ROOTs: Youth Development Leadership Program (Year 3)

ROOTs is a 4-week leadership development program for those who have completed Grade 10. All participants begin with a week of group bonding by studying topics such as worldviews and culture, leadership theory, and spending time in exciting team building activities before dividing into one of three streams;

• ROOTs Altitude – Hiking Trip

Spend time learning mountaineering and camping skills and push your physical limits by hiking through the peaks of the Adirondack Mountains in Upper NY State. Participants will plan their routes and take turns leading the trip.

*Due to COVID-19, the Roots Altitude Trip may take place in Ontario or Quebec.

• ROOTs Wild –  Canoe Trip

Learn how to navigate challenging rivers and lakes in a remote wilderness area while developing the skills needed to help lead a trip. 

• ROOTS Vélo - Bike-packing Trip

What's bike-packing you ask? Think of a hiking trip, but instead of carrying the weight on your back, the gear is distributed on your bike (IAWAH provides bike and gear). For those that love riding rail trails and backcountry roads, ROOTS Vélo is for you! Beginning with preparation at camp, participants will travel as a small group and experience the outdoors with a view from behind the handlebars. Camping along the way, Vélo participants will establish daily rhythm and learn to tackle challenges as a bike-packing team. Days will involve 4-5 hours of peddling with lots of stops as they go. 

• ROOTs Rivers - Sea Kayak Trip

Roots Rivers participants put in near Ottawa and  travel through rivers (and some lakes) all the way back to Camp IAWAH. Camp at the locks in style, be amazed at God's creation and explore the lakes and rivers in our new sea kayaks.

Upon return to IAWAH, the entire group prepares for a 5-day outreach opportunity to our local community, developing and running a day camp at IAWAH where participants can put into practice the leadership principles learned in the first three weeks of the program.