Outdoors with Kids Log
I am a busy professional with 3 young children. This account is about the joys and challenges of staying active and outdoors with a young family, including the how to, where to and what to.
Canoeing in Ashbridges Bay
zoomA couple of weeks ago I took my 3 year old daughter on a little day paddle in Ashbridges Bay, near Woodbine Beach in Toronto. I strapped the canoe (a standard issue 16 foot fiberglass Prospector, nothing special) to the SUV and we drove the approximately 1.8 kilometres from my front door to the public boat ramps at Ashbridges Bay Park.
Instead of sitting in the stern and trying to direct Sophia on how to paddle correctly, I sat with her in the bow. That way, I could more easily steer the boat with the weight concentrated up front. I could also keep an eye on Sophia and help her learn how to paddle with her little "baby paddle" as she calls it.
We paddled leisurely across the Bay to the open water of Lake Ontario where we sat and drifted admiring the calm waters and the many sailboats that were out cruising. We paddled back into the Bay into one of the inlets and enjoyed watching the many species of waterfowl (woodducks, mallards, geese etc.) puttering around with their little hatchlings.
We had a great day of it and although the location could not match the pristine settings of a remote northern lake, it was a great way to spend an afternoon and I was surprised at how much adventure and discovery can be found just around the corner from home.
Your story is very inspiring. My girls are 2 and 3 and I'm looking forward to taking them out paddling soon.
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