ELP learns canoeing in its “outdoor classroom”

Students in East Elgin Secondary School’s Environmental Leadership Program paddled along the edge of a pond at Pleasant Valley Trout Farm southwest of Aylmer on Friday, Sept. 9. They were completing 20 hours of training required to get their basic canoeing certification before embarking Saturday, Sept. 12, for a five-day paddling, portaging and lake trout fishing expedition through the Algonquin Park area. This year’s program, as usual, has 24 students enrolled. Teacher Duncan Sinclair said the trout farm generously provided an “outdoor classroom” for ELP, where students could practise canoeing, fishing, snowshoeing and orienteering.