In April and May, we offer local training sessions on the Grand River near our home base. Each person is required to attend one or more training sessions. We review river safety, basic components of the paddle stroke, and teach essential river skills that are required for the level of skill required by their expedition including secure positioning in the boat, eddy in and out, front and back ferries, the brace, moving laterally on the water, boat order, stern paddling strokes and bow paddling strokes. These sessions allow us  to build relationships with people, to have fun, to answer questions, to ensure you have the skills you will require and to determine canoe partners for each trip before we reach the river. Our pre-trip training  program is a vital component of our risk-management strategy in ensuring safe river travel. If you are not able to paddle with us here in Ontario, we will have the opportunity to practice at the beginning of the trip.