Yukon Explorer: Paddle Edition

Get Duke of Ed for this trip

Where young explorers become confident leaders

Yukon Explorer is the gateway to the world of outdoor expeditions. The mighty river welcomes youth from around the globe and from all walks of life. For some, it’s their first big step. For others, it’s a long-overdue return home to the great outdoors. Here, everyone has their own place. Are you ready for epic canoe expeditions, wilderness cook-offs, and new friendships? The North is calling!

Itinerary and Trip Details
Packing List

DETAILS
Novice Dates (370 km):
Trip 1: Jul 12 – 21 (Fri-Sun)
Trip 2: August 9 – 18  (Fri–Sun)
Advanced Dates (403 km):
Trip 1: Jul 19 – 28 (Fri–Sun)

LOCATIONS
Whitehorse, Yukon River
AGES
13–17 (co-ed)

PRICES
Novice Trip: $2699 + GST
Deposit (any trip): $200.00 CAD + GST
Advanced trip: $3399 + GST
Deposit (any trip): $200.00 CAD + GST

PROMO CODE available!
For select Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants
Click here to contact us and learn more

SAVE $50 on BC Explorer: Paddle Edition with Yukon Explorer registration

Includes: Return flight (Vancouver–Whitehorse), meals, group camping gear (incl. tents), pre-trip check-in

More info: office@firesideadventures.ca

NEW: choose between two epic options

Novice (Johnson’s Crossing to Carmacks):
For youth easing into outdoor canoe expeditions for their first time. We’ll start on the slow, easy Teslin River before joining the mighty Yukon. Unique highlight: travelling through Hootalinqua, where a shipwrecked barge sits on an island next to the ruins of an old trading post.

Advanced (Carmacks to Dawson City):
For returning youth and/or those ready for something more physical. The trip distance is slightly longer with a tighter schedule (extra driving is required). Unique highlight: watching the opaque waters of the White River swirl and mix with the pristine Yukon River underneath your canoe as you pass through the confluence.

What’s so special about Yukon Explorer?

• Explore the ruins: travel back through time and explore the ruins of dozens of mining camps, settlements, and shipwrecks from the legendary Klondike gold rush.

• Indigenous culture: Understand what it means to be in a place where Indigenous culture and governance are thriving. Did you know that 11 of 14 First Nations in the Yukon are self-governing?

• Where navigation gets real: Use a beautiful hand-drawn map that details everything from log jams to old forest fire burns - this is such a cool way to learn how to read a map and landscape.

• Choose your own adventure: we have the freedom to camp virtually anywhere along the river. Feel the satisfaction of choosing a great spot while you cook over the campfire with your new friends

• Yep - we’re doing a solo experience! You’ll be supervised by your guides, but you will experience 24 hours of solitude - just the sound of the wind in the trees and the river in the reeds.

• Wildlife: watch wide-eyed as your canoe silently glides past an enormous moose, or perhaps lock eyes with a solitary eagle on the hunt. In the Yukon, there are more moose than people. A lot more.

Last year’s adventurers setting off on their journey!

True leadership skills are born in the Canadian wilderness

• Outdoor Leadership Training: guided by our Fireside Pillars, define what leadership means to you and hold yourself accountable. When you’re ready, your instructors and peers will vote for you to receive the traditional Fireside Adventures leadership bracelet.

• Expedition Skills: Challenge yourself with a canoe expedition style of adventuring, including canoe manoeuvres, risk management, and wildlife safety. These experiences develop universal life skills like perseverance and problem-solving, not to mention a love for nature. When you learn ‘em in the great Canadian North, you won’t forget!

• Social-emotional learning & resilience: Spending time in nature brings challenges but also opportunities for peace, reflection, and connection. This is the unbroken space and time you need to foster relationships, trust, and personal transformation through a mix of one-on-one mentorship, daily video/audio journaling, and group dialogues.

• Increase self-knowledge: Over the course of two weeks, clarify your personal values, strengthen your decision-making skills, and learn how to set and achieve short-term and long-term goals.

• Express yourself: There’s something about the Yukon landscape that feels larger-than-life. It’s no surprise that it’s one of Canada’s brightest hubs for Indigenous culture and art and profoundly impacts all who spend time there. During our time in the Yukon, we will provide opportunities for you to practise visual art, storytelling, music, journaling and more.

• Duke of Edinburgh’s award: earn your bronze, silver, or gold. Here’s how.

Grooving during a midnight sunset…. it only gets this dark in August!

Expert guide Matt teaching the learners how to rescue a canoe.

Barnsy, Yukon Explorer 2022

“One night at Carmacks, I was showing a few campers how to take long-exposure night photos - it was late August so the sky was dark. Then one of the campers started yelling for me to come quickly. I ran over - not sure what was the matter - and to my surprise, he had captured a photo of the Aurora. We couldn’t see it with the naked eye - but the camera could capture it on 1/30th exposure. Then, before our eyes, the Aurora started shining brightly and dancing above us. That photo is framed on my wall - and theirs.”

Dani Mikolela, Yukon Explorer 2021

“Yukon Explorer was my first experience with Fireside as a camper. I completed my solo experience while challenging myself to fast and build my own shelter. Since then I’ve become a Junior staff… Fireside has helped me with my social skills and my connection with nature. As an instructor, I have helped Barnsy develop his parkour program over the past two years.”

This is a video that Barnsy took while on expedition on the Yukon River in 2021!