A Floating Classroom
Each year, Canoemobile directly engages more than 32,000 youth, families, and community members across the county in inclusive outdoor education and recreation experiences.
Often called our “floating classroom,” Canoemobile offers introductory day experiences to explore nearby nature and local waterways from the seat of a 10-person canoe.
The Who and How of Canoemobile
Each year — spanning spring to fall — Canoemobile connects youth and families nationwide to their local waterways and green spaces, providing hands-on, environmental learning and engagement to communities everywhere.
Explore how Canoemobile works and how you can get started!
Local Outdoor Day Experiences
Participants enjoy a single outdoor day adventure — close to where they live! — often at local parks, waterways, and schools, and lasting 2-6 hours.
Customized for Your Group
Educators and organizers can build a custom outdoor experience from 20+ activities that align with academic standards — spanning science, STEAM, social studies, and team building.
Designed for Everyone
Canoemobile is for everyone! Specially designed canoes offer stability on the water and wide-seat arrangements — perfect for those who have never canoed before, or may need extra support sitting and getting in and out of the canoe. Celebrated as an accessible experience for paddlers of all abilities, Canoemobile offers activities and facilitation methods that meet the needs of individual learners.
Affordable Adventures
Canoemobile costs vary based on group size, location, and trip type, and will be discussed during your planning session with a Wilderness Inquiry representative. Through grant-funded scholarships, we work to remove financial barriers for communities historically excluded from the outdoors — ensuring the majority of our groups can participate regardless of budget.
Why Canoemobile?
Canoemobile brings the learning and outdoor exploration right to you! By meeting participants in their own communities — in their neighborhoods, schools, and local green spaces — Canoemobile offers meaningful and impactful ways to explore nature close to home.
Supports Social-Emotional Growth
Provides growth opportunities for participants to connect to themselves, to others, and to their community
Builds Skills and Confidence
Builds interest and confidence in next-level outdoor experiences and enjoy wellness benefits from learning outdoors
Promotes Environmental Stewardship
Inspires the next generation to be stewards of natural spaces and problem solvers in addressing climate challenges
For Canoemobile in Minnesota
STEM-based learning is funded in part by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR)
History and culture-based learning is funded in part by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Contacts for Wilderness Inquiry’s State of Minnesota Legacy Grant are:
- Leadership: Erika Rivers, Executive Director, 930 E 80th St., Bloomington, MN 55420
- Administrative: Nell Holden, Business Administration Director, 930 E 80th St., Bloomington, MN 55420