Forces
Military adventure training has been a core offering to our service personnel for many decades. See why military units from all over Canada and the United Kingdom choose Wilderness Tours!
In 1974, Wilderness Tours Founder/President Joe Kowalski had a life changing decision to make. In his last year of a 4 year military obligation Joe had been promoted to Captain. With a desire to start Wilderness Tours after his army duty, his new found promotion and a promising military career gave Joe pause. In 1975 after much internal discourse, Joe decided to chase the dream of starting Wilderness Tours.
Struggling at first but through hard work and perseverance, Wilderness Tours became Canada’s top Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking company and with prestige comes opportunity. This came in the form of military units from all over Canada and the United Kingdom seeking out Wilderness Tours as a training location. Now, in 2024, Wilderness Tours offers training programs ranging from 1 day to several weeks.
Need some more information? Check out our FAQ’s section or send us an e-mail at [email protected]
What sets Wilderness Tours apart for Military Training?
- Only Wilderness Tours can provide over 5,000 acres of training area and offers that area to units at no cost even if the units are not utilizing Wilderness Tours services.
- Only Wilderness Tours can provide emergency access at every location on the river
- Only Wilderness Tours offers in-house Swift Water Rescue Training and is the exclusive provider of Rescue Canada certification on the Ottawa River.
- Only Wilderness Tours offers training in climbing, rappelling, mountain biking, sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking, wilderness canoe outfitting, winter training and map & compass.
- Only Wilderness Tours offers raft guiding training to the military through its exclusive Guide Your Own Raft program.
- Only Wilderness Tours is the exclusive provider to Algonquin College of their prestigious 2-year diploma program in Outdoor Adventure.
Wilderness Tours provides adventure training in the following skills:
- Whitewater Rafting
- Whitewater Kayaking
- Canoe Tripping
- Swift Water Rescue
- First Aid & CPR
- Sea Kayaking
- Climbing
- Rappelling
- Map & Compass
- Hiking
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Ice Rescue & Winter Survival
