Surf to Snow
A Northern Odyssey
An 11-day Vancouver Island & Yukon adventure · Ages 13–18
One spring break. Two extraordinary worlds.
One week, you’re finding your feet on a surfboard beside the Pacific. A few days later, you’re stepping into the snowy landscapes of the Yukon. Between those moments: rainforest trails, shared camp routines, new friendships, and the small victories that come from doing something you haven’t done before.
Surf to Snow brings together six days of Salty Express on Vancouver Island and five days in the North, including travel. From Parksville, Tofino and Ucluelet to Whitehorse, this is a chance to experience two very different sides of Canada with the same group beside you.
The places are a big part of the adventure. So is what happens along the way: offering a hand, trying again, finding your voice in a group, and discovering that you can do more than you expected. There is room for laughter, reflection and the friendships that grow when you share something memorable.
March 14–24, 2027 · 11 days
Begin with Salty Express on March 14–19, fly from Vancouver to Whitehorse on March 20, and return to Vancouver on March 24. Northern Lights viewing depends on weather and aurora activity; sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Trip details
Ages
13–18
Locations
Vancouver Island and Whitehorse, Yukon
Length
11 days
Start
Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal
March 14 at 10:00 AM
Return
Vancouver, March 24
Flight and pickup details provided before departure.
Includes
Six-day Salty Express adventure
Five-day Yukon segment, including travel
Return Vancouver–Yukon flights
Four nights of Yukon accommodation
Outdoor leadership and life-skills learning
Pre-trip check-in
Big adventure? Let’s talk.
Chat with Willy & Barnsy
office@firesideadventures.ca
Your journey, from surf to snow
Chapter 1: Find your coastal rhythm
March 14–19 · Vancouver Island
Salty Express takes you through Parksville, Tofino and Ucluelet for six days of surfing, hiking and camping. Meet the Pacific through surf lessons, explore our coastal temperate rainforest backyard, and make space for local art and everyday camp life. Learning happens in the water, on the trail, and when the group works together to get the next part of the day underway.
There is a particular kind of confidence that comes from trying again after a tumble, speaking up with an idea, or helping someone else through a challenge. Those are the moments we make room for.
Chapter 2: Trade ocean spray for northern snow
March 20–24 · Whitehorse and the Yukon
Fly north on March 20 and step into a different season. Snow-covered landscapes, northern culture and the possibility of looking up at the aurora give this part of the journey its own character. Our Northern Lights program draws on winter sports, dogsledding, snowshoeing, northern arts and wildlife exploration. The final activity schedule will reflect conditions and availability.
Four nights of Yukon accommodation and return flights between Vancouver and Whitehorse are included. Return to Vancouver on March 24 with a shared story that stretches from the Pacific coast to the North.
Moments to look forward to
Try the surf: practise, laugh, and find your balance in Tofino.
Explore the coast: walk through rainforest and discover Vancouver Island’s coastal communities.
Make camp a team effort: take part in the routines and responsibilities that keep an adventure moving.
Experience the North: encounter snowy landscapes and northern arts and culture around Whitehorse.
Look to the night sky: when conditions allow, share the anticipation of watching for the Northern Lights.
Find your people: build friendships through shared challenges, conversation and time outdoors.
What you take home
Confidence grows through experience. Independence grows when you take responsibility. Teamwork grows when your choices matter to other people. Across both parts of this journey, we connect outdoor skills with everyday life: communicating clearly, looking after your belongings, contributing to a group, adapting when plans change, and reflecting on what you have learned.
The Fireside Way: Challenge. Strive. Learn.
Adventure gives young people opportunities to practise curiosity, initiative and care for others. Our role is to connect the experience with learning, ask useful questions and make room for different perspectives. We travel as guests, approaching the places and people we encounter with respect and a willingness to listen.
This is an invitation to step beyond the familiar, with time to be part of a group and discover your own strengths. The aim is for the learning to matter after the bags are unpacked, in school, friendships, family life and the next challenge you choose.
Interested in using the trip for your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Adventurous Journey? Speak with us before booking so requirements and approval can be confirmed for your Award level.
Creating a glass Aurora at Lumel Studios
Barnsy, Camp Director
“I’ll never forget my first time on a dogsled. It was -43 celsius and we were headed onto a frozen river. Before we left, I was definitely worried. But once I got the parka on and jumped in the sled, the sun came out and I felt so comfortable I actually fell asleep - I felt like I was on the beach in Mexico. That’s when I learned that in a semi-arid climate like the Yukon, it’s really easy to manage the cold if you have the right gear.”
