Ayalik Expeditions | Northern Youth Abroad

NYA has embarked on a new partnership with Ayalik Expeditions. Through this, both NYA and Ayalik will be able to serve more youth, consolidate operations, and strengthen the supports available to youth from across Nunavut.

Ayalik Expeditions offer northern youth, ages 14-18, opportunities to participate in canoeing, camping, and sailing expeditions across Canada. These experiences provide youth with a chance to build self-esteem and confidence through challenging outdoor adventure, meeting other young Canadians, and social-cultural exploration.

The philosophy underlying the Ayalik expeditions is a reflection of Inuit cultural values, based in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, with a belief in the power of the land to nurture, through enhancing an individual’s inner connection to the environment.

How to get Involved

If this all sounds like something that you would like to get involved with, or if you would like more information please email Ayalik@nya.ca.

We regularly work with contacts in the community including community leaders, teachers and community justice workers to find participants who would benefit from going on an Ayalik Expedition. If you know a youth who may benefit from one of our expeditions, please feel free to reach out to us on their behalf and we can work together to see if our program would be a good fit for them.

Email address: Ayalik@nya.ca

The trips and expeditions Ayalik Expeditions runs can vary from summer to summer. However typically we run the following Programs:

Jackpine Paddle Canoe Expeditions

These canoe trips arrive and depart in Yellowknife. They are an opportunity for youth to get out on the land as part of a team and learn through experiential education and natural challenge. The group will depart on an epic canoe adventure through Great Slave Lake. They will head west through Great Slave Lake exploring the many thousands of islands. The group will camp on a different island each night, with a few rest days worked into the schedule as well. The youth will have the opportunity to fish, swim, tell stories by the fire, star gaze and much more! The trip will last a total of ten days out on expedition.

Participants often make lifelong friends on these trips, overcoming natural challenges, learning and growing together as a team. These trips are run by qualified guides who are masters of their craft and will ensure that participants are safe and have the skills necessary to complete the trip and thrive while doing so!

Tall Ships Expeditions

Participants will join the St. Lawrence II for this incredible sailing adventure. This is a Tall Ship that requires a whole crew of people working together as a team in order to sail her. They will have the chance to explore places they have likely never seen, through the great lakes and the eastern seaboard! Participants will learn to sail a tall ship, swim in the sea and have the chance to jump off the ship. Being able to swim is not necessary as life jackets will be provided.

The Ayalik Youth will join the crew along with nine southern youth, providing the opportunity for building lasting friendships and cross-cultural exchange. They are supervised by petty officers who are slightly older and more experienced youth, and the ship is headed by a fully licensed captain and first mate.

YMCA Camp Wanakita – Summer Camp Program

We have embarked on a new partnership with YMCA Camp Wanakita to provide northern youth with an unforgettable sleep away camp experience! They will attend Camp Wanakita along side many southern campers, participating in camp activities such as archery, swimming, canoeing, sailing, paddleboarding, high ropes, climbing wall, mountain biking, dancing, talend shows, arts and crafts and much more!

This program is open to youth aged 14. It provides a great foundation in swimming and canoeing to help get youth ready to participate in one of our canoe trip programs. Participants will have the opportunity to socialise with other youth at camp, mixing and making friends with other groups all through the camp experience.

YMCA Camp Wanakita – Kipawa Canoe Expedition

The more senior participants will embark on a twelve day canoe trip through the Kipawa Provincial park in Quebec. This trip is open to participants ages 16 and 17, typically they will have been on at least one Ayalik trip beforehand.

As on the Jackpine Paddle trip, the youth will canoe to a new camp site every night. Gathering round the campfire each evening and sleeping in tents under the stars. The distances covered on this trip will often be greater, however we tailor the trip to the needs of the group and make sure there is ample time for rest and reflection as well. Games are often played whilst paddling including capture the flag which can get very competitive! There will also be ample opportunity for youth to fish and cliff jump when conditions allow. There is nothing better than eating fresh fish that has been caught by the group and cooked over the fire!