My First ATV Adventure with Jenn Boere, Senior Marketing Consultant at Co-operators

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By Jenn Boere

With the school year over, my youngest son and I were looking for a way to kickstart our summer vacation with some adventure and new experiences…..and break up the 9+ hour drive to Sault Ste. Marie where we were heading to visit family.

As the Senior Marketing Consultant for Co-operators, I’ve been working closely with OFATV on launching our partnership and through that work, I’ve seen first-hand the passion and dedication that staff and riders have for ATVing. Seeing pictures of big smiles, beautiful scenery and the occasional speck of mud 😉inspired me to google guided ATV tours in northern Ontario. I discovered a place just outside Massey and booked a 3-hour tour.

As first-time riders, we opted for a guided tour that included everything we would need, so we could focus on enjoying the ride. We were a bit nervous to start but were quickly put at ease by our tour guide. After picking out a helmet and safety goggles, my son and I each hopped on a 2024 Can Am Outlander Max DPS 500 for the safety briefing. The pre-trip inspection had been done before we arrived so we just had to learn how to start the engine, turn on the lights, switch gears, give it gas, brake, switch to 4WD, steer, go up and down hills and the hand signals our guide would use to communicate while riding. Seemed fairly simple and straightforward – we were ready to ride and set off on our adventure!

We started off slowly on flat terrain to gain confidence. Using the thumb throttle took a bit of getting used to (the first moments were quite jerky lol) but being fully automatic, the ATV was super easy to drive and we got the hang of it in no time. After an hour of easy trekking in the wilderness along the Spanish River, we stopped for a quick break to give our thumbs a rest, enjoy the scenery and have a snack. Then we were ready to kick it up into 4WD and conquer some rougher terrain – mud, water, rocks and fallen trees, here we come!

I was amazed at how well the ATV handled rougher terrain. A couple times it felt like I would tip over as a tire sunk into the mud, but after giving it a little more gas and keeping the handlebars straight, it kept moving forward and pulled me out with ease. The seat was super cushy and comfortable – no sore bums after 3 hours of riding! The vehicle also had great shock absorption, leading to a smooth ride despite the obstacles we encountered. The final two hours flew by and before we knew it, sadly our adventure was over, and it was time to get back on the road to Sault Ste. Marie.

This experience has helped me understand the passion and joy that shines through in pictures and when talking to people about riding. I can definitely see more ATV adventures in my future and highly encourage anyone thinking of giving it a try, to take the plunge!!

 

first atv adventure

Highlights of the ride

 

  • Seeing a deer. We came around a corner and there was a deer standing at the edge of the trail up ahead. The guide used a hand signal to indicate there was something on the path, so we stopped and turned off the machines. It stood there watching us for a few minutes before crossing the path into the woods on the other side. It was incredible to get so close to such a beautiful and majestic animal.
  • Watching my son successfully navigate through obstacles. He got stuck the first time we went through the mud, but he calmly did what the guide had told us to do in that situation, persevered and got through it. The big smile and look of confidence (and maybe a bit of relief!) on his face afterwards was incredible to see. It was a proud mama moment for sure.
  • Getting outside and trying new things with my son. We don’t often get 1 on 1 time together because our family is always on the go at home, so it was nice to spend this dedicated time with just the two of us, outside in nature, trying something new and making memories together. The best was when we got home after 9 days of being away, he said our ATV adventure was his favorite part of the whole trip. It’s been a couple of weeks since we went and he’s still talking about it which is fantastic!