Oasis Ministries Canoe Trip

Wilderness Wanderings and Meditative meanderings
Canoeing Algonquin park, Ontario, Canada
space is limited to seven participants!

September 12-18, 2010

registration deadline: June 1, 2010
(to register: Contact betsykeller@oasismin.org or 717-737-8222)

See Pictures from the 2009 Trip - Click Here

The Canoe Days

Imagine the flow of your day looking something like this:

rising naturally with the sun
centering prayer and breakfast
paddling and/or hiking several hours on day trip (paddling partner is also prayer partner)
lunch on the lake - contemplative reading and prayer
additional quiet paddling time and/or personal retreat time for journaling/swimming
dinner prep/dinner/cleanup
campfire prayer and share--what is stirring, reflections, what touched you, etc
close day in silence

Expect the presence of the Holy to surround and permeate your days within a pristine landscape that will still and quiet your soul. Spend your days drawing close to the wisdom of the wilderness, prayerfully paddling through her waters, gazing quietly at her beauty, and being welcomed home.

There will be moments of
      wonder and delight,
            of reverence and remembrance,
                as we meander our way through nature,

which weaves its way
through both inner and outer landscapes,

and through times of community and solitude.

Our hope is to offer spaciousness for contemplation to occur naturally, trusting that nature will provide icons for the soul, and offer fresh breath for the spirit. Experience the deep healing and wholemaking that a return to wilderness invites.

all is well

vicki
sacredlistening@comcast.net

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Sunday: Meet in Palmyra, PA (pull out around 6am). Drive by van to Ontario. First night's lodging at Beechnut B&B
(http://www.beechnutbandb.com/)

Monday: Drive to outfitters in Madawaska to pick up equipment. Put in at Shall Lake entry point. Canoe to base camp site with gear and set up camp.

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday:
Experience Algonquin
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/geninfo/fall.html

Friday: Break camp. Lunch in Whitney. Experience visitor center. Hay Lake Lodge for dinner and lodging. (http://www.haylakecanada.com/)

Saturday: Breakfast at Hay Lake, depart for home. Arrive back in PA around 8pm.

*While camping, Dennis and Marti will provide all the provisions for meals, including food, utensils, plates, cups, etc. They will direct the food preparation and cleanup, but expect this to be a group activity.

Leaders:

Vicki Kensinger is a spiritual companion and lover of beauty, residing in Palmyra, PA, where she nurtures her garden, her creativity, and her spiritual direction practice, Sacred Listening. She has completed Oasis’ Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides two-year program, and the Deepening Year for Direction Ministries. She blogs at www.emmaatlast.wordpress.com

Dennis and Martha Shaak together bring over 80 years of canoe-camping experience to being helpful outfitters and guides. As a family, along with their daughter, Rachel, they have spent numerous weeks each summer since 1980 in Algonquin Provincial Park of Ontario, Canada and the Boundary Waters of Minnesota.

As a couple, traveling with friends, they have explored whitewater rivers of the far north, arriving at the headwaters of rivers by float plane and following those rivers to the Hudson Bay or the Arctic Ocean including the Missinaibi, Caribou, Horton, Nanook and Ellice Rivers. In addition, Dennis has paddled the Kuujjuaq and the Clark/Thelon River systems. Their canoe camping mentors have been the Minnesota Canoe Association, the Wilderness Canoe Association of Ontario, Nantahala Outdoors Center of NC, Wolf River Canoe Instruction of WI, Bob O’Hara and Cliff Jacobson, both from MN.

Dennis and Marti have been guiding and outfitting trips informally for church and camp groups for over 20 years and love to share the beauty of wilderness with novices.

Curious? Ready to Sign Up?

If you are interested in the canoe trip or would like to register to participate in it, please send an email to betsykeller@oasismin.org
or call 717-737-8222

Passport Required

Travel Insurance Expected

Contemplative Canadian Canoe Trip

COST: $995 per person
Check or Money order made Payable "Oasis Ministries"; VISA/ MC/Discover Card welcome over the phone

Dates: Sunday, September 12, 2010 to Saturday, September 18, 2010.

Includes van travel to and from Central PA to Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada

Trip cost includes all expenses, including equipment & transportation, except meals while traveling to and from Canada. Meals Sunday evening through Saturday breakfast are included in cost.