Home CYM Canada Hiking camps to Algonquin Park & Rockies 2026

Hiking camps to Algonquin Park & Rockies 2026

2026-08-13

This summer, the Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada (CYM) held two unforgettable adventure camps—a canoeing camp in Algonquin Park, Ontario, and a hiking camp in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta. Two different locations, two different challenges, but one common goal—to step outside our comfort zones, learn to work together, and discover the beauty of Canadian nature.

Together with a team of druzhynnyky and guides, we accompanied young cdmivci on trips where things didn’t always go according to plan. Rain, wind, sun, fatigue, heavy backpacks, and long hikes became an integral part of our adventures. But what mattered most was that we persevered and overcame the challenges together.

Canoe Camp in Algonquin Park

Our first big adventure was a canoe camp in the picturesque Algonquin Park. This year, 19 campers and 7 staff members took part in it.

Algonquin welcomed us with authentic Canadian nature—endless lakes, dense forests, rocky shores, and a silence broken only occasionally by the splash of an oar. Every day on the water was a new adventure. We packed the canoes, carried our gear between lakes, navigated rapids, and learned to work together as a team.

The weather wasn’t always on our side. There was rain and strong winds, but at times there were sunny spells when nature showed itself at its best. The rain made camp life more challenging, and the wind tested our endurance on the water, but it’s moments like these that often become our fondest memories.

Algonquin was beautiful and, at the same time, a true adventure. Here, it wasn’t just about admiring nature; it was also about putting in the effort, helping your companions, and not giving up when the going got tough.

Additional fotos from the Algonquin Camp can be viewed here: Algonquin 2026

Hike in the Canadian Rockies

The second adventure was completely different. In the Canadian Rockies, steep climbs, long treks, and heavy backpacks awaited us. Twelve campers and six staff members took part in this camp.

While the Algonquin put us to the test primarily on the water, the Rocky Mountains demanded endurance on land. The trails climbed higher and higher, our legs grew tired, and every subsequent kilometer demanded perseverance. Yet with every ascent, incredible views opened up—mountains, valleys, lakes, and the boundless expanses of Canadian nature.

The weather reminded us once again that we can’t control everything in the mountains. Rain and wind changed the conditions, the sun brought warmth and renewed energy, and at times, nature itself seemed to ask, “Are you ready to keep going?” Our group’s answer was unequivocal—yes.

The rocky mountains were steep, challenging, and demanding, but that’s exactly why every milestone we reached and every climb we conquered felt especially significant. We learned to take our time, support those who were tired, and remember that it’s best to overcome challenges together.

Additional fotos from the Rockies Camp can be viewed here: Rockies 2026

More Than Just Camps

Both camps were very different, but they were united by what matters most—people. Out in nature, it quickly becomes clear just how important it is to trust one another, to help each other, to listen, and to take responsibility.

The rain didn’t ask if we were ready. The wind didn’t wait for us to rest. The mountains didn’t get any less steep. The lakes didn’t get any shorter to swim across. But we kept walking, paddling, carrying our gear, supporting one another, and moving forward.

This, perhaps, is the true spirit of an adventure camp. It’s not the absence of challenges, but the willingness to face them together and never give up.

For us as a team, it was especially rewarding to see how the young people changed over the course of these days: they became more independent, bolder, more considerate of others, and more confident in their own abilities.

Two camps, 31 participants, 13 adult leaders, rain, wind, sun, water, mountains, exhaustion, laughter, and countless shared moments—all of this came together to create two great adventures that will stay with us for a long time.