As of 2020, Forest the Canoe co-founders Ryan Walker and Shana Shipperbottom offer guests full guided tours of outdoor adventures such as hiking and paddling, as well as local food and culture experiences.
While the certified interpretive guides have had great success with their venture, they want to make their scenic tours along Highway 17 and along Lake Superior more accessible to locals and tourists alike.
Now, the Goulais River couple are ready to introduce their new initiative: True North Adventure Bus.
Working alongside Sault Tourism, Walker and Shipperbottom identified some of the barriers that kept people from participating in recreational activities in the north.
Transportation was at the top of the list.
That’s when the idea of implementing a bus system began, which would see residents and out-of-towners picked up from local hotels and taken north for a day of sightseeing, then dropped off when the day was over.
“Being in northern Ontario, driving is a big obstacle,” says Walker. “We thought, ‘what could we bring to tourism in Sault Ste. Mary;”. If we can create that connection from the city to all of our beautiful nature north of the city, it would be a great service to be able to provide.”
“It takes a lot out of the programming so they don’t have to worry about that part,” adds Shipperbottom.
With financial assistance from the Tourism Development Fund, life partners will invest these funds in the cost of renting a bus and support operating, marketing and advertising costs.
There are four True North Adventure Bus tours available, limited to 10 guests per tour, rotating from August 25 to October 8, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Tours include Spirit of Superior, Friends of Fall Colors, Sault North Adventure and Agawa Rock Pictographs.
“It’s a six-week trial right now, so we can make sure it’s something the community cares about,” Walker explains. “Hopefully in the future we can make it a staple in the community where we can buy our own bus and offer that service going forward.”
Each excursion is fully inclusive as the cost will cover all food, equipment and activities required for the day.
Walker says the pandemic has been a difficult time for their business, but he feels residents are more hungry than ever to get out of the house and explore the area’s natural beauty and landscape.
“This year, it seems like people still have that great appetite for the outdoors,” says Walker. “I think the pandemic has really opened people’s eyes to what we have in our backyard. It’s good to see things opening up and making it more accessible for people to travel.”
“We love this area so much. It’s so beautiful and it’s so wonderful to be able to share it with other people,” says Shipperbottom.
The couple noted that many of their guests are first-timers, and their efforts have created memorable experiences that guests will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
“We mostly see people who have never canoed before and want to get out on the water and really learn what the experience is like,” says Shipperbottom. “It’s been really fun helping people learn this new skill so they can do it themselves.”
To sign up for an upcoming True North Adventure Bus tour, or any of their other interactive tours, canoe rentals, or custom outdoor experiences, sign up on the Forest the Canoe website.
