Our mission

Making the outdoors more accessible and inclusive by empowering women in the outdoors.

Our vision

Discover your potential in nature, take it with you and flourish.

Our values

  • Empower

    Create a safe environment to realize your full potential.

  • Challenge

    Offer attainable challenges to push your personal limits and discover your mental and physical abilities.

  • Discover

    Using the wilderness as a playground to learn about yourself, your community and the natural world.

We wish to...

Offer a welcoming space for anyone wanting to reconnect with themselves in nature
Be a reference for women who want to get started in outdoor adventures
Foster a work environment that supports and inspires women outdoor guides
Offer trips with high standards of quality and safety
* Please note that all are welcome and we will respect and use your chosen pronouns. If it feels like a trip for you, then there is a place for you here.

Why Women?

"The gender-neutral environment offers incredible benefits for women's development. These groups provide an environment that allows women to take on active roles, to learn without paternalism, to develop their confidence and skills at their own pace. They are able to recognize their own strength and physical autonomy. These communities, which are based on fun rather than performance, also foster a sense of belonging. 
Ultimately, these groups will play an important role in increasing the number of women in the outdoor community. These women will then join mixed groups, and, little by little, they will show that they have all the necessary skills. These groups are part of the solution."
Lorie Ouellet, Professor at the UQAC Outdoor Leadership Unit and one of our inspirations!
OUELLET, Lorie, “A sharp look at gender relations in the wilderness”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Discover Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

Immersed in beauty

Discover the splendor of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, an ideal destination for nature lovers. Our crystal-clear waters wind through landscapes, where forests and majestic panoramas coexist. In the heart of this region, you will be welcomed by the warmth of the locals and the richness of our terroir, which highlights wild blueberries and our artisanal cheeses. Come explore this natural paradise, where every moment is a new discovery and an unforgettable outdoor experience.

OUR TEAM

  • Jessica Zajko

    Owner and co-founder of Désir de Découvrir, canoe guide and instructor

  • Anne-Sophie Deschênes

    Canoe guide and instructor

  • Camille Leclair

    Trip Guide

  • Brigitte Léveillé

    Trip Guide

  • Hippolyte Mogé

    Our Favorite Mechanic! Trip Guide

  • Jérémie Le Guern-Lepage

    Trip Guide

  • Alexandre Lévesque

    Trip Guide

  • Maude St-Amour

    Trip Guide

  • Keva Bunge

    Co-founder of Desire to Discover, guide and canoe instructor

  • Alex Bunge

  • Florence Beaupré

  • Camille Godue-Couture
Desire to Discover was born from a desire to introduce canoe-camping to a greater number of people, but above all to provide unique and memorable experiences that will allow you to return home with a full heart and a sense of accomplishment. We use canoe-camping expeditions as a way to challenge ourselves, facilitate introspection and reconnect with our natural environment. We offer a place to surpassing personal limits and developing outdoor skills.

Being on the water and on an expedition for a few days allows you to appreciate the simplicity of life and the strength of a community. Desire to Discover was born from the desire to make you discover the well-being that nature can bring you and make you realize the potential that lies within you! These trips will bring you memories forever engraved in you.