On July 2, Doug Merriman and I reached Peawanuck Village-the final stop of our 500-mile canoe expedition down the Pipestone and Winisk Rivers to Hudson Bay. It took us 23 days to paddle the remote rivers of this extensive boreal forest.
This op-ed - published last year - is still relevant today as lawmakers and groups such as Save the Boundary Waters are still actively fighting the proposed sulfide-ore copper mining near the BWCA. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota is one of the last untouched natural beauties in the world. The BWCA is the premier destination for people to get away from the concrete jungle that is modern civilization. Camps such as Camp Voyageur and others provide kids the opportunity to learn how to survive and navigate in the vast wilderness. My family members and peers have made...
There are countless things that make camp special, but here are the aspects—in no particular order—that get cited most often by current campers, staff, and alumni as the keys to Voyageur’s enduring allure.
Fall Has Fallen on the Peninsula The maples are turning red, aspen yellow, and balsams brown. The beauty of the Great Northwoods is only interrupted by the sounds of loons and…. chainsaws? I glimpse what appears to be a human tornado slashing through the trees. Charlie “Turbo” Erdmann rarely runs the chainsaw at anything but full throttle as he rips through tree after tree, leaving a path of destruction through the beautiful fall foliage. A Historical Battle With Renewed Significance CV has always been ‘fighting the forest’ away from its buildings. Early on, emphasis was placed on removing the trees...
Who taught you to fish? Many kids arrive at camp excited to go fishing. Located within a renowned fishing destination, Camp Voyageur’s wilderness adventure program offers the perfect opportunity for kids to try their luck catching bass, northern pike, and Minnesota’s (state fish) famous walleye. In recent years, however, we’ve noticed a decline in fishing. This year, CV received a grant – the jumpstart it needed – to revamp campers’ annual pursuit of fish. The Voyageur’s Fishing Program, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is designed to get more kids to fish successfully. The project aims to...
Veteran camper Christian W. recently released the exclusive lyrics for his new hit single Today Was a Duff Day, featuring counselor Paul Nelson. He recounts a recent trip which was full of Duff Days, or days on the trail where campers don’t pack up and move out, but rather use the campsite as a basecamp for a day full of fun activities and relaxation. Listeners of the 2019 WELK Pirate Radio Show were the first to hear his new hit single, which has since meteorically risen to the top of Wandering Elk’s Hot 100. Today Was a Duff Day Just...
10 days in the Canadian wilderness. Final trip of the summer. An all-star crew. We knew right away what kind of crew our Trip Director had put together, so we looked at the map to plan our route with hunger in our eyes. The route went through many revisions to meet everyone’s personal goals, but one thing stayed – our hunger for miles. So, day 3 went down on the itinerary as “The Long Day.” For many of us, it was the first trip comprised of all older, veteran campers able to portage, paddle, and experience the great outdoors to...
As a first-year counselor, I did not know what I was getting into coming to Camp Voyageur, but CV’s amazing community and knack for tripping exceeded all of my expectations. Here is a list of my top-five expectations that were eventually met with reality. Expectation #1 There is no power, running water, or working bathrooms at Camp Voyageur.
Camp Voyageur is more than an in-and-out wilderness tripping camp. At CV, campers indulge in an active outdoor experience which lays the foundation for a strengthened character and active lifestyle through challenge, friendly competition and responsibility. Many attribute camp’s character building and rigorous activity to the trail (wilderness trips), although that’s true, a lot of credit can be rightly given to Camp Voyageur’s in-camp program. There are three activity periods a day, followed by swimming, more activity and three balanced meals from camp’s talented kitchen staff. Needless to say, there’s no shortage of exercise while on the CV-peninsula. It’s not...
The passing of the Fourth of July marks the quick upcoming of the end of first session, and the halfway point for our second round of trips. Whether you’re on a 6-day or a 10-day trip, all campers experience and reflect on the remarkable bonding agents of the trail. The first day back home at camp is a surprisingly confusing time for campers. Many are happy to be sleeping in a soft bed, under the warmth of their covers in a cabin sheltering them from rain and bugs. Greeted with a home cooked meal from Deb’s kitchen, it’s easy to...