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COVID-19 UPDATE

We understand that Cadet Corps are in a very challenging position. With some groups not able to operate, and others under severe restrictions, it is extremely challenging to plan ahead. That said, as we start to move beyond the age of physical-distancing, our youth will need an exciting outdoor adventure more than ever before!

We are encouraging Cadet Corps to go ahead and book your 2021 or 2022 rafting adventure! You can get the approval process completed, and be well prepared for when life returns to normal.

If the date you originally selected turns out to not be possible due to the pandemic, don't worry! We will reschedule you without penalty! Also, we will be extending our special Cadet-only rates through the entire season! You can book for the incredible June 2020 rates (as low as $59/Cadet) any date until October 2022!

Safety

We have very strict sanitization protocols in place, and do everything possible to protect our clients and staff from COVID-19. All employees at Rafting NL have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as well.

 

Cadets Canada

Rafting NL has been a proud supporter of the Cadets Canada program for over 20 years. We have safely guided thousands of Cadets and Officers over the years and are looking forward to guiding many more!

Rafting NL (ONadventure Wilderness Tours Inc) is listed as an approved vendor by the Department of National Defense, and our rafting, canoeing and kayaking adventures can count towards the "hours on water" requirement for Sea Cadets.

Whether Sea, Air or Army, your Cadets and Officers will have an amazing experience in the outdoors learning new skills, building team work, and having fun!

We offer SUBSTANTIAL discounts for Cadet Corps as you will see below!

Interested in canoeing or Kayaking? We have great options down below as well!

 

Badger Chute Rafting

Our Badger Chute Rafting Adventure is by far the most popular option for Cadet groups as it is suitable for Cadets & officers of all ages and skill levels. The adventure begins with a long section of calm water that will give the Cadets a chance to build up their comfort level in the raft and allow our professional guides to teach them the skills they will need to navigate the raft down the river.

On the 12km route the rapids build slowly over the first 2/3 of the trip and peak at the famous class 3 "Exploits Steps" and "Badge Chute" rapids which will certainly provide the thrill the youth are seeking! Expect huge waves and a complete soaking on these amazing rapids! After our signature rapids youth will have an opportunity to participate in a whitewater swim in a recirculating current at the Badger Chute before proceeding to our crowd favourite - surfing the 50/50 and Roost rapids. More adventurous Cadets (and officers) are welcome to try their skills on our whitewater body board.

The duration of the trip varies based on what kind of experience you're looking for; we can complete the trip in as little as three hours, or stretch it out to around 4.5hrs with a meal included. We offer several catering options on this trip to complete your experience. You can either bring your own lunch along in our coolers, or we can provide a healthy lunch for your group served on the Surf Island just downstream from the Badger Chute. We can also provide your group with a full hamburger/hot dog BBQ if you prefer.

Exploits Canyon Rafting

Our Exploits Canyon Rafting trip will take adventure to a whole new level for your senior cadets and officers! Just imagine the excitement of rafting through an 80 foot vertical walled deepwater canyon and riding a roller coaster of waves crashing around you. This two hour excursion through the Exploits River Canyon features non-stop excitement with some of the biggest rapids on the island!

Don't worry though, even though the waves are HUGE and the excitement high, our Exploits Canyon Run features class 3 rapids and below, so you should have no difficulty having your trip approved for your cadets. Experience is not required, but Cadets must be comfortable with water.

As the Exploits Canyon Run is only suitable for Cadets 14yrs+ we can arrange for the rest of your Cadets to either visit the Salmonid Interpretation Centre which is located at the trip's starting location, or our Rattling Brook Falls Nature Float which departs from the same location.

Please note that while we can be flexible with the age restriction to accommodate younger cadets, we cannot be flexible on a minimum weight requirement of 90lbs. We cannot accommodate youth under 90lbs on the Exploits Canyon for safety reasons.

Flatwater Rafting Floats

If your Cadets are looking for a paddling adventure without the rapids and worry of getting wet, our flatwater float will be perfect for them! Spend time observing the rugged beauty of Central Newfoundland as you float down the mostly untouched Exploits River or the picturesque Humber River Valley. Bald eagles, moose, bears, caribou and even jumping salmon have been spotted on our tours!

We offer three flatwater rafting floats for youth groups:

Great Rattling Brook (Exploits River), Beothuk Falls (Exploits River), Humber Valley (Humber River).

 

Great Rattling Brook

Our Great Rattling Brook takes Cadets from Gorge Park in Grand Falls-Windsor to the Great Rattling Brook 8km downstream. This section of the Exploits River is completely untouched and truly gives you a scene of being in the wilderness even though we're only a short distance from town.

Great Rattling Brook meets the Exploits River over a water fall into a scenic cove. This is an excellent location for a boil-up or even a swim on warm weather days! For interested groups we can provide the food and even equipment for a boil-up, or Cadets can bring their own (we have coolers available).

You can either end your trip here with a pick-up at Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp, or carry on downstream to the famous trestle bridge in Bishop's Falls. The stretch from Great Rattling Brook to Bishop's Falls is the same distance as the first leg of the adventure but the Exploits River is very wide and very deep in this section. This makes for a great paddle on a calm day, but a very challenging paddle in windy conditions. If the weather turns, we may be forced to end at Great Rattling Brook.

Our Great Rattling Brook trip is approximately 2hrs in duration (longer if we stop at the falls for a meal or swimming), or roughly 5hrs in duration if you continue on to Bishop's Falls, making this the perfect trip for groups without a lot of time. Although our guides will be there to provide training and support, the Cadets will have the opportunity to be in "control" of their own adventure!

Beothuk Falls

The highlight of the trip is Beothuk Falls. The falls are only easily accessible by the river and truly an awe-inspiring sight! Easily the best feature on the entire river! It is suspected that the falls were significant and perhaps even holy for the Beothuk indigenous people as the southern bank features a reserve of red ochre; the Beothuk were know to revere the ochre as they would cover their entire bodies with it. While the exact reason is unknown, it is widely suspected that it held a spiritual significance for them.

Trip is great in all seasons (just imagine the fall colours) and is suitable for all Cadets and officers without serious mobility issues (there is a short portage at Beothuk Falls that requires hiking on very uneven terrain). This is a great trip for folks who are nervous around water as we do NOT run any rapids and you can quite likely stay completely dry!

The duration of the standard trip is roughly five hours, but this adventure is highly customizable! We can make adjustments to the trip to give you anywhere from a 3hr to a full day experience! By extending the trip to Badger you add an additional 3.5-4hrs of scenic calm water rafting. Alternatively you can start the trip further upstream near Red Indian Lake and add 4-5hrs of the most scenic portions of the Exploits River. The Upper Exploits is truly rugged wilderness as we travel well outside the reach of cell phones and right through the heart of Central NL's rugged interior. This section does feature a few rapids that would provide a challenge in a canoe, but in a raft you may just get a bit wet.

Catering is an option for this trip as well. We offer several catering options on this trip as well. Cadets can either bring their own lunch along in our coolers, or we can provide a healthy lunch for your group served at Beothuk Falls or on the rafts while floating downstream. If you prefer, we can also provide your group with a full hamburger/hot dog BBQ when we return to our base camp at Aspen Brook.

Humber Valley

Although the Exploits River has been our home based since 1997 we have a great deal of experience on many other great Newfoundland & Labrador Rivers. New this year we are offering group flatwater trips on the stunningly beautiful lower Humber River stretching from Deer Lake to Corner Brook. This is arguably one of the most scenic rivers on the island and it makes for an easy and fun rafting adventure.

We have two very different rafting adventures available on the Humber River. You can choose between a quick 2hr adventure from Steady Brook to Corner Brook, or you can make a full day out of it and start the adventure at the mouth of Deer Lake.

Cadets will have an opportunity to guide their own rafts and practice various rescue skills. Although our guides will be there to provide training and support, the Cadets will have the opportunity to be in "control" of their own adventure!

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