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Below is a highlight video of this trip. Enjoy!
Bring your sparkle and glitter and join us on an extraordinary 3-day Wild N Queer kayaking expedition off the West Coast of Vancouver Island near the famous surf towns of Tofino and Ucluelet September 9-11, 2019.
We will explore the temperate rainforest, white sandy beaches and paddle through some of the most enchanting turquoise waters amid an astonishing diversity of marine life.
This epic 3-day expedition will give us time to explore the world class and famous Broken Group Islands, an enchanting archipelago near the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. There is even a chance to see some wild life including Bears, wolves, otters, (well, that could be some of the campers too... but I am talking the real kind!) plus seals, sealions, whales, eagles, heron, gulls, and more.
We will celebrate you in this beautiful place...
Nourishing and delicious local and wild food
Laugh, sing, swim, play, and enjoy good times
Hanging out around a campfire
Camping in comfy tents
And inspiring guides that honour you, and show you this beautiful marine ecology.
No kayaking experience is necessary; participants must be comfortable in and around water, in good enough shape for 4 to 6 hours of daily kayaking and some easy hiking.
The Guides
Mark Riser is a passionate queer outdoor educator and the founder of Wild ‘n Queer. He loves to connect gay people with local ecologies, inspiring people to explore Nature, swim and dive, hike, kayak, backpack, forage, fish, and hunt, sharing his deep love of these beautiful places with people from all walks of life.
He is a SKGABC Certified Sea Kayak Guide (AOG) and holds a Wilderness First Responder certification, as well as training in bushcraft and wilderness survival. He holds a certificate in yoga studies from Bihar Yoga Bharati in India, and is a student of food-as-medicine and wild food cooking.
He loves to sing and play the ukulele, inspired by the beauty of the places he calls home.
Kevin Bradshaw is Head Guide and Operations Manager for Hello Nature Adventure Tours and oversees training and safety. Kevin has lived in Ucluelet, British Columbia since 2002, where he has been honing his craft as a professional Sea Kayaking Guide.
He is a Level 3 Guide and Guide Trainer with Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC (SKGABC) and a Sea Kayaking Instructor with Sea Kayak Instruction & Leadership Systems (SKILS).
He has paddled in numerous locations around British Columbia, Vancouver Island, and Costa Rica. He is truly at home in the Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound, British Columbia.
Itinerary for the 3-Day Wild N Queer Expedition
Day 1 - Barkley Sound
MONDAY, SEPT. 9, 2019 - Set up camp
We’ll meet at 8AM at 1943 Peninsula road at the Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina for a playful icebreaker game to get to know each other a bit. Then we’ll load our gear and head out. The one hour water taxi ride will give us a glimpse of the rugged and breath-taking beauty of the coast and Barkley Sound. The water taxi will take us to one of the many sandy beaches within the Broken Group Islands. After unloading and sending off the water taxi, we’ll show you how to fit everything in to the kayaks. Our guides will do a safety pre-trip talk, explaining and demonstrating the fundamentals of kayaking. You’ll learn or review how to get in and out, proper sitting position, paddle techniques, what to do in an emergency and of course answer any questions or concerns you might have.
Then we’ll work together to launch the kayaks into the great blue!
Please ask questions, whether about safety, kayaking, the sea and wild life we encounter or the forest ecology. We want you to feel welcome and we want to feed your curiosity about this beautiful marine environment we’re visiting. Our guides have been working in this part of the world for many years and are very knowledgeable about kayaking and about the area.
Our itinerary will be determined by our group’s ability and weather. We are aiming to paddle 4-6 hours per day leaving plenty of time for fun activities, such as beach games, delicious snacks, relaxing and simply enjoying one another’s company. Beautiful nature and group photos are encouraged!
We want to make this a fun, comfortable, community trip. Our adventure shouldn’t be painful or too strenuous. We will stop for a lunch break and our guides will prepare a delicious meal while you kick back, relax and take in the surrounding beauty.
We will set up camp for the night at one of the 7 designated campsites with outhouses in the Broken Group Islands.
Once we arrive on our chosen site, our guides will point out all facilities and campsites and we will set up tents together. Snacks and hot drinks will be served after camp is set up. Dinner will be served between 6 and 7 pm. After a wholesome meal and dessert, we look forward to bonding through everyone pitching in to cleanup. All designated campsites permit campfires. Storytelling around the fire or enjoying time alone is your choice, but before we all say good night, we’ll have a quick briefing with the everyone about the next day’s schedule!
Day 2 - Broken Islands
TUESDAY, SEPT. 10, 2019 - Exploring the West Coast's Broken Islands
We aim to have breakfast between 7 and 9 am – depending on weather. We may move camp every day or stay at one campsite for the entire trip. The guide will have final say, as we need to take weather and group ability into account.
We’ll be paddling and enjoying lunches on different locations within the islands throughout the trip. There’ll be spontaneous games, spots to discover inter-tidal life, explore old-growth forests, and ancient First Nation Village sites.
Day 3 - Broken Islands return back to Ucluelet
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11, 2019 - Final day to explore + return to Ucluelet
On the final kayaking day, after paddling for the day, we will be picked up by water taxi and whisked back to Ucluelet. Returning back around 4-4:30PM we will say our fond goodbyes, exchange email addresses and hugs so we can share photos and keep in touch.
Join us September 9-11, 2019. Book now - space is limited.
Payment and Cancellation Policy
A CAD$300 deposit is due at time of booking. Full prepayment is due on or before June 30, 2019.
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation made prior to June 30, 2019 will forfeit the $300 Non refundable, non transferable deposit. Any cancellations made after June 30, 2019 will forfeit the entire trip amount. We do recommend travel medical and trip cancellation interruption insurance. We are happy to provide a quote.
Trip Price: CAD$1199 + 5% GST tax = CAD$1259.00
Personal Travel Mgmt - Departures X Dean (BC Reg. 2806)
Suite 221, 8678 Greenall Ave., Burnaby, BC, V5J 3M6
TEL. 604.739.3622 X348
We operate in the traditional territories of the Musqeuam, Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Tseshaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, and Toquaht First Nations, and we work to create a good relationship with their cultures.
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