1 new camper has signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 81 signed up for camp. As more and more campers sign up, the excitement continues to grow at camp! There's no reason to wait to sign-up, it helps us organize for the summer and more importantly shows everyone else who's registered that you'll be coming this summer.

     3 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 80 signed up for camp. As more and more campers sign up, the excitement continues to grow at camp! There's no reason to wait to sign-up, it helps us organize for the summer and more importantly shows everyone else who's registered that you'll be coming this summer.

     4 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 77 signed up for camp. As more and more campers sign up, the excitement continues to grow at camp! There's no reason to wait to sign-up, it helps us organize for the summer and more importantly shows everyone else who's registered that you'll be coming this summer.

     7 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 74 signed up for camp. As more and more campers sign up, the excitement continues to grow at camp! There's no reason to wait to sign-up, it helps us organize for the summer and more importantly shows everyone else who's registered that you'll be coming this summer.

     1 new camper has signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 65 signed up for camp. As more and more campers sign up, the excitement continues to grow at camp! There's no reason to wait to sign-up, it helps us organize for the summer and more importantly shows everyone else who's registered that you'll be coming this summer.

     3 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 64 signed up for camp. As more and more campers sign up, the excitement continues to grow at camp! There's no reason to wait to sign-up, it helps us organize for the summer and more importantly shows everyone else who's registered that you'll be coming this summer.

     This month's e-mail newsletter is dedicated to our dad and camp founder Charles P. Erdmann, who would be 100 years old today. That's no April fools joke either. Charlie lived through two world wars, the evolution of transportation from the horse and buggy to the automobile, trolleys to planes, dirt roads to interstates, telegraphs to the information age and man walking on the moon. Charlie was born in the Walnut Hills area of Cincinnati, Ohio, son of a streetcar conductor. A gifted athlete, he enjoyed all sports as a boy, but especially baseball. He followed his Sunday school teacher, Ewart 'Sink' Simpkinson, to Boothbay Camp in Bath, Maine, working his way up from camper to dishwasher and counselor. Those 11 Boothbay years set him on a path to start his own boys' camp with his wife Mim in 1951. He believed in the value of recreational sports, the confidence one gains from challenges on wilderness trips and living with others while contributing to the good of the group. He knew a positive camp experience builds better people. "Camp provides teachable moments because we're with our boys 24 hours a day, longer than mom, dad, or teachers," Charlie often repeated. After graduating from Springfield College in Massachusetts, he spent three years in Manila with the YMCA. His moment of glory came in 1934 when he struck out touring American baseball legends Babe Ruth, Earl Averill, Jimmie Fox and Lou Gehrig while in the Philippines. After his stint overseas he landed a Y job in Huntington, Indiana where he met his beloved Mim. Charlie's dedication to youth spawned a fulfilling career at Oberlin, the University of Chicago and DePauw University coaching soccer, swimming, baseball and tennis.
     In addition to his work with youth, Charlie was an exceptional piano player. More than anything he loved to entertain and played all the popular music and show tunes from World War I through the sixties. He composed songs on the piano and Mim wrote the lyrics.a perfect combination. Friends and Voyageurs may remember his tunes, Manila Moon, the waltz Reality and the Camp Voyageur Camp Song-a classic that still resonates throughout the CV peninsula each summer. Charlie had a rich life and told a good story. Who can forget his colorful firecircle tale about the heroine of the Exposition International du Paris or his real life account of helping a pair of Maryknoll sisters on a ship back from the Pacific.

     Charlie-isms you may remember:
          -Think of thee, not little old me.
          -It's a great day in the northwoods.
          -Man, don't ask!
          -There is HOT cereal.
          -Where do you think you're at?
          -The Trail of Life.

     The very first issue of the camp newspaper, The Paddle Post, carried an article of the Ideals and Objectives of Camp Voyageur. "As a boy develops over a camp session, he cannot fail to be a healthier, wiser, happier and better-adjusted citizen."

     The five objectives are as follows:
     1.To improve the physical and organic development of the boy, how he handles and uses his body in camp and on the trail.
     2.To improve social traits to make good citizens-- the ability to live together, to participate in group activities, and to develop moral and spiritual appreciation.
     3.To contribute to the psychological development of the boy, providing physical and social experiences resulting in feelings of accomplishment.
     4.To increase the individual's capacity to handle himself and assist others in an emergency.
     5.To develop recreational skills for leisure time in camp and back home.
     Though seasons have come and gone, the faces of the boys have changed, yet camp's objectives remain the same.

Charles P. Erdmann
April 1, 1908-January 23, 2000

Happy Birthday, Charlie!

     Charlie proved you're never too old to come to camp. We have all kinds of opportunities for the whole family at Voyageur. Let us help plan your family vacation. Here's what's happening at camp this year. Email Deb for more information.

     Jeff Wickizer is training with the US Coast Guard.
     David Huntoon is serving as an infantry captain in Iraq.
     Mark McAnany joined the Marines and will graduate from boot camp in April.
     John Burgman, a writer in Brooklyn, NY, wrote an article The Bow Drill Fire, just published in the spring edition of the Boundary Waters Journal. His story was inspired by his own experience as a camper with counselor Roger Varo on the trail.

     4 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 61 signed up for camp. As more and more campers sign up, the excitement continues to grow at camp! There's no reason to wait to sign-up, it helps us organize for the summer and more importantly shows everyone else who's registered that you'll be coming this summer.

     2 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 56 signed up for camp. As more and more campers sign up, the excitement continues to grow at camp! There's no reason to wait to sign-up, it helps us organize for the summer and more importantly shows everyone else who's registered that you'll be coming this summer.

     1 new camper has signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 54 signed up for camp. As more and more campers sign up, the excitement continues to grow at camp! There's no reason to wait to sign-up, it helps us organize for the summer and more importantly shows everyone else who's registered that you'll be coming this summer.

     March roared in with strong winds, bright blue skies and warmer temps. The stars at night have been brilliant, hanging in the northern sky like diamonds. Last week we dipped into the deep freeze. A nice dusting of snow as well and cold temps keep the ice firm—camp is a winter paradise. Northerners suffering from cabin fever enjoy daylight past 7 pm since Sunday’s time change. Ice fishermen, snowmobilers and cross country skiers traverse lakes without sticking to slush below the snow cover. Area birds are singing spring bird songs, woodpeckers stake out territory by loudly pecking on dead trees and the crows are back. We welcome these subtle but sure signs of spring.
     On February 24th campers, staff and alumns gathered at Tyler Leslie’s home in Orono, MN. John premiered the new promotional camp DVD and shared plans for the summer season. We’re mailing DVD to campers and prospects in the next few weeks, so check your mailbox. You can look who’s coming to camp at the registered campers page on our website. Read about our 2008 staff as well.

     This month we’re sending campers registration packets including a packing list, health form, travel and other information to prepare for the upcoming season. If you’re flying to camp, it’s time to make your airline reservation to Duluth. Check fares on-line to see how they compare to the CV Northwest Airline Discount Deal. Note the unaccompanied minor fee increases April 1. All campers flying to Duluth, MN must arrive on the first day of the session between 10 am and 2 pm to catch the Camp Voyageur shuttle. Please book departing flights from Duluth on the last day of the camp session between 10 am and 2 pm. The earlier you book the ticket the more you’ll save. Email Deb for more information.

     Calling all alumns and friends who want to spend a few days in early May to help with repairs and opening up our facility. . Stay for a few days or the entire time…whatever suits your schedule. All you need for work camp is a sleeping bag and your old clothes…just like packing for camp. We’ll fill you up with nutritious camp grub and fire up the sauna to revive those aching bones. Renew friendships, make new friends, earn a few blisters and inhale some of that “fresh air poisoning” Charlie loved. You can even extend your stay and take a Boundary Waters trip for Fishing Opener May 10, the best time of year to catch walleye. Please RSVP if you are planning to join us. In recent years work crews have included Steve, Dave “Clarkie” and Brett Clark; Paul “Snit” Sullivan; Greg “Grizzle” Kline; Lee “Coach” Schoenfeld; Brud Powell; Andy and Colin Brown; Jim Herman; Larry Zelenz; Aaron Gerber; Mark “Biff” Sherman; Scott “Brownie” Brown; Brian “Berk” Berkley; Jon “JJ” Jenkins; Chris Godsey; Kevin O’Kane; David Golichowski; Luke Adam; Dave Redinger and Ray Fini.