River Rafting 2025

Yúusnewas invites you to join us for a day of braving the white water!

Yúusnewas is an Indigenous youth-led program that provides opportunities for Indigenous youth to connect with each other, build skills and knowledge to take care of each other, and challenge stigma related to HIV and Hep C. We approach the topics of sexual health and harm reduction by centering Indigenous perspectives and incorporating traditional teachings.

Need to know: We suggest arriving early (9:45am) to assure you're here on time for departure.
Once we settle on the bus we will do a little check-in and introduction to get to know each other, then we will be on our way to the rapids!
Once we reach our destination, we will have a quick checkin with their staff (12pm) followed by lunch at 12:30pm. After lunch we will start suiting up to prepare for our rafting journey. Our Journey will end at 5:30pm and we will head back to Trout lake at 6pm. ETA for back in Vancouver is 7:30pm.
This experience is suitable for all levels of rafters. Waiver is mandatory. If you are under 19, your parent will have to pre-sign the waiver. If we haven't sent you one within 48hrs, please contact us and we can email you a copy. 

When? August 29th 2025, from 10AM-5:30PM

Where? 49704 Chilliwack Lake Road

Where do I get picked up? 3360 Victoria Drive, Vancouver BC (Trout Lake Community Centre Parking Lot)

What to bring?  

• Swim Suit/Activewear. Activewear is usually the most comfortable clothing to wear under the wetsuit
• Old runners or shoes that can get wet and will stay on in the river (They do have a couple extra to lend out if necessary).
• A towel and dry change of clothes for after the trip.
• Any prescription medications needed for the day
• Anything to make your day/trip more comfortable for you!

What's provided?

• Lunch
• River snack
• Full wetsuit
• Helmet
• Life jacket
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Benedryl
• Gravol
• Travel to and from the event
• Your whitewater adventure!

Accessibility? Please email [email protected] if you have any accessibility needs and we will try our best to accommodate! Please note that accessibility at the event is out of our control, but we will advocate for you and your needs to the best of our ability!! 

We can cover Uber costs travelling to and from Trout Lake - save your receipts!

Questions? Please contact Neh'tanis (Tanny) at [email protected] if you have any further questions or if you need any help with transportation to and from the pick up location. If RSVPs are full, please contact us and we will put you on a waitlist for if a spot opens up.

Hope to see you there!

PLEASE RSVP FOR YOURSELF. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO JOIN, PLEASE SEND THEM THE RSVP LINK. THIS EVENT HAS LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE. IF YOU RSVP AND CAN NO LONGER ATTEND, PLEASE CONTACT US SO WE CAN OFFER ANOTHER YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY. 

We work with Indigenous nations across what is colonially called British Columbia to support Indigenous youth.Our physical office is based on the unceded, ancestral, and current territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people.

Yúusnewas connects with Indigenous youth through group programming, including workshops (in-person and online), drop-in cultural programming, and an annual video making workshop! We also connect with youth on Facebook and Instagram. Our programming focuses on youth from 14 to 29 years old.