Trip Leader Training ONLINE
Would you like to learn how to lead a paddling trip? Two excellent online options are available in March.
1) March 1st Intro to Trip Leading Seminar on Zoom, 7 pm Free
2) March 24-25 Day Trip Leader Course on Google Meet, Friday evening and all day Saturday. $125
Mentorship for new club trip leaders is available. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if interested.
Seminar Feb 8 7pm--3 Portages on Ottawa River
The presentation will be a brief history and virtual tour of the three most important portages in the Capital Area.
Details for joining the meeting are given here. For security reasons and to help ensure that we do not exceed the capacity of our Zoom account, please do not share the login details with people who are not members of the RA Canoe Camping Club.
Non-club members can get the joining instructions by contacting Mark at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The details will be sent starting about 3-4 weeks before the seminar up until the day before the seminar.
Basic level guidelines on Zoom are on the club website here.
Click here for a complete list of the winter seminars.
Winter Seminar on the Ottawa River Watershed
The club held its first seminar of the season with a presentation by the Ottawa Riverkeeper Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, Renee Davies. She gave a presentation on the Ottawa river, its ecology and environmental stewardship, and information on organizing local cleanups. The seminar was well attended and included a Q&A period at the end.
The presentation is on the RACCC Youtube page at https://youtu.be/5fVDBWz0NB4
Whitewater Rolling Clinic Update
As many of you are aware, the PlayRA website has been under construction and the rolling clinic "disappeared" for a time. This has now been corrected and sign-ups can be made at any time.
Use Bar Code 12974.
RACCC Members Survey 2023
The RACCC executive would like to hear from you on how things are going in the club and what you’d like to see in the future. This year, we’re launching a members survey to get your input. The survey should take about 10-15 minutes, and by completing the survey you’ll be entered into a draw for one free club membership.
All responses will be handled confidentially by the club exec. Responses will be collected until Sunday February 12th, 2023. Any questions or issues please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Click "Read More" to access the link to complete the survey.
Ice Canoeing Trip Report Jan 30-31 1988
A trip report from a 1988 club newsletter about Ice Canoeing, republished January 2023
Participants: Glen and Elly B, Leigh J, John S
This trip to a cottage near Sharbot Lake was intended to be a cross country ski weekend. The almost total absence of snow forced a change in plans.
The entire lake was open for skating. The only problem was that much of the lake was covered with several inches of water. As skates were not designed for such conditions, our feet were soon soaking wet and cold (wetsuit socks would have been much appreciated if we had them).
Then we had an inspiration. Why not try canoeing? The cottage Grumman canoe was dragged out of hibernation and launched on the water where it floated serenely. Our enthusiastic voyageurs equipped with paddles and lifejackets stepped aboard. It was at this point that we encountered two problems.
1) With anyone in the canoe, the canoe immediately grounded.
2) Paddles are useless in three inches of water and can't grip smooth ice.
On the assumption that the green house effect is warming our climate and thereby increasing the opportunities for ice canoeing, we recommend that the club purchase the following equipment.
1) A flatwater canoe that doesn't have a keel.
2) Three ice axes to provide a means of propulsion.
Whitewater Rolling Clinic
Based on the success of last year’s open canoe rolling clinic, the RACC will again be running a set of 3 sessions in 2023 at the Walter Baker Sports Centre in Nepean. They will run on Saturday Apr 29, May 6 and May 13, from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. The price for all 3 sessions is $100 plus taxes for members, $120 for non-members. Single session bookings will not be offered. Participation will be limited to 10 students and will be on a first come first serve basis.
Boats can be rented from the RACC or participants may bring their own. The boats should be fully outfitted with flotation bags, saddles/thigh straps or bulkheads. It is difficult, if not impossible, to roll without quality outfitting. Life jackets are required and make rolling easier. Nose plugs are recommended. You may also want to wear swim goggles if you are sensitive to pool chlorine.
It is very important that canoes are clean before entering the pool facility. Otherwise they may not be allowed into the pool and could put an end to the sessions going forward. Also please make sure boats and paddles do not have any sharp edges etc. that could damage the pool lining.
Specific directions and access to the pool will follow as the date gets closer, but if you require any additional information in the interim, contact Ed Chandler –“This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.”
Sign up on PlayRA using code 00004139.
Note; In the unlikely event the Walter Baker Sports Center is unable to secure life guards, the sessions will be cancelled and participant’s fees will be re-funded
Executive Meeting Minutes December 14th, 2022
Log in to see minutes from the virtual executive meeting on December 14th, 2022.
List of RACCC 2023 Seminars
Once again, the RA Canoe Camping Club (RACCC) will be hosting its popular winter seminar series. The seminars will cover a wide range of topics related to paddling and the outdoors.
All of our seminars are open to club members as well as non-club members.
All seminars will be online using Zoom. The seminars will be held on Wednesdays at 7:00.
The current list of seminars is below. They are also posted on the club calendar.
2022 AGM Minutes and Presentations
Log in to see meeting minutes and accompanying presentations from this year's annual general meeting.
Executive Meeting Minutes November 1st, 2022
Log in to see minutes from the virtual executive meeting on November 1st, 2022.
Gatineau Park Winter Pass
In the past the club has been given a discount code for Gatineau winter passes. One of the conditions for getting the pass is that 25 people have to buy passes using the discount code. Because less than 25 people have been using the discount, the club members will not be getting the club discount this year.
EXECUTIVE MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 6th, 2022
Log in to see minutes from the October 6th meeting of the club executive.