Paddle Canada is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership wth the Canadian Canoe Foundation (CCF).   The CCF is a registered charity that sends young Canadians on environmental education canoe-trip adventures. Their participants return to their communities as 'Water Leaders', educating their family and friends about environmental issues in their watershed and working with our partners towards solutions.

The Foundation partners with local environmental organizations who are working to protect the lakes and rivers we travel. The youth participants get an "on the water" education about the work that is being done to protect Canada's water resources and are provided opportunities to become active in the conservation campaigns of our partnering organizations.

The CCF says: " we are very interested in working with Paddle Canada and each RMA in order to develop a Canoe Canada 2012 project in their region.  We want our youth participants to be introduced to the world of canoeing certifications and to benefit from a certified instruction session.  The partnership will also help raise awareness of Paddle Canada's and the RMA's programs."

"Pilot Project with Canoe/Kayak New Brunswick (CKNB):  The CCF has partnered with CKNB in the Miramichi River 2011 project (August 15-21st 2011, Southwest Miramichi River, NB).  Tim Humes (President CKNB) and I have worked collaboratively in order to develop the trip route, sites of interest for education sessions/visits, and a canoe instruction course at the start of the project."

.Other Foundation goals include:

• Foster an appreciation of Canada's cultural heritage including the history of our country's First Nations, European explorers and the towns and cities that now populate their shores;
• Bring students from a wide variety of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds into a unifying Canadian learning adventure;
• Partner with and generate support for environmental organizations that are working to protect Canada's wilderness areas and waterways; and
• Promote Canada's eco-tourism industry (i.e. canoe outfitters)

Learn more about the following topics on the CCF website: www.canadiancanoefoundation.ca

• What is a Canoe Foundation?
• Why a Canoe Foundation?
• How are the paddlers selected?
• Who leads the trips?
• Who funds the trips?

Check out the websites flash animated dancing moose and the canoeists running the waterfalls!  Very fun!