Oak Forest HS Students Experience the Canadian Wilderness

Imagine the quiet of a remote Canadian waterway, hearing the drips of the oar as it seeks out a new spot as it continues pulling the canoe forward. The only sound above your own breathing is the sound of birds as they soar overhead and the only sights are the beautiful Canadian wilderness and the sunlight sparkling on the water.

A hardy Oak Forest High School group experienced the remote Canadian wilderness in the annual Oak Forest High School Wilderness Canoe Trip to Quetico Park in Ontario, Canada this summer as a part of the Voyageur Wilderness Program, which specializes in ecological adventures geared toward high school and college aged students.

The group covered almost 100 miles in their canoes enjoying wildlife sightings. According to Oak Forest High School teacher and trip organizer Dawn Sasek, “We saw bald eagles, beaver, moose, and several species of ducks and water birds. Highlights included fresh fish dinners and an infinite supply of wild blueberries at every turn.”  Oak Forest High School ELL Instructor Katie Szafranski also traveled with the group.

Oak Forest High School Junior Amir Al-Shiekh made his second trip into the wilderness this past summer. “The best thing about the trip is the time available to reflect on life and nature,” he said. He noted that there was no cell service and no technology on the trip. Al-Sheikh said, “We canoed all day long and then we landed and set up camp. For food, we have dehydrated camp food and supplemented with bass fish we caught along the way.”

Sophomore Andrew Rosales said the most exciting thing he did on the trip was when he “jumped off a cliff.” At the camp site, the group entertained themselves with skits.