Boreal is a trip with a twist, departing from Toronto
About Task Groups Itinerary What to Pack DJ Sets Connect
About Boreal
Boreal, a group camping trip with a twist, has departed Toronto, Canada, each July since 1998. It’s a magical weekend of campfires, swimming, dancing, and enjoying the natural surroundings with good food, music and friends old, new, and to-be.
From Toronto, we travel north as a group in school buses to a beautiful river in Muskoka. Upon arrival, we paddle canoes upstream to a secluded campsite and build the weekend around a Saturday night đź•ş dance party like no other.
Our destination is part of the Canadian Shield, the oldest rock on the face of Earth. It is an undeveloped hardwood forest with rocky shores on the river’s edge, waterfalls, and rapids.
It’s a lush area with wildlife including moose, beaver, turtle, foxes, the endangered Five-Lined Skink (Ontario’s only native species of lizard), the venomous Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake and Bald Eagles. It’s truly the perfect spot for magnificent swimming and camping, and it is a place we will all respect for its wild, majestic beauty.
Boreal brings open-minded, diverse, and inclusive people together to share unforgettable outdoor experiences and forge lasting bonds.
Task Groups
Boreal thrives on teamwork. Everyone joins a task group before the trip and participates in that task while on the trip so that we can all have a wonderful weekend together. Your task group is fun.
The task groups are:
- Supply Boat Pack: Start immediately upon bus arrival at the river.
- Kitchen Setup: Begin upon arrival at camp.
- Outhouse Construction: Begin upon arrival at camp.
- Dinner Prep: Start 1 hour after arrival at camp.
- Canoe Tidy-Up: 1 hour after arrival, stow canoes in groups, upside down and away from the shoreline.
- Firewood Collection & Campfire Build: After you set up camp.
- Brunch Prep: 10:00 AM
- Sound Setup: 2:00 PM
- Dinner Prep: 5:00 PM
- Brunch: Served at 11:00 AM
- Clean-Up: Begins at 3:00 PM. We leave no trace!
Itinerary
Friday
- 11:30 AM: Keele Subway Station parking lot (520 Indian Rd). The key to Boreal is leaving and arriving together.
- 3:00 PM:Â Arrive at Moon River and paddle upstream with life vests on and 3 people per canoe
- 4:30 PM:Â Set up camp and perform task group activities for those on Friday tasks.
- 8:00 PM:Â Dinner, campfire, meeting new friends, exploring camps, and stargazing.
Saturday
- Noon: Brunch
- You can swim, float, canoe, and hike up the river to see more waterfalls. Dreamy music begins in the afternoon.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner
- 9:00 PM: Dance by the fire and under the stars.
- 4:30 AM: Music ends
Sunday
- Noon: Brunch
- 3:00 PM: Everyone in their canoes.
- 4:00 PM:Â Picnic break by the tuck shop.
- 8:30 PM:Â 8:30 PMÂ Arrive back at Keele Subway before sunset. Don’t forget anything!
What to Pack
- Water: Pack 8L minimum each
- Snacks: lots….
- Camping Gear: Pack a tent, sleeping bag and pad, and clothing layers. See the Boreal Packing List (PDF) and check the Weather.
- Toiletries+: Sun/rain/bug protection
- Utensils: Plate, bowls, cutlery
- Footwear: Outdoor or water shoes are suggested, not required.
- Biodegradable Products: Use only biodegradable products on soil and not near water to protect aquatic life.
- Bag ID: Use a bandana or charm for spotting during truck unloading.
- Essentials Only: This is a backpacking canoe trip, so pack lightly—space is limited.
- No Glass Containers: Pour liquids into stainless steel or plastic.
Connect
For assistance, you may Email Justin or join our private Facebook group, Boreal Canoe Trip Chat, to ask questions and connect with fellow adventurers. You may also find friends on Instagram #borealcanoetrip. Supporting one another ensures a smooth, enjoyable trip for everyone. Thank you for being part of what makes Boreal so special!
