It All Comes Naturally

ORCKA-certified canoeing courses have been scheduled early May through early October! Check out https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/it-all-comes-naturally-29382055 for various tandem courses, (Basic Levels 1-2; 3; 1-3) and solo courses, (Basic Level 4). Safe Canoeing, Introduction to Canoe Tripping, and Canoe Tripping Level 1 are available by special arrangement. Public, corporate, youth groups, camps, government agencies... we can help you all! Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area Near Paris, Ontario. Email [email protected] for more information or check our website at iacn.ca.

The current state of emergency/stay at home order is set to last a month. That would take us to May 7. Our first courses are scheduled for May 8-9. Here is what we need to open for business: Province of Ontario moves back to the colour zones May 8. Brant County Health Unit allows us to operate. Grand River Conservation Authority opens their Conservation Areas and allows us to operate. ... There are a lot of moving parts, but it may be possible to start courses May 8th. It All Comes Naturally will keep you posted regarding decisions to operate, or cancel courses. If you have registered for a course in May and it gets canceled, there are options: - change to another weekend - request a refund, (full amount less Eventbrite's fees) Please email [email protected] if you have any questions. https://iacn.ca Be safe and stay healthy!

Five weeks until ORCKA-certified canoeing courses start at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area near Paris! May 8-9 courses are FULL, but there are spaces left in the other courses May 15 through early October. Check out course listings at https://iacn.ca or email [email protected] if you'd like to arrange a weekday corporate, youth group, school or government course.

Six weeks until ORCKA-certified courses start up at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area neat Paris! May 8-9 is almost full, but there is still a lot of room left in the rest of the courses mid-May through early October. Check out https://iacn.ca for course dates and click through to register on the Eventbrite page. Email [email protected] if you have questions.

This is World Water Day. What do you know about water issues locally, regionally, nationally and internationally? You might want to find out more, since we need water to paddle! https://www.worldwaterday.org/

Congratulations to Mikaela who won 25% off one of our courses in the Ontario Backcountry Camping FB page 5th anniversary contest! We have lots of courses to choose from at https://iacn.ca. Email [email protected] for more information.

Has anyone else built a snow/ice canoe? Share your pictures!

I've got canoes and a workshop... anyone have a couple of small jet engines? https://paddlingmag.com/vid/worlds-fastest-jet-canoe-video/

Everything you wanted to know about PFDs! https://paddlingmag.com/gear/pfds/how-to-choose-a-pfd/

Christmas is over, but that doesn't mean you have to stop thinking about gift giving! From now through the end of January, get 15% off 2020 prices. Email [email protected] for more information, and check https://iacn.ca for course dates, (to be posted in January).

Learn to be considerate of the wilderness you enjoy: https://paddlingmag.com/skills/top-11-canoe-trip-faux-pas/

Eighteen Days 'til Christmas.... Buy yourself or a loved one a day of ORCKA-certified canoeing lessons at 20% off 2020 prices! That's just $84 for a Basic Level 1-2 (tandem) course... or two Basic Level 3 (tandem) courses... or 2/3 a Basic Level 4 (solo) course! Email [email protected] for details!

A day late, but worth checking out.

May and June ORCKA-certified canoeing courses have been scheduled! Check out https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/it-all-comes-naturally-29382055 for various tandem courses, (Basic Levels 1-2; 3; 1-3) and solo courses, (Basic Level 4). Email [email protected] for more information or check our website at iacn.ca.

Buy that someone special, (or yourself), a gift certificate for the 2021 paddling season! 20% off 2020 prices... $84 for a full day of instruction! Good for a Basic Level 1-2 (tandem) course or two Level 3 (tandem) courses or 2/3 of a Level 4 (sol) course! Email [email protected] for more information and payment details.

Your canoeing is likely done for 2020. Time to put paddles on your feet and wander the winter woods! You could also try snowshoes.

It is with deep gratitude that I thank my 2020 clients who trusted It All Comes Naturally with your paddling skill building! It was a pleasure working with all of you, as well as instructors Laurel Grieve and Steve Diss. I'm so glad we were able to operate amidst these interesting COVID-19 times! I'm also looking forward to planning courses for next year. I may be offering the ORCKA Canoe Tripping Level 1 course: 16+ hours of instruction plus a minimum 1 night trip. (We'll do 3 or 4 nights, perhaps in late August.)

Coming soon: Christmas gift certificates for 2021 ORCKA canoe courses!

Just a few spots left for this weekend's ORCKA-certified canoeing courses at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area! Basic Canoeing Level 1-2 (tandem), Saturday October 3rd. Basic Canoeing Level 3 (tandem), Sunday October 4th. Check out www.iacn.ca or email [email protected] for more information.

Paddling may be done for the season for most of us, but you can still get outdoors for some "Vitamin N" this winter!

We've added tickets for the Basic Canoeing Level 1-2 course on Saturday October 3rd. Join us on our last weekend of the 2020 season! #ItAllComesNaturally #ORCKA #Pinehurst

Last of the fall courses: Level 4 solo, September 23-24 Level 1-2 tandem, October 3 Level 3 tandem, October 4... Email [email protected] for registration information. Check out www.iacn.ca.

As many of you know, there was a tragic drowning in Algonquin a couple of weeks ago. The simple story is that a group of paddlers wanted to have a wonderful backcountry experience for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, skill levels, wind and water temperature resulted in the tragedy. Much discussion has taken place about how this could have been prevented. Everything from debriefing the rescues to questioning the outfitter to discussing paddler skill levels - and more - can create... an atmosphere of criticism. This is not helpful. Debriefing, questioning and discussing can help, though. There are many opportunities to reduce risks in outdoor adventure pursuits. Perhaps a good place to start would be this general information site, https://startboating.ca/. There are other websites to check out, which I will post over the next few days. (If you have suggestions, send them my way.) Condolences to the friends and family of the people involved in the event. See more

The paddling community should be advocates for the protection of our waterway resources. Wolf Lake is at risk and needs our help. Please consider supporting this worthy cause. Www.savewolflake.org.