Alex Kvanli

Assistant Director & Blog Editor

Alex is our year-round assistant director, blog editor, and fitness guru. He is a teacher with a Masters in Experiential Education, an avid world traveler, and enthusiast for all things outdoors. Alex’s favorite activity at Camp is catching bass on wacky worms.

9 Food Hacks You Can Do in the BWCAW

9 Food Hacks You Can Do in the BWCAW

By Alex Kvanli
December 16, 2020 (comments)

Having spent over 150 days guiding teens and adults in the Boundary Waters in the summer months, I’ve learned a lot about packing and preparing food. But I’ve also come to realize that one of the most important trail skills is doing things as easily and as resourcefully as possible. If you want to be quick across the portages…and cover miles on the water…and feel good at the end of each trail day…you will want to take a minimalist approach while exploring the BWCAW. Economy is key. To that point, as a trip leader, inefficiently handling food is frustrating and...

Give the Gift of Camp Voyageur

Give the Gift of Camp Voyageur

By Alex Kvanli
December 02, 2020 (comments)

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? Consider giving a Minnesota summer camp experience that will not only be fun and memorable, but will teach life lessons like responsibility, leadership, and goal setting. Register before December 15th and receive our Early Registration Discount! Space is limited.

8 Golden Rules of Efficient Portaging

8 Golden Rules of Efficient Portaging

By Alex Kvanli
November 17, 2020 (comments)

Experienced Voyageurs pride themselves on being some of the fastest portagers in all of canoe country. It takes more than just grit to get over rocky pathways with breakneck speed. Follow these 8 rules and you too will be cruising over portages in no time!

8 Boundary Waters Canoe Tripping Myths Debunked

8 Boundary Waters Canoe Tripping Myths Debunked

By Alex Kvanli
October 18, 2020 (comments)

You spend the day paddling over placid water mirroring the sky, looking for moose along the shoreline. You throw a line in and the fish practically jump into your boat. After a delicious meal over the campfire, the sunset presents brilliant hues of orange, purple, and blue you never knew existed. It’s not quite time to crawl into your completely waterproof tent; you must stay awake a little longer to catch glimpses of the mysterious Northern Lights. A wolf howls in the distance. What is that whining sound? It’s the sound of the mosquitoes arriving at your campsite to wake...

2020 Voyageur Offers Guided Trips with Counselors

2020 Voyageur Offers Guided Trips with Counselors

By Alex Kvanli
June 01, 2020 (comments)

Exclusive guiding for Voyageur families and alumni. Phase II of Minnesota’s Stay Safe Plan began June 1st, meaning that some Minnesota businesses are allowed to reopen under limited circumstances. As a non-critical business, we have been mandated to adopt and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in order to open services for the public. At this time, we are unable to provide families lodging or mess hall meals. Our pre-trip outfitting services include: Phone consultation Route planning and reservation assistance Food menu planning Group packing Full outfitting starts at $75/person/day with a Grumman canoe. Guided trips start at $95/person/day. Outfitting includes...

Alumni Do Work Despite Restrictions

Alumni Do Work Despite Restrictions

By Alex Kvanli
May 27, 2020 (comments)

Our annual work camp accomplished a great deal this spring in spite of the social distancing, travel, and other restrictions set forth by Minnesota’s Stay Safe Plan and Camp Voyageur’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.

10 Camp-Inspired Activities to Do With Kids

10 Camp-Inspired Activities to Do With Kids

By Alex Kvanli
April 07, 2020 (comments)

Looking to mix things up at home with your family? Try one of these activities from our very own playbook! The keys to success for most of our activities is that they must be themed, hosted by high-energy quirky characters (who never break role), and the set should contain several props. Camp Voyageur’s in-camp program features all of these activities and with a few modifications, you too can catch the Voyageur Spirit with these great projects!

Bring Nature Indoors

Bring Nature Indoors

By Alex Kvanli
March 31, 2020 (comments)

Many nature lovers around the world have suddenly been confined to their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nature has a powerful effect on our health and wellbeing, especially on our mood and coping mechanisms. While going outside daily and strolling through a local park or even enjoying a picnic in the backyard provides a healthy dose of nature, it is not always possible. Below are 6 ways to bring small doses of nature indoors.

Outdoor Adventure Lays The Groundwork for Lifelong Exercise

Outdoor Adventure Lays The Groundwork for Lifelong Exercise

By Alex Kvanli
March 10, 2020 (comments)

Going on a wilderness adventure is physically demanding by nature. It also may be a much-needed springboard for a lifetime of physical activity, especially for kids who don’t enjoy competitive sports. With kids spending more time than ever sitting down and consuming electronic media, a new skillset – the ability to take overnight trips into the wilderness – could be the catalyst needed to get them off their seats and spark newfound strength they’ll carry for life, even if they don’t plan on camping ever again.