Week 1
August 19 to August 22
Segment 1 of Upward Bound in 2026 will be at Guelph Bible Conference Centre located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The conference centre is a beautiful facility that offers many recreational opportunities (including a pool) and also provides excellent meals.
Our time there will follow an intensive schedule of various Bible teaching seminars. The instructors are excellent and experienced, and the ministry is focused on topics that are particularly helpful and appropriate for a younger demographic.
As well as the teaching, there are fellowship activities in the afternoons/evenings that give attendees an opportunity to make new friendships and enhance existing ones. Some of the activities we have done in the past include: farmer’s market scavenger hunt, river tubing, mini-golf and beach volleyball. There are also evening chapel times, campfires and lots of singing.
This year, attendees will be billeted in a shared dormitory or lodge room at Guelph Bible Conference Centre in bunk beds. GBCC provides bedding and towels.
Meals will start from Wednesday supper through to Saturday breakfast and will be provided by GBCC. You’ll of course need your Bible and a notebook is recommended. A binder will be provided with the speakers’ outlines.
The dress code for the first week is informal. A number of active activities are held during the week, so it is helpful to have suitable clothing and footwear. Guelph does have a pool so pack a swimsuit if you want to go swimming.
Cost and deposit:
A refundable deposit of $50 will be
needed
Week 1 (at GBCC) is $375 for those who are working and $275 for students
(enrolled in auniversity or college for Sept. 2026).
Week 2
August 22 to August 28
The second week of Upward Bound is a 5-day/4-night canoe trip into Algonquin Park. Algonquin Park is a stunningly beautiful place and has over 2,200 km of canoe routes. We travel to an island deep in the interior of Algonquin and stay there for several days. Camping on the island offers lots of opportunity to enjoy the wonders of this amazing part of God’s creation, including a trip to a waterfall. There are Bible teaching sessions, campfires, testimonies, times for reflection and also the chance to get to know your fellow travellers better. It is an experience that you will never forget.
Cost and deposit:
A refundable deposit of $50 will be
needed
Week 2 (Algonquin Park) costs $475 CDN per person. Both weeks are $825 for those
who are working and $725 for
students.
All the necessary camping gear is provided except for sleeping bags and personal items. However, if you have some good gear, bring it along and it may be able to be used. Light packing is essential so you will not need to bring something for every social occasion that occurs on the trip.
Here are the suggested items and their number:
Common items like shampoo, bodywash, toothpaste, sunscreen and bug spray, compression sacks and bags will be provided.
Please be aware, we will be carrying everything into the park and it is not an easy trip.
A few special notes.
- Jeans are not recommended for the trip as they take a long time to dry out and believe it or not, there is a good chance you may get wet at some point – sweat pants work best.
- Wool socks are excellent for warmth.
- The things you bring will take a beating so it is best to leave anything you may not be able to use again – forever – behind.
- Remember that we will be dealing with temperature and weather extremes. It is often quite hot during the day but can cool considerably at night and we almost always experience some rain.
- Discretionary items include – cameras, sunhats, sunblock, sunglasses, and also a toque for sleeping at night (helps keep your head warm).
- For those who have been there for Week One, any clothes and personal effects you do not take along will be left behind in a safe place for the week and will be picked up when we return.
