If the 11 year old can swim I'd vote yes. It depends on the kid but it can be a truly rewarding experience, and like it or not, neither of you will soon forget it. I took a friend of mine's son when he was about that age. He was a real city kid with limited campground experience. I was impressed by how well he did. Even when the weather turned sour he was a good partner. I'm still amazed that he never complained once about anything. I wish I could say that about some of the adults I've paddled with. I did prepare him for the worst before hand so he knew what he was getting into.

The best time for good weather is July/August. Group size can be up to 4 canoes and 9 people, but 4 or 6 is a good (manageable) number of people for a first trip.

Posted by db on October 30, 2000 at 03:04