During each 2 week session, each and every cabin group goes on a camping trip in the surrounding area.  Outtripping is a powerful experience for campers of all ages: it allows them to develop a deeper appreciation for our relationship with the natural world; it encourages teamwork, builds confidence and develops leadership skills.

See pictures from past outtrips here.

Types of Trips:
Camp Queen Elizabeth’s tripping philosophy is to provide trips that match the age and ability of the campers in the cabin group.  The trips are progressive: younger campers head down Beausoleil Island for a hike, while our oldest cabins head out on a 5-day canoe trip.  There is no set arrangement for certain cabins to go on specific trips; trip destinations are determined on the first day of camp by our outtripping manager in consultation with each set of counsellors in order to create an age and ability appropriate experience.

Destinations:

Cedar Springs Hike 
A two hour hike from CQE, Cedar Springs is designed as an introduction to overnight camping. The campers hike to Cedar Springs while the majority of their gear is transported by boat. Tents, a campfire and dinner are prepared for the campers for a memorable evening in the woods. Campers eat a hearty campfire breakfast before their hike back to CQE the following morning.

McCrae Lake
McCrae Lake is about an hour and a half paddle northwest of CQE.  The lake is a beautiful and pristine wilderness area free of cottages and motarized boats.

Musquash River and Three Rock Chute
Located 12km north of Camp Queen Elizabeth the Musquash River was the site of a lumber mill back at the end of the 19th century.  As you paddle up the mouth of the river, there are several campsites close to small sets of swifts that dot the river.  Further up the river is Three Rock Chute, a beautiful set of rapids with large campsites nearby.

Christian Beach 
Located on the west side of Beausoleil Island, Christian Beach is a large group campsite maintained by Georgian Bay Islands National Park.  Christian Beach can be reached by either hiking down the island, or by paddling around the western side of the island.

Bala
The Bala trip is one of the options for our longer trips, which can be a 4-day to a 6-day trip, depending on the route taken.  The trip starts in the cottage-country town of Bala, and follows the Moon and Musquash River through Go Home Lake and down into Georgian Bay.  The trip is a mix of river and lake paddling, allowing older campers a more advanced camping experience.

The Massassauga Provincial Park
The Massassauga is another trip option for our oldest cabins.  This Park is undoubtedly one of the hidden gems in the Ontario Parks system.  The Park is located just south of Parry Sound, and comprises a group of small lakes and islands on the coast of Georgian Bay.  Cabins are driven in one of our Camp vans to their drop-off point where they set off to explore the park.

Food on Trip: 
The food that is prepared on trip is largely dependent on the length of the trip.  Perishables (meat, fresh fruits and vegetables) are used on the first few days of trip, and non-perishables (dehydrated foods, grains, pasta and canned foods) are used more as the progresses.  Portion sizes are adjusted to fit the age-group on trip.  Since the group must carry all of their food, there is of course a limitation on the amount of food that can be brought – meals are selected that will provide the energy needed to sustain a high amount of activity throughout the day.