EXTREME ADVENTURES
2023 Adventures are now LIVE
Our Extreme Adventures – hiking the 75km West Coast Trail, 10-day canoe trips through the Bowron Lakes, and more – are full of tough physical and mental challenges that push our limits and test our capabilities.The programs have experienced leaders who are living full lives with type 1 diabetes. They love to mentor and share the skills and habits that have helped them reach their dreams. Our ICD leadership team has led more trips for type 1s than anyone else in the world.
Participating in an Extreme Adventure is an amazing chance to push through boundaries with a team who lives with the same challenges as you. We have seen huge accomplishments over the years with impacts that last a lifetime!
The beauty of this program is that the benefits don’t just stop at this one adventure. If we are successful in learning how to manage diabetes in the midst of these other extremely challenging physical and mental endeavours, it greatly increases the chances we will be able to stand up to the regular barrage we encounter in our daily lives!
Not sure if you are ready to go extreme? We offer 2 and 3 day weekend adventures for families, wee challengers, tweens and teens, who are eager to test the waters and trails with ICD! Adventures include weekends in Rocky Mountain House, Scotch Creek, Coldwater, Phillip Edward Island, Thunder Bay, Camnore and NEW this year- a 3 Day West Coast Trail Trip!
January 3 – 4, 2023
Winter Extreme Adventure
Coldwater, ON
Quintessentially Canadian! Do you want to experience the snow like never before? ICD is heading up north with T1Ds to get outdoors this winter and challenge what they thought was possible with diabetes management. This adventure offers two days of programming exploring the winter elements up in Coldwater, Ontario, while teaching the essentials of diabetes management in freezing temperatures.
March 12 – 14, 2023
Sugar Shack Adventure
Coldwater, ON
Join us March 2023 for an adventurous 3 days in Coldwater at the Sugar Shack! Located about an hour north of Toronto, we will be exploring everything the Copeland Forest and its surrounding areas have to offer during peak Maple Syrup season. You will get the chance to see how real Canadian maple syrup is made, use it as a low supply while hiking through the very trees it came from, and adventure amidst the Copeland with our seasoned adventure team. Come experience early Spring up-north, and get a true taste of the outdoors!
May 8 – 16, 2023
West Coast Trail Extreme Adventure
Vancouver Island, BC
Since leading the West Coast Trail Extreme Adventure for the first time in 2012, ICD has led over 50 individuals to challenge themselves by completing this incredible trek. This trek follows the iconic West Coast Trail on an 8-day, 75km hiking and backcountry camping expedition along the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island.
This trip is open to strong teens and adults with T1D who are physically fit, and can carry 30% of their body weight in a pack on their back. If you are willing to work hard and endure some physical difficulties to enjoy some amazing rewards, this trip is for you!
June 30 – July 1, 2023
Family Adventure
July 2-3, 2023
Teen / Young Adult Adventure
Scotch Creek Adventure, BC
Join ICD for some exciting white water rafting and camping in beautiful Scotch Creek, just an hour outside of Kamloops! Choose whether you’d like to bring the whole family for a night and 2 days of fun on our Scotch Creek Family Adventure, or opt for the following Scotch Creek Youth Adventure to share the 2 day experience closely with other teens and young adults.
July 1 – 3, 2023
Coldwater Family Adventure, ON
Join us for a dynamic, 3-day, family adventure this summer! Located about an hour north of Toronto, at Sugar Valley Farm, we will be exploring everything the Copeland Forest and its surrounding areas have to offer. From canoeing to camp fires, nature walks to epic hikes, bouldering to over 40ft of belayed tree climbing—there is no question your three days up north will be jam-packed with fun.
Ideal for families, this adventure program will offer you and your loved ones the opportunity to experience the outdoors like never before, all while learning new hard skills, diabetes management tools, and making lasting connections with other Type 1 families. Experience is not required, but a general willingness to learn and try new things will ensure success!
July 7 – 9, 2023
Canmore Adventure, AB
Join us for a dynamic, family adventure this summer! Located near Canmore, in Kananaskis, Alberta, we will be exploring our capabilities with a range of activity. From camping to camp fires, nature walks to epic hikes, and even a day of white-water rafting—there is no question these three days will be jam-packed with fun for the whole family.
Don’t think you’re ready for the whole three days of exploring, but would love a day or two of excitement? Create your own adventure and join us for one or two days of your choice. Options for one or two days of hiking and camping with lunch and dinner, or one epic day of white-water rafting at Kananaskis Whitewater are available for you to choose what works best for you. Choose between the three day adventure or create your own adventure when you register!
July 7 – 9, 2023
Sleeping Giant Adventure
Thunder Bay, ON
The 2023 Sleeping Giant Adventure will be running primarily out of the Marie Louise Lake Campgrounds and will consist of a variety of activities throughout the three day adventure. Days will include opportunities to experience paddling on Marie Louise Lake, day-hikes to see some sites of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, and possible rock climbing.
July 11 – 16, 2023
Sleeping Giant Extreme Adventure
Thunder Bay, ON
The 2023 Sleeping Giant Extreme Adventure will be hiking through the backcountry of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park camping somewhere new almost every night. Days will include team bonding through meal preps, and breathtaking views, hiking, hiking, and more hiking! Join us for a very special 10 year anniversary of our first Sleeping Giant hike which happened in 2013!
July 14 – 16, 2023
Rocky Mountain House Adventure, AB
Join us for 3 days and 2 nights camping and rafting the North Saskatchewan River.
We are fully prepared to help with diabetes management: carbs, sites, troubleshooting, etc. Ideal for tweens and teens not sure about being in nature… and their parents too, this adventure is open to those 7 years of age and up, seasoned campers and beginners alike!
July 19 – 23, 2023
French River Extreme Adventure, ON
French River Provincial Park is located an hour north of Parry Sound, about three and a half hours north of Toronto. We will be canoeing, hiking, and camping together in this gorgeous 65-mile-long stretch of heritage river.
We are all in the same boat (get it?). Come out and feel the support from others who understand what you are going through and will share in this learning experience. Learn something about yourself and connect with other T1Ds who understand the ins and outs of diabetes management. This is a great opportunity to take in picturesque views and discover what you can accomplish with the right support.
July 21 – 29, 2023
Bowron Lake Extreme Adventure
Wells, BC
After the success of our previous Bowron Lake paddling trips, we are bringing it back to invite more T1Ds experience this world-renowned paddling circuit. Rooted in local history, paddling your own canoe is one of the most Canadian ways to explore our lakes and rivers! Step out of your comfort zone and into your canoe with some of the most adventurous type 1s around, on one of the most epic paddling circuits in North America and soak up the gorgeous mountain scenery!
July 29 – August 3, 2023
Algonquin Western Uplands Trail Extreme Adventure
Algonquin, ON
Maybe not as commonly renowned for it’s hiking as it is for its canoe circuits, Algonquin Park will surprise you immensely with it’s Western Uplands hiking loop. Our 6 day, 5 night hike will cover over 57km of one of Ontario’s greatest natural features. Algonquin park is home to countless lakes, all prettier than the next one; it is a beautiful sanctuary of adventure with no shortage of challenge, especially when it comes to the ups and downs of the Canadian shield.
August 4 – 6, 2023
Island Family Adventure
Gulf Islands, BC
Join ICD and other T1 families to develop your outdoor skills. We will be tenting, hiking and sharing our common challenges and wins along the way. This is a front-country adventure at Sydney Spit is great for the whole family- no experience needed, but tons of fun to be had!
August 5 – 7, 2023
Algonquin Park Canoe Adventure
Algonquin, ON
Algonquin Park is considered among the best canoe tripping locations in all of Ontario! With countless circuits circumnavigating hundreds of lakes, any canoe trip in Algonquin is bound to provide a diverse range of natural features and exciting experiences. We will be canoeing (approx. 35 KM) for 3 days through the park where we will come across amazing marshes, hop from lake to lake experiencing a few portages, and enjoying life off the grid! That means sleeping in tents, cooking over fires and camp stoves, long relaxing paddles, fresh air, wildlife sightings and a truly indescribable experience altogether!
If any of this is new to you do not worry, this is where your guiding team comes in. We will guide you step by step through this journey including support on managing diabetes in this wilderness environment.
August 11 – 13, 2023
Coldwater Youth Adventure, ON
Join us for a dynamic adventure camp this summer! Located about an hour north of Toronto, at Sugar Valley Farm, we will be exploring everything the Copeland Forest and its surrounding areas have to offer. From canoeing to camp fires, nature walks to epic hikes, bouldering to over 40ft of belayed tree climbing—there is no question your three days up north will be jam-packed with fun.
Open to teens, tweens and young adults, this adventure program will give you a taste of the outdoors in an extreme-nature. This adventure offers the opportunity for you to develop your outdoor skills, diabetes management skills, and friendships along the way. Experience is not required, but a general willingness to learn and try new things will ensure success!
August 12 – 15, 2023
West Coast Trail Adventure
Vancouver Island, BC
Step out of your comfort zone and onto the West Coast Trail with some of the most adventurous T1Ds around, on one of the most gruelling hiking trails in North America… and also one of the most rewarding! Since leading the West Coast Trail Extreme Adventure for the first time in 2012, ICD has led over 50 individuals to challenge themselves by completing this incredible trek. This trek follows the iconic West Coast Trail on an 4-day, 35km hiking and backcountry camping expedition along the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island.
August 18 – 24, 2023
Assiniboine Extreme Adventure
Kananaskis, AB
You belong in the mountains! Join I Challenge Diabetes on the adventure of a lifetime. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia the Assiniboine Lodge cabins are awaiting your arrival. Mountain views, comfy cabins, and stunning scenery are the backdrop to this unique ICD event. Join us as we hike through the Rocky Mountains from Alberta into British Columbia as we explore the mountains and learn how to manage our diabetes while hiking.
Thinking about Participating?
Due to the intensity in the duration and level of challenge in our extended backcountry Extreme Adventures, we encourage you to reach out to our expert staff to support you in determining your suitability! Be honest about your previous experience and fitness level – though we absolutely believe in challenging ourselves to new limits, we don’t want anyone to be unsafe. If it would be your first time adventuring with us, fret not – trained leaders are there at every event to support all participants. We can support you as you source required equipment (i.e. tents, sleeping bags, hiking backpacks, etc) on our detailed packing lists.
If you’re unsure if you’re ready, test the waters (literally and figuratively!) with one of our shorter duration Adventures!
Previous Adventure Highlights
Want to know what you’ll need to bring on an adventure? Get our pre-made adventure packing list here.
(NOTE: you will be sent a more specific list catered to each event you sign up for)
