Faqs
Invest in yourself. Invest in your future.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN – Next Program: April 25th – June 5th, 2024
What about jobs?
At the end of the River Roots Program, graduates are immediately employable! We have a list of employers that are eager to hire our grads, this list is constantly growing. Hiring for the current season will happen before the River Roots Program, we encourage you to apply for any and all jobs in the industry. Include in your resume that you will be participating in the program prior to the summer season.
I feel like I might need / want more experience.
MHO is happy to have River Roots Grads join us on any of our guided trips (provided there is space available) free of charge.
How old are River Roots Participants?
The minimum age to participate in the program is 18 years old. We have had people from 18 – 54 years old. The average age tends to be late 20’s – early 30’s.
Are there any prerequisites?
The goal of this program is to teach and give the opportunity to learn and practice new skills. Therefore, extensive backcountry experience and high level of fitness are NOT necessary to participate in the program.
We are seeking those individuals that are excited to learn and be outside, willing to be challenged physically and emotionally, and ready to be a part of a small community for the duration of the program.
Prerequisites
- At least 18 years old
- Have some previous camping experience
- Able to engage in moderate physical activity for the duration of the day with little down time
- Ability to swim 250m without a lifejacket
- Agree to course rules and expectations
What’s the deal with the Wilderness First Responder Certification?
For you to be hired as a canoe guide you are required to hold a current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. We offer this as an add on for a few reasons:
- It makes the program more flexible if students are not available for 47 days.
- It is a stand-alone course with a lot of theory, when all the other certifications are blended together throughout the program.
- There have been many students in past River Roots programs who already had their WFR.
For these reasons we offer this course prior to River Roots for any student who needs this certification, but also give flexibility for you to take the course at another time or elsewhere.
How important is a drysuit?
If you can buy a drysuit you should! There will be mornings when we have frozen shoes and it can be challenging to keep your feet warm, let alone wet and warm. There have been students in the past who have managed with a wetsuit and dry top. However, it is significantly harder and you can risk cold injuries and hinder your learning because you are struggling to stay warm.
Where will we live?
We will live, work, and learn together for the duration of the program. The homebase for the program will be the MHO Adventures Barn which sits on 20 acres of mostly forest land just 15 mins south of Huntsville. We will tent camp onsite, students will have the option of solo tents. There is an indoor space for meetings, classes, preparing for expeditions, and a lounge area. Both indoor and outdoor drying lines for gear. There is an indoor bathroom and shower, internet access, and vehicle parking. We are a short walk from Mary Lake, where there is a beautiful beach to go for a swim or watch the sunset and nearby trails for going for a walk or a run.
How important is a drysuit?
If you can buy a drysuit you should! There will be mornings when we have frozen shoes and it can be challenging to keep your feet warm, let alone wet and warm. There have been students in the past who have managed with a wetsuit and dry top. However, it is significantly harder and you can risk cold injuries and hinder your learning because you are struggling to stay warm.
Where will we live?
We will live, work, and learn together for the duration of the program. The homebase for the program will be the MHO Adventures Barn which sits on 20 acres of mostly forest land just 15 mins south of Huntsville. We will tent camp onsite, students will have the option of solo tents. There is an indoor space for meetings, classes, preparing for expeditions, and a lounge area. Both indoor and outdoor drying lines for gear. There is an indoor bathroom and shower, internet access, and vehicle parking. We are a short walk from Mary Lake, where there is a beautiful beach to go for a swim or watch the sunset and nearby trails for going for a walk or a run.
Not everything happens at the Barn, so how do we get from one training location to another ?
Throughout the program students will travel (in MHO vehicles and/or chartered buses) to a number of different locations for various courses and expeditions. We will also be tent camping at all of these locations.
Do I need a vehicle?
NO. The only time you need personal transportation is to get to and from the course. We can arrange pick up at the bus station in Huntsville or the AirPort in Toronto.
What will we eat?
No Freeze Dried Food !!!!
We pride ourselves on our food service, serving up gourmet meals in the wilderness is one of our priorities. We are committed to providing a healthy, hearty and tasty menu. We put careful consideration into our menu planning to ensure proper nutrition each and every day of the trip. We are able to accommodate most dietary needs, working closely with our clients to address concerns and avoid allergens. We have a commercial kitchen on site and do a lot of our own dehydrating.
Instructors and students will work together, using MHO’s 3 decades worth of knowledge and resources to plan menus and pack food.
Who cooks?
It will be the responsibility of the students to pack and prepare meals as a group everyday. This will look different depending on the location. Some meals will be backcountry over the fire, others may be in some sort of a kitchen and in some cases will be catered for students. When at the barn, students will take turns preparing meals in both our indoor and outdoor kitchens, some meals will be prepared and served for us by MHO staff. ALL Food is included in the cost of this program for the entire 42 days.
- “River Roots is EVERYTHING it promises (and that’s a lot). In 42 days I learned so much, not from reading or studying, but from doing. I came home with confidence, wild stories, new friendships, an expansive knowledge of bird calls and a reignited passion for paddling. The instructors are not only skilled, but great and patient teachers. I saw some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever witnessed and paddled stuff (swam some too) I had only dreamed of. I can’t say enough how much value I got out of this program. I will always highly recommend it to anyone interested in a career in the outdoors or a complete life reset. I was challenged exactly to my threshold and left feeling incredibly proud of myself. It toughened my skin and opened my heart. And as if I almost forgot to mention the best part…the FOOD. Next time a friend brings a bunch of freeze dried pad Thai on a three night trip in Algonquin you will laugh so hard. I am now a certified wizard of bush cooking and everywhere I set up my tent has a full kitchen with counters and everything. The meals you will cook in this program in the outback will have you feeling like a 5 star chef. When it’s cold and wet and rainy, your belly will be full of freshly baked cinnamon buns.”
