I bet there are a lot of happy parents and grandparents out there this week with the return of school and the subsequent routines that go with it!! I am one of those parents who is sighing with relief. I do love a summer filled with camping, cottages, and family just as much as the next gal, but it is tiring. With the return of the routines, making space for family-time on the weekends is hard. September is a busy month, for sure, but it also likely the nicest month for canoeing in Ontario and hence is a great way to get some family-time in! Here are some ideas to create a few more memorable canoe-related adventures for the family before the first frost.
1. Figure out which weekend works best (quickly before things get scheduled) and head into your nearby park for an easy (don’t work too hard) base camp canoe trip. It is really nice to stay in one place for both nights so you can have a slow morning, sipping a nice cuppa, wearing your wackiest toques! Algonquin or Kawartha Highlands is our go-to place for fall trips as they are close and beautiful and pretty quiet too.
2. Encourage the kids’ teachers to bring them to the Museum for likely the most interesting and fun (and educational but don’t tell the kids) field trip going! Be sure to offer your services as the volunteer for the trip so that you too can learn a few new things. If you need to arm yourself with more information about our school programs check out this School programs link.
3. Come by the Museum for a day of fun that is unlike anything else you can do in Peterborough. The kids will love it (and I can say that honestly as my kids LOVE the place) and you will be happy to not be the ‘entertainers’ for a few hours:) I could go into all of the neat hands-on stuff there is to do but it is becoming a long list so just trust me! Be sure to pack a picnic and eat in our Education Room.
4. Adults, want to hone your own canoeing skills? Want to learn how to solo your canoe? Want to build on your certifications or start the process of getting certified? Wouldn’t it be cool to do that with the Canoe Museum? We can do that for you. Email me, [email protected] to find out more. We can do private lessons and we provide all of the equipment too.
5. Not sure about a canoeing course, that’s okay. 
Why not try one of the cool artisan offerings this fall? Finger weaving, paddle carving, moccasin-making…oh my!!
6. Okay here’s a good one! First you have to become a Canadian Canoe Museum Member (easy to do and really really reasonable with all kinds of fantastic perks). Then you can sign up for a Members’ event on Saturday September 22nd. On the 22nd you will get a private tour of our Collection storage area (incredible boats) and then you can hear all about canoe travel in Wabakimi Provincial Park in northwestern Ontario–
Ontario’s second largest provincial park and world’s largest protected wilderness canoeing area. This will kick-start the dreaming/planning for next summer’s big trip. Cool no?
7. Enjoy the changing season!