The earth beneath him gives way, and he and his boat tumble down in a small landslide. They hit the water above the falls with a splash. At fifteen Wilf is certain that he is too old for summer camp. When his parents ignore his protests and ship him off anyway, he decides to escape from the camp by canoe and spend the rest of his vacation alone in the woods, proving to his parents he deserves his independence. His plan begins to unravel when his cabin mate forces Wilf to take him along and a younger camper follows them. They all end up in a fight for their lives against the unforgiving river.