More About Bear Creek Outdoor Centre

Our Instructors represent the best the industry has to offer. They are dynamic teachers and personable individuals. All have a strong practical foundation in outdoor adventure programming, exceptional leadership abilities, skills and experience in abundance and energy and enthusiasm to share and they are professionals in camping, outdoor training, health and fitness. Together with their exemplary safety records and advanced emergency care and rescue training, they truly make up the team that will ensure you have the best and most rewarding time at Bear Creek Outdoor Centre.

Jill Baxter has been working a professional in the outdoor adventure industry for over 15 years. She has guided extended river expeditions from the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon of the Colorado river to the legendary Nahanni river in Canada's Northwest Territories. Jill received an Honours Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism and a Bachelor of Science from Lakehead, University and completed a graduate residency in environmental education through Utah State University. Jill is an instructor-trainer in many outdoor skills and has been one of the lead instructor’s for the Outdoor Adventure Leadership Program at Algonquin College since it’s inception. Her mission: for participants to bask in the pure joy that can be found in outdoor adventure.

Matt Cuccaro has been a working white water professional and outdoor educator in the Ottawa area for the past 15 yrs. An instructor with Rescue Canada, Canadian Wilderness Medical Training and The Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association, Matt has a wealth of experience to share with his students.

Over his career he has had the pleasure to teach all over the continent for groups as varied as Scouts to Government agencies and everything in between. Matt has been training guides, driving RHIB and IRBs , paddling and swimming on the Ottawa river for many years. He is also an accomplished Wilderness Guide and Wilderness First Aid Instructor. When he is not in the water Matt is on the snow Training ski instructors and running Snow Schools. Matt’s experience as an instructor and love of the water and the river environment comes out in his passionate and encouraging instructional style. You will often have to pull him out of the water as he has as much fun as his students always willing to demonstrate the maneuver or to help you swim the biggest whitewater.