Come paddle with us!
Ottawa is in the middle of a canoeing paradise! Beautiful lakes and rivers are within a short drive. Club members can enjoy a range of relaxed evening paddles, day trips and weekends, to extended wilderness expeditions.
Come and explore these and other wonderful wilderness areas with us!
Click here for more information on how to join the RACCC.
What is the RACCC? RACCC Programs RACCC Membership benefits Join RACCC today
What is the RACCC?
The RACCC, formerly known as the Y Canoe Camping Club, had its beginnings in the late 1940’s when a group of YMCA members began making canoe trips. On November 1, 2012 the YCCC transitioned to the Recreation Association Canoe Camping Club. The RACCC has a legacy of canoe tripping expertise! Friendship, volunteerism, safety, environmentally friendly camping have been club hallmarks since the 1940’s.
Currently we are more than 270 members of all ages and skill levels and offer a wide variety of recreational trips organized under flat water, white water and family programs, complemented by a training program. All RACCC programs are completely run on a voluntary basis by club members.
Club members collaboratively host over 200 trips, training and social events during the paddling season and throughout the year! Our cooperative trips involve everyone, which allows us to keep costs down. RACCC trips and training are for beginners through advanced paddlers interested in flatwater or whitewater paddling. We also offer family appropriate programming.
The RACCC paddles wherever there is water and access! There are many great lakes and rivers in Ontario and Quebec but RACCC trips also explore other Provinces and Territories, and USA waterways. Local destinations include parks such as Gatineau, Algonquin, La Verendrye, Frontenac, Mattawa, Voyageur, Bon Echo, and lakes, rivers and other accessible waterways via back roads! Click here to see photos of some typical trips.
RACCC Programs
The Flatwater Program is about cooperative, environmentally sound, and affordable recreational paddling. Trips range in length from a single evening, to day and multi-day trips. RACCC flatwater members have a wide range of experience levels, strengths, interests and abilities, and experienced members are more than happy to answer questions and share their knowledge with other paddlers. For more information on the flatwater program, contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Family Program is designed to help introduce parents with children of all ages, from toddlers to teens, to canoeing. The Family Program offers a variety of outdoor activities and training courses for the whole family based on the needs and abilities of the adults as well as of the children. The emphasis is on safety, on and near the water, acquiring essential paddling and camping skills, teamwork and having fun. An added benefit of this program is getting to know other families to share your outdoor interests and experiences with. For more information on the family program contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Whitewater Program offers river trips and training for members who wish to paddle in moving water and run rapids. Trips range in duration from a single evening to multiple days. Training focuses on paddling and tripping skills as well as river safety. To ensure everybody's safety, whitewater trips are only open to club members who have qualified for the club's Whitewater List. For more information on the whitewater program and qualifying for the Whitewater List, contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Club trips range in difficulty from gentle Class I/II rivers like the Mississippi, to roaring class III/IV rivers like the Ottawa. Whitewater or River trips depend on water levels in spring, summer and fall.
RACCC membership benefits
Members enjoy a number of benefits including discounts at retailers and outfitters, access to club trips, training and social events 12 months a year, access to the RACCC fleet of whitewater and flatwater canoes, touring kayaks and camping equipment. Members also have full access to www.raccc.ca, including a calendar of trips, training and social events (year round), trip reports and lists of canoeing and camping locations posted by club members, the Member Handbook, a full list of club members and those who have qualified for the Whitewater List, a discussion forum announcing trip and buy-and-sell notices, and volunteer opportunities.
Join today
If you want more information on membership or feel that you would like to join, see our membership page or connect with the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
