Happy 120th Birthday Maple Leaf! See post for history highlights!
Did you know, each humpback whale is equivalent to about 30,000 trees for the amount of carbon it sequesters out of the atmosphere? Whaled almost to the brink in the twentieth century—the humpback whales’ comeback on our coast is a powerful reminder of how quickly we can make change when our values change.
We are so delighted for Maple Leaf Adventures community members The Marine Detective and Tavish Campbell—and their team at the Marine Education & Research Society—for their captivating contribution to the latest installment of the BBC Planet Earth III series, which aired on streaming services in Canada this Earth Day weekend. Episode 7 of Planet Earth III, titled "Human," features Vancouver Island, and it's a particularly hopeful story about animals adapting to how the natural world has changed.
This video, shot aboard Maple Leaf on Vancouver Island last summer—rings with the same sentiment, of how humanity can achieve the seemingly impossible when our priorities align with environmental stewardship. Happy #EarthDay from the coast! 🌎
Haida Gwaii: The "Galapagos of the North"
When people picture visiting Haida Gwaii, it’s the unroaded rainforest and legendary Haida village sites, that they imagine. To experience it, you have to travel by water…
Discover lush rainforest, ancient village sites and magnificent wildlife on an expedition cruise with Maple Leaf Adventures. Book aboard Cascadia (luxury catamaran) for complimentary airfare!
If you tuned into Global News last night, you may have spotted a few familiar faces… Kevin and Maureen met with Jay Durant and his film crew at Shelter Island, and showed them around Swell and Maple Leaf, dry-docked for winter maintenance.
Learn a little about their decades-in-the-making story, and the expeditions Kevin led to give back to this pristine corner of the planet. Expeditions so successful, there’s plans to try and get the crew back together 🌎
🏆 Giveaway winner announcement! Congratulations! 🏆
“On our trips up and down the BC coast we’re so incredibly lucky to get the chance to see these amazing animals up close and personal. I remember even back when I began guiding in BC over a decade ago, coming across 14 or more bubble netting humpbacks or having to navigate between dozens of sleeping whales in a channel, wasn’t something that even happened, and now it’s a common occurrence. Thanks to conservation efforts and nature’s resilience we’ve seen a wonderful success story unfold before our very eyes, not just on our coast but around the world.” Jeff Reynolds Photography
Marine Education & Research Society BCWhales Save Our Seas Foundation Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Soul-Feeding Adventures
"If you come out on a trip with Maple Leaf Adventures, you’re not going to go hungry!" Embracing locally sourced and sustainable ingredients, you’ll find our west coast cuisine some of the finest on earth—or sea.
🎥 Hats off to videographers Alex Kuehn and Feline Gerhardt, and our on-screen talent, Chef Carl Wilks and Captain Geoff Dunstan.
Competition: A Love Letter to BC 🗺️🫶
Win $3000 toward one of our expedition cruises, and a free membership at the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. Plus, every contest entrant receives a discount code for a 1-year membership in the Maritime Museum of BC.
To enter, simply visit the contest website https://mapleleafadventures.com/a-love-letter-to-bc/ and express your love of our beautiful coast in writing! Whether your letter is 2 lines or twenty, our coast benefits from your love 🫶
Refer your friends, ask them to mention you, and increase your chances to win!
The contest ends February 14, 2024, at 11:59pm (PST). Winner will be contacted no later than February 24 to claim prize. Open to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) and the USA. Must be 18+ years of age to participate. Contest is not sponsored by Instagram® / Facebook®. Our BC and Alaska trips’ all-inclusive fares start at $3,300 per person; the winner receives a trip credit and any extra fare is theirs to pay …so make sure these trips are right for you before you sign up! 🎥 beautiful footage from our friends at Coastline Films
Embark on a Desolation Sound and Salish Sea Supervoyage
Canada's west coast is home to one of the most biologically diverse inland waterways on the planet. Snowcapped peaks ring a productive inland sea that is fed by dozens of salmon-bearing rivers and the cold Pacific Ocean that sweeps in twice every day. Join Diane and a community of like-minded explorers, who have been captivated by its rich nature, wildlife and stories...
Book a spring sailing by October 6th and receive a credit to cover local airfare. Together, we'll embark on something truly remarkable 🌿
📹 Dan Batchelor, Profile Creative
The fog lifted only slightly,
New friends disappeared into the mist
As we walked the empty beach.
Paw prints in the sand made us giddy.
They were here, maybe a few minutes ago,
Romping among the moon snail and abalone.
As we sat at the edge of the forest,
The pack began to howl.
Then, there was a young pup
Stepping out on the white sand
To get a good look at us.
Hesitation, another step, hesitation, another step,
While the howling beckoned him back
To the safety of the trees.
Enough now, said our leader.
We're so happy to see you,
But you must go back to your own.
His hand held out as if to gently push him back,
He walked toward the pup sternly,
But with respect and love.
Go back now. Enough.
The young wolf took one last look at us
And turned tail into the forest.
We sat in awe.
We've been amongst the coastal wolves! Enough!
✍️ by guest, Mary Cole
📷 and 📹 by Expedition Leader, Geoff Dunstan and Deckhand, Sam Rosen
Here's to our Oceans 🌊
It’s #WorldOceansDay. Looking for a little inspiration? TED is showcasing our industry’s collaboration on the marine debris clean-up.
And the tide is shifting: our provincial government has just announced another $25 million in funding to restore our marine environment. So far, the government’s Clean Coast Clean Waters fund—born from our ocean clean-up—has gone on to fund additional clean-ups along our coast, removing over 3 million pounds (1,500 tonnes) of debris from our shores to-date! Now they’re doubling their investment to tackle ocean debris.
See the inspiring collaboration that started it all, in this preview of Kevin's TED Talk, including addition footage from expedition crew, Jeff Reynolds, Simon Ager and Phil Stone.
There are many things big in Alaska...
There are many things big in Alaska.
Big distances. Big wilderness. Big wildlife.
So it's quite amazing when the little things, like the choice to go slowly or the curiosity to explore, combine at the right time and place to deliver all that Southeast Alaska can offer in terms of remarkable experiences. And it never gets old.
Hear from dear friend and Naturalist, Misty MacDuffee, why Alaska's sweeping Southeast is one of her favourite places on earth.
Your crew have arrived: Expedition leaders, chefs, captains, naturalists, deckhands and everyone else who guides you into the wild, feeds your body or your soul, and keeps you both safe and adventuring are setting course for some of the planet's most remarkable places. We look forward to seeing you out there 👋
📹 Video compiled from expedition footage provided by @weareprofilecreative @alexharrris_ @daisygilardini @jdubcaptures @coastlinefilms.ca and @fromsnowtosail
Adventure Begins Where the Road Ends
Your crew have arrived: Expedition leaders, chefs, captains, naturalists, deckhands and everyone else who guides you into the wild, feeds your body or your soul, and keeps you both safe and adventuring are setting course for some of the planet's most remarkable places. We are looking forward to seeing you out there.
Video compiled from footage by Alex Harris, Daisy Garaldini, Jenny Wong, Coastline Films and Kayleen Vanderee.
Adventure Begins Where the Road Ends
Your crew have arrived: Expedition leaders, chefs, captains, naturalists, deckhands and everyone else who guides you into the wild, feeds your body or your soul, and keeps you both safe and adventuring are setting course for some of the planet's most remarkable places. We are looking forward to seeing you out there.
📹 Video compiled from footage by Alex Harris, Daisy Garaldini, Jenny Wong, Coastline Films and Kayleen Vanderee.
Adventure Begins Where the Road Ends
Your crew have arrived: Expedition leaders, chefs, captains, naturalists, deckhands and everyone else who guides you into the wild, feeds your body or your soul, and keeps you both safe and adventuring are setting course for some of the planet's most remarkable places. We are looking forward to seeing you out there.
Video compiled from footage by Alex Harris, Daisy Garaldini, Jenny Wong, Coastline Films and Kayleen Vanderee.
Adventure Begins Where the Road Ends
Your crew have arrived: Expedition leaders, chefs, captains, naturalists, deckhands and everyone else who guides you into the wild, feeds your body or your soul, and keeps you both safe and adventuring are setting course for some of the planet's most remarkable places. We are looking forward to seeing you out there.
📹 Video compiled from footage by Alex Harris, Daisy Gilardini, Jenny Wong, Coastline Films and Kayleen Vanderee.
