and rain jacket. Because of the potential for getting splashed by a racing comrade canoe, we get to hang out in our swimsuits all day, ready for any splashing or jumping in that may occur at a moment’s notice.

Tip testing the canoe - Woops!

Girls Camp Canoeing

Campers of all experience and fitness levels are able to canoe at girls camp. In fact, most girls at camp have never canoed before. Before canoeing starts, Alpenguides will introduce canoeing basics (gear, technique, safety) to the group while on shore. Then, to assure a smooth start, you'll be paired with canoe partners based on experience and comfort (non-swimmer and poor swimmer will be matched with Alpenguides). There are 2 or 3 girls in a canoe, and about 6-8 canoes traveling down the river together, and all girls have an opportunity to switch canoes and different positions in canoes during the day on the river. The Montana waterways that Alpengirl canoes on are flat and mild and are easily navigated by beginners. Occasionally the shallow waters require you to get out to lighten the load in order to get up and over a gravel bar and continue on to the next swimming hole for an epic Alpenolympic water fight!

Gain Canoe Skills

  • Practice Leave No Trace skills while canoeing in river environments. 
  • Learn methods of entering, exiting and stabilizing canoes to avoid tipping over.
  • Perform basic paddle strokes and learn how to steer the canoe.
  • Communicate effectively in a canoeing partnership and in a group of canoes.
  • Identify and avoid natural risks related to canoeing such as identifying best channels, avoiding obstacles in the river, and what to do if you do capsize your canoe.