Camper Ranks Explained

By Alex Kvanli
April 18, 2022 (comments)

There are a few words in Camp Voyageur lore which are sure to inspire reverence whenever mentioned– words like Grand Portage, Quetico, Plaquer, and Gouvernail. There is a natural progression, that comes with guidance and practice, for campers when participating in sports and wilderness camping at Voyageur. Campers are encouraged to try all activities, to learn from peers and counselors in training sessions as well as through experiential recreation. Campers make obvious physical changes and improve in performance on athletic fields. They get stronger, becoming more adept at wilderness tripping skills as they take on new challenges and succeed. One...

5 Things Every Prepared Parent Needs to Know About Summer Camp

By Alex Kvanli
March 28, 2022 (comments)

Sending your child to an overnight summer camp is a big decision and may be overwhelming at times. Being prepared helps! 1. Your child will adjust, so relax and enjoy your freedom. Adults see children tethered to their screens and reliant upon them to manage their lives. Suddenly they are dropped off at a screen-free, overnight summer camp, not to return home for two, four, or sometimes eight weeks. How do we do it? Well, actually, kids are naturally resilient and able to adjust to change, especially when they feel cared for. One big way we help them adapt is...

2021 Paddle Post

By John Erdmann
March 13, 2022 (comments)

The latest edition of Camp’s newspaper recounts our 70th summer.

Legacy Matters

By Chris Smith
February 01, 2022 (comments)

Like Father Like Son Tim (beard) and Peter Harris (tuxedo) recounting Camp memories over a donut breakfast.

2022 Trip Options

By Alex Kvanli
January 14, 2022 (comments)

Hi from the Trip Director! In a couple of weeks, the National Forest Service will open wilderness reservations for the 2022 summer season. In addition to our most popular wilderness routes, CV will offer an array of options for traveling outside of our region. Please note that each trip has age and other requirements. Each permit we make requires the names of four registered campers, so we ask that you select your son’s preferences from the options listed below. Please to sign up or if you have any questions!

Think About It

By Chris Smith
December 10, 2021 (comments)

John Burgman and I have probably walked down the camp road together hundreds of times. I once turned to him and asked, “How many times do you think you’ve walked up and down this path John?” We got to thinking about it. The math is relatively easy; three square meals a day multiplied by two makes six, plus a handful of daily walks to and from Pine Stadium and the Mess Hall for activities. Assume the average person walks the path ten times daily, spending half of their session in camp—about 15 days—and you’re at about 150 walks in four...

Charlie-isms

By Chris Smith
November 02, 2021 (comments)

Don’t throw rocks! Use your head. Man, where do you think you’re at? Do what you can, can what you can’t. Whether you attended camp in the 20th century, or you’re a youngblood getting his first taste of the Northwoods in the last decade, you probably heard one of these utterances from one of the Erdmanns and the Camp Voyageur staff during your stay. Those of you lucky enough to attend the 50th Year Reunion may have gone home with a cleverly designed coffee mug scripted with infamous Charlie-isms. If you’re like me, you thrive on the pithy strength of...

9 Newbie BWCAW Camping Questions Answered—Simply and Honestly

By John Burgman
May 21, 2021 (comments)

Look, we were all beginner-campers at one time, and most of us have probably spent a fair amount of time combing FAQs on the Internet to get specific questions answered…about gear, about routes…about trail cooking. There’s no shame in having rudimentary questions, and even longtime paddlers occasionally forget or accidentally overlook basic aspects of camping. At Camp Voyageur, the trip director and the counselors handle a lot of these questions; they will pack the right food, plan the routes, do most of the navigating, and handle any necessary paperwork. Still, it can be useful for any camper—and the parents of...

Celebrating 70 Years of Camp Voyageur

By Alex Kvanli
April 30, 2021 (comments)

The triangle rings, followed by a familiar voice echoing through the trees, beckoning you: “Rise and shine, it’s a great day in the Northwoods!” Soon thereafter the ringing of the bell invites you and your cabinmates to the Mess Hall for hot cereal and pancakes. Your buddy from Cabin Eight walks with you down the wooded path under the towering pine and birch trees wearing his new red toque, eyes brimming with excitement as he recounts for the fourth—and not the last—time his trip stories and how he sterned and carried a canoe for nine days on his trip to...

2010s: A Timeless Capsule

By Alex Kvanli
April 26, 2021 (comments)

Voyageur rode the wave of technology into the 2010s, expanding its emphasis on documenting the summer with photos and videos to a greater degree than ever before. Growing alongside Camp’s burgeoning online media output was its draw as a screen-free outdoor experience, a rustic oasis in a media-saturated world. Camp’s growing enrollment attested to the rising need for kids to experience the simple life immersed in nature—the physicality and camaraderie of adventuring on the trail, the social togetherness of sitting around a campfire, and the create-your-own-fun style of playing that always fuels Voyageur’s in-camp program.