BC-Yukon Combination Expeditions

See the best of Canada’s outdoors and unleash the wild within!

We’re introducing our new approach to expeditions and taking youth to our favourite places in Canada.  This is our invitation to Canadian and international youth to sign up for training in backcountry expeditions, paddling rivers and oceans, leadership, climate change, cultural education, outdoor skills, and hiking.

Canada is more than hockey and maple syrup. What defines Canada is its stunning, sweeping landscapes and the dynamic character of the people who call it home. Join World Bound: Wild Roots Canada and embark on a multi-week journey across Canada’s most iconic and untouched wilderness. From the lush, endless rainforests of British Columbia to the expansive, untamed valleys and tundras of the Yukon, both our BC-Yukon Double-Header and World Bound: Wild Roots Canada courses are life-shaping experiences focusing on climate and cultural education, Indigenous and local perspectives, outdoor leadership skills training, and expedition travel.

Are you ready?

Panorama shot of the Yukon River valley

Packing List

Double-Header DATES (18-day):
June 27 – July 14, 2026
July 17 – August 3, 2026

World Bound Wild Roots DATES (26-day):
June 27 – July 22, 2026
July 17 – Aug 11, 2026

AGES
13–18 (co-ed)

LOCATIONS
BC Locations: Vancouver, Sechelt
Yukon Locations:
Whitehorse, Carmacks, Yukon/Teslin Rivers

EARLY BIRD PRICES * (Expires Dec 01)
26-day:
$5,299 + GST (CAD)
18-day:
$4,599 + GST (CAD)

STANDARD PRICES * (Expires Dec 01)
26-day:
$5,599 + GST (CAD)
18-day:
$4,699 + GST (CAD)
Non-refundable Deposit for both: $1000.00 CAD + GST

Includes:
– 24/7 instruction/support and pre-course check-in
– Return flight (Vancouver – Whitehorse)
– Accommodation (tent and hostel) and meals
– Canoes, PFDs, and canoe skill training
– Ground transportation
– Climate Change workshops
– World Bound Certificate of Completion and T-shirt
– Post-course follow-up

Does not include: Transportation costs outside of the above, Vancouver Airport pick-up and drop-off outside of the preferred arrival and departure times, medical insurance, and anything not mentioned above.

More info: office@firesideadventures.ca

The Adventure at a Glance

We begin this adventure surrounded by the glass towers of Vancouver before heading to the famous Sunshine Coast, where we’ll build our canoe and outdoor skills while exploring the coastal temperate rainforests. The Sunshine Coast is Fireside’s home base location as it offers incredible paddling, hiking, foraging, and camping. After taking in the best of Vancouver and Sunshine Coast

Then, we head north to Whitehorse as we begin an epic canoe trip down the Teslin and Yukon Rivers. These rivers will bring us into contact with the ruins of the Gold Rush, sweep us through landscapes that feel larger than life, allow us to encounter iconic Canadian wildlife, and - most importantly - give us the opportunity to connect with and honour the knowledge and traditions the Indigenous people and their home that we travel through. 

Experiences you won’t want to miss:

  • Follow the wake of history during a back-country canoe journey down the Yukon and Teslin Rivers that have carried Indigenous nations and gold prospectors on their water

  • Canoe through bioluminescent water in the Sechelt Inlet

  • Safely encounter wildlife you’ve only seen on TV, like orca whales, moose, seals, bears, and so much more

  • Become more competent in the outdoors by learning critical outdoor skills like camp set-up, outdoor cooking, plant and animal identification, and Leave-No-Trace principles

  • Connect with ancient Indigenous cultures such as the coastal Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Lil̓wat7úl, as well as the Yukon’s Northern Indigenous communities

  • Experience endless day and find out why the Yukon is called ‘the Land of the Midnight Sun’

  • See first-hand the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, river erosion, and the ‘drunken forests’ that mark melting permafrost

  • Immerse yourselves in Canadian arts and culture through the stories, songs, and artwork of the Yukoners and British Columbians

 
BC Canoe Route

BC Canoe Route

Yukon Canoe Route

The places we’ll go

Sechelt Inlet

Sechelt Inlet

Sechelt Inlet, nestled along BC’s Sunshine Coast, is a pristine marine sanctuary celebrated for its unspoiled coastal beauty. This tranquil inlet boasts serene waters, old-growth rainforests, and a thriving marine ecosystem. Canoe through secluded coves, hike along forested shores, and witness the wonders of its untouched water wonderland.

Teslin and Yukon Rivers

Teslin and Yukon Rivers

The most majestic and historic watercourse in Canada, the Yukon River winds through remote and truly untamed wilderness. Along its meandering path, you'll encounter sweeping landscapes, abundant wildlife, and some of the most ancient pieces of this land’s history.

Whitehorse and Dawson City

Whitehorse and Dawson City

The two defining cities of the Yukon, both Whitehorse and Dawson City are remnants of the Gold Rush that have become synonymous with Canada’s True North. Whitehorse and Dawson City have fascinating histories and thriving cultures that make for a one-of-a-kind wild urban experience.

 

BC-Yukon Double-Header: Sixteen days. Two regions. One swashbuckling canoe adventure!!

This one is for the hardcore Fireside kids and awesome teens who want to jump in head first. Barnsy got tired of there not being enough rock and roll in our canoe trips, so he decided to combine the two classic trips: BC Explorer and Yukon Explorer into one mega-adventure. Start in BC’s beautiful Sechelt Inlet to hone your canoeing, camping, cooking, leadership, sense of humour and one-liner skills. Then you’ll be ready to fly all the way up to Whitehorse - same adventure, same team, same canoe… and tackle the Teslin River.

Old-timey poster for the canoe adventure feature Barnsy
A healthy, delicious meal prepared over the campfire
 

World Bound Wild Roots: Become a Climate Adventurer

The fight against climate change is a global one, so a climate activist must become comfortable venturing into new environments, integrating with local cultures, and learning the languages and traditions of the people they meet. Both British Columbia and the Yukon are legendary for their natural beauty, being cultural and artistic hotspots, and also a long history of resource extraction.

During this course, youths will learn to navigate canoes through vast Canadian wilderness, lead wilderness expeditions, and encounter Canada’s complex relationship with the natural world. Along the way, they’ll spend time meeting British Columbian and Northern Indigenous communities, learning wilderness skills, and how to navigate an increasingly complex world, all while unplugging in some of the greatest outdoor spaces the world has to offer. Our Climate Adventurers will return home with the tools they need for their journey as leaders of the future

The group paddling the Yukon River
 

Our World Bound Climate Change Curriculum 

Every day in Canada’s wilderness is a day of surprise, inspiration, and important lessons. This experience will test your resilience, adaptability, and commitment to creating a better world while exploring the effects of climate change and learning how to adapt, lead, and self-advocate for a better future. Our mission is to bring Canadian and international youth together to explore and challenge the ideas, myths, and leadership principles to reframe climate change education and outdoor youth leadership from  a uniquely Canadian perspective.

We know these aren’t easy topics. That’s why we’ve created a unique summer outdoor youth program that respects the need for supportive mentors, adventure, outdoor skill-building, the expressive arts, and opportunities for self-reflection and group discussion. World Bound Canada combines wilderness immersion, consultation with Indigenous knowledge keepers, and our innovative World Bound Climate Change Curriculum to give youth the tools and perspectives they need to take action in reconciliation and the fight against climate change. For more detailed information about the curriculum, please visit our World Bound Curriculum page.

A group of youths discussing climate change in the forest

Pillar 1: Integrating Climate Change Principles and Perspectives

  • Two-eyed Seeing: Combine Western science and Indigenous climate science to create a holistic understanding of climate change

  • Local/Regional: Compare southern British Columbian and northern Yukon experiences of climate change

  • Rural-urban: Learn what both urban and rural communities are doing to adapt to climat

Canoeing

Pillar 2: Exploring Real-world Environments

  • Ocean and coastal environments: The Sunshine Coast/Sechelt Inlet

  • River environments: The Yukon and Teslin Rivers

  • Urban environments: Whitehorse and Dawson City

Kids meeting a local Yukon elder

Pillar 3: Volunteering and Connecting within Communities

  • Connect with BC’s coastal Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and the Yukon’s Northern Indigenous communities

  • Meet local activists, artisans, and entrepreneurs in Vancouver and Whitehorse

  • Help preserve nature through litter clean-up and Leave-No-Trace practices

Youth leader navigating from the bow of a canoe

Pillar 4: Strengthening Life, Social, and Leadership Skills

  • Wilderness survival skills (ie. camp set-up, fire-building, plant and animal identification, navigation)

  • Leave-No-Trace principles

  • Outdoor leadership and teamwork skills through canoeing, camp maintenance, and outdoor meal preparation

  • Canoe paddle and safety skills

  • Expressive arts development

  • Social-emotional learning and reflection through journalling and an intensive 24-hour solo experience

A group of campers touching their paddles together in a circle

Pillar 5: Sustaining Climate Action through Solution-focused Approaches

  • Membership in the World Bound Adventures: Climate Ambassador community

  • Year-round participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (which supports climate action)

  • Membership in the Vancouver Outdoor School Youth Network

  • Internships as a climate ambassador and mentor in local sustainable businesses and future expeditions

 

It's a Life Changing Experience