Cambridge, ON Outdoor Activities

As lifelong outdoorsmen, the instructors of Paddles in Action believe that few things build a youth's sense of self worth like learning to navigate the wilderness. That’s why they developed an array of outdoor programs—ranging from three-hour evening lessons to 15-day wilderness trips— that help 12- to 18-year-olds develop their outdoor leadership skills. Immersed in the Ontario wilderness, youths learn not only the basics of hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and camping but also survival skills such as fostering group cooperation and properly complimenting a wolf on his outfit. The outdoor pursuits are both invigorating and worthwhile, as each participant may also obtain certifications from the Ontario Recreational Canoeing and Kayaking Association and the Lifesaving Society.

Flagswipe Paintball's 20,000 square feet of indoor space hide mask-clad players behind 49 bunkers and numerous padded pillars. Its green-turf floor is padded with an inch of polyfoam, ensuring that players can tumble, leap, and slide without hurting themselves. Outside, a woods-ball field exhibits a Vietcong theme, where jeeps, tanks, and villages of huts shield combatants, and watch towers allow players to let down their long, golden locks for teammates to climb. Along with traditional paintball, the facility also hosts airsoft and laser-combat matches.

The inflatable bunkers that dot Eastie Boyz Paintball’s indoor field are pocked with the runny splatters of past skirmishes. As players step onto the AstroTurf battlefield, bright lights and defensive bunkers simulate the conditions of an outdoor playing field without threats of rain, snow, or squirrel commandos. Players outfitted with rental markers or their own equipment prepare for competition in the staging area or cheer on other teams from the viewing area. An onsite pro shop also lets players purchase additional paintballs or upgrade their markers and air systems.