North Woods Wildlife Photography Adventure

Part kayaking adventure, part photo safari, and part off-grid getaway, this unique experience is thoroughly planned out for you, meaning all you have to do is immerse yourself and enjoy!

Workshop Description

We’ve partnered with Canoe the Wild, run by Registered Maine Guide Dave Conley, on this all-inclusive, 5-day guided trip in the Maine North Woods with a special focus on wildlife photography. This is a truly immersive experience — a chance to leave behind electronic devices (except, of course, cameras) and tune in to nature.

Accommodations 

Canoe the Wild has secured two cabins on a remote northern Maine lake known for excellent wildlife sightings. The cabins are about a 1.5-hour drive west of Ashland, our meeting location. These cabins have propane lanterns, but there is no electricity or running water. The main cabin has 3 beds, and the bunkhouse has 4. If you want more privacy, you are welcome to bring your own tent and sleeping pad, as there is space on the lawn next to both cabins.

Itinerary

On June 23, we will meet at 8 a.m. at the Ashland One Stop at 117 Main St in Ashland, which is in the center of town on your left as you are heading north on Route 11. Once we've been introduced, we'll have you park your vehicle in a secure location in Ashland. From there, we'll all drive the 1.5 hours over gravel and dirt roads to camp together. After moving into the cabins, we’ll have lunch and spend that afternoon paddling and photographing.

Each day, meals will be cooked and served out of the main camp (see meal schedule below). There will be photography sessions on the water in the mornings and evenings, which are the best times for wildlife viewing. If the day is windy, we’ll limit paddling to the stream and stay off the lake. We ask that you go out in pairs or groups for safety reasons. The area also has excellent brook trout fishing!

On the last day, we’ll pack up camp after a morning photography session and arrive back to your vehicles by early afternoon. We’ll make and pack lunch for this ride out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in this trip?

Logistics & Planning

We take care of all pre-trip planning, packing of group gear, menu, shopping for food, and packing meals.

Gear

We will provide all necessary equipment including your own Old Town Canoe 12.6” Angler solo kayak, paddles, type III life jackets, compact camp chairs to relax around the campsite, cooking & eating utensils, a well-stocked First Aid kit, and a Garmin InReach two-way satellite communicator.

Meals

Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate with baked goods will be available prior to the morning paddles, and breakfast will be served mid-morning after returning from these sessions. These breakfasts will include organic coffee, an assortment of regular & herbal teas, hot chocolate, oatmeal with fruit, buttermilk pancakes (made with Maine blueberries & served with Maine maple syrup), and the traditional Maine guide breakfast of local farm fresh eggs, meat, and potatoes.

Lunches are more of a mid-day snack and may include make-your-own wraps with a variety of meats and cheeses, lettuce, pickles, and tomatoes alongside fruit and cookies. Additional snacks may include trail mix & bars.

An early supper will be provided before evening sessions. Suppers may include locally-raised filet mignon, wild-caught Alaska sockeye salmon, vegetables, fresh-cooked biscuits, spaghetti with homemade sauce, taco soup, and fresh salads.

Desserts and hot drinks will be provided upon returning from the evening sessions. Freshly-baked desserts may include strawberry shortcake and apple crisp.

We can accommodate vegetarian diets, but vegan diets will require bringing substitutes that require no extra cooking, as cooking space is limited.

For gluten-free folks, please contact us to discuss what you can bring to substitute as needed.

What is not included in this trip?

Cost does not include transportation to our meeting location, food other than what has been specified, or trip insurance.

A Note on Gratuities

While not required, it is customary to tip your Maine guide and camp help up to 10-15% of the trip cost for exceptional service.

What should I bring?

Clothing

• 3-4 pairs of wool socks (can be synthetic)
• 2-3 pairs of cotton socks
• 1 pair of river shoes for paddling and wading with good traction that fit properly (such as old sneakers with smart wool socks for wet feet or over-the-calf rubber boots for dry feet)
• Shoes for around the campsite
• You won't wear this pair while kayaking to prevent all your shoes from getting wet!
• 4-5 pairs of underwear (cotton or synthetic)
• Long underwear (top & bottoms)
• 1 pair of shorts and/or quick-drying swimsuit
• 2 quick-drying pants (light cotton or synthetic — no jeans)
• 2-3 undershirts (at least two synthetic)
• 1 long-sleeve shirt light in color
• 1-2 warm synthetic tops for cool weather
• Quality rain coat & rain pants
• Windbreaker
• Bandana
• Hat with visor
• Knit or felt hat

Gear

• Warm sleeping bag OR sheets and blankets
• Pillow
• Quick-drying towel
• Sunblock
• Bug spray
• Small flashlight with extra batteries
• Headlamp
• Personal toiletries including toothpaste & brush and deodorant
• Pocket knife
• Wide-mouth personal water bottles— no glass
• Travel thermos
• Several gallon-size plastic bags to organize things in

Camera Gear

• Camera(s) & lens(es)
  • A long-zoom lens and a landscape lens are recommended.
• Soft, waterproof case or dry bag to use while kayaking
• Extra camera batteries
• Camera charger
  • We will have a generator for charging batteries mid-day.
• Extra memory card(s)
• Sturdy tripod
• Camera manual (optional)

Optional Additional Gear / Items

• Tent and compact sleeping pad if you do not want to stay in a cabin
• Fishing license
  • MUST have if you plan on fishing.
• Fishing gear
• Binoculars
• Paddling gloves
• Small shave kit
• Medications
• Spare glasses
• Heavy-duty shoes or hiking boots for around the campsite
• Box of wine or cans of beer — no glass

What are the physical requirements for this trip?

This trip involves getting in and out of a kayak and paddling the kayak around the small lake, which is about 1-1.5 miles and back.

What about transportation?

Participants are responsible for their own transportation to our meeting location, but we recommend carpooling.

Can I drive my vehicle to camp?

Yes, if you have an SUV-style vehicle with a good spare and tools to change in the event of a flat tire.

Can I bring my own kayak?

Yes! Please let Dave know that you are bringing your own kayak, along with its make and model.

What about bathroom facilities?

There are outhouses at the camp. Toilet paper is supplied, but most visitors bring a secret stash of their own. There are no shower facilities, so we recommend bringing travel wipes (wet ones) for freshening up.

What's the camp's alcohol policy?

For evenings in camp, you may bring boxed wine and cans of beer — no glass. Responsible drinking only. It is against the law to drink while paddling.

What about cell service?

There is no cell phone coverage in the area. If someone back home needs to reach you in the event of an emergency, they can reach Dave on his Garmin InReach.

What about lodging before the trip?

Dave recommends:

• River’s Edge Motel and Pizza in Medway (1.5 hours away from our meeting spot)
• Vacationland Estates in Island Falls (1 hour away)
• Homestead Lodge in Oxbow (25 minutes away)
• The Hampton Inn in Presque Isle (30 minutes away)

Presque Isle is your best option for meals and picking up last-minute items.

Cancellations

The payment is refundable up to 90 days prior to the trip. After that time, your payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. Alternatively, 100% of your payment will be refunded if a replacement can be found before the trip.

Canoe the Wild reserves the right to cancel a trip due to stay safe from forces in nature that are beyond our control, such as low or high water levels. In these cases, your payment is fully refundable.

Photo Credit

Thank you to Dave Conley and Laura Zamfirescu for their photos!