WE ARE THE VOYAGERS
OUR STORY
The Voyagers Canoe trips began back in 2012 with a purpose to offer adventure and trench knowledge teaching to young men. While paddling or pitching camp, each young man learns about endurance, perseverance, discipline and character development, through what he sees and experiences. They also get to use hand tools, learning how to use them.
Founded on Bible teachings, we all decided to showcase other men in history. Thue good, the bad and the ugly. But most importantly, we show the young men the why in being a good man.
Today, we know it is important to encourage and share with our youth, just as it was 300 or 3000 years ago. The investment in them, to make good use of the life God has given, is what will carry us into our next generation. Therefore, we must hold fast to the truths that are taught through life experiences - after all, they will be what guides our very lives.
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Voyagers Canoe Trips helps young men embrace another adventure where character is borne!
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AN ORIGINAL VOYAGER
Louis Durand was born November 13, 1670 at Sillery, Quebec, Canada to Jean and Katherine (Annannontak) Durand. Louis was the third and last child to this marriage. His older brother Ignace, born 1669, also became a voyageur, "coureur de bois", and made many trips up the Ottawa River. Louis Durand's father Jean Durand, died when Louis was just one year old at the age of thirty-five of unknown causes. His mother soon remarried Jacques Coutourier and together they reared Louis in addition to having six additional children, of which (five survived). Louis also had an older sister named Marie, born June 4th 1666. She married Mathurin Cadot at Montreal on July 31st, 1688. Since his mother Katherine was a full blooded Huron Indian, it was likely that Louis was at least bilingual in French and Native American Languages. His mother Katherine was reported to have spoken many languages. Katherine's father was a distinguished chieftain from the Bear Clan of the Huron nation, before the Iroquois warriors massacred him when Katherine was just an infant.
It has been documented that Louis Durand and his fellow voyageurs traveled at least into what is now known as Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 1696, this territory was known as part of "New France".
Louis Durand began his life as a Voyageur at the age of 17 years old when he was invited by a trading company about the first of Sept. 1691 to replace a voyageur, Joseph Guillet also known as squire de Bellefeuille., who had suddenly become sick, just before a voyage was to begin. Louis agreed to "go up to the Outaouais country with the company to help transport merchandise, to trade for fur, and all that was honestly and lawfully expected of him" He, was permitted to trade his gun, a blanket, six shirts and one coat for his own profit and to transport the fur belonging to himself in the returning canoe which he manned. This was Louis Durand’s first known voyage. He had also participated in additional voyages before the voyage of 1696.
Much has changed in the past 300 plus years since Louis Durand plied the waters of the Great Lakes but just as in his time, we still see and experience a few of the same challenges that existed then.
TAKING OUR MISSION SERIOUS
The Voyager Canoe Trips offer young men a opportunity to get away from the everyday world they live in. This opportunity to learn about tools of the trade, include identifying stars such as the North Star, direction (orienteering), learning survival skills, methods on how to make camp or prepare a meal in all conditions. The experience provides a fundamental understanding of why conventional wisdom is not always the safe choice, and that true understanding comes from learning, reading, listening. This produces a healthy respect for the world in which they will live in.
We have a short time with our young Voyagers. The three day trips make it a challenge to cover all important aspects of what the trip is about. We take it easy therefore, and we are prepared to change up as necessary when an opportunity presents itself. We do not expect easy, in fact, we prepare for tough conditions due in part to the weather in Spring or Fall. Why? Life can be hard, preparing for it therefore is always the best route!
ABOUT THE VOYAGERS GUIDES

The men leading the Voyagers are not simply volunteers. They are in fact men whose lives emulate the teaching of 1 Timothy. Each leader of this group is found to be a man of God, with the qualifications described in the scripture, for leaders.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 He must be well thought of by those outside of the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil's trap.
1 TIMOTHY 3:4-7