July 01, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Sandspit, Kayaking & Canoeing
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I just spent a month on Haida Gwaii for a university field "school". Everything was just amazing! We hit up Masset, Old Masset, Tlell, Port Clements, Queen Charlotte City, Skidegate, Sandspit, and Gwaii Haanas and did so many different things! One thing that REALLY stands out though was Mount Moresby Adventure Camp! Located on Moresby Island, not far from the launch point into Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, this place is GORGEOUS! MMAC is right on Mosquito Lake and Mount Moresby overshadows the lake and there are some really cool short and long hikes nearby! The bunkhouse and mess hall buildings are also stunning; two cedar traditional longhouses!
But that's not all! Our field school rented out the camp in May as the camp was just coming alive and we had the chance to talk to Jonathan, the director. We got to hear about MMAC's beginnings and as it turns out, MMAC is not just a business, its actually this amazing Forest Stewardship and Outdoor Education Program that is partnered with the Haida Gwaii School District. Every year all the grades 4, 8 and 12 spend a week or two at the camp learning outdoor skills and environmental stewardship among other things. I think he said that as of this year every kid on Haida Gwaii will have been to MMAC! And better yet, all the money from tours and facility rentals that MMAC puts on goes towards supporting this program!
The staff that we met at MMAC, including Jonathan, are all pretty awesome and their resumes are pretty impressive! No need to worry about safety or having a good time with them around!
MMAC offers ecotourism sea kayaking tours into Gwaii Haanas, kids adventure camps and kids eco-tours as well as offering the MMAC facility up for rental for retreats and field schools to support the non-profit school camp!
It was such an amazing experience, kayaking and canoeing on the lake, hiking trails built by campers, campfires, 'class time' in the mess hall, spreading out our mattresses in front of the fire in the bunkhouses and waking up to the smell of cedar every morning! I hope everyone going to Haida Gwaii takes a tour with MMAC to support this great cause!!