The New Year roared in on Farm Lake with cool and windy weather. Snow depth is low but thankfully enough to ski on groomed trails. Daily local ice fishermen set their huts up catching crappies and walleyes near Indian Island.
     This month trip director, Larry Zelenz, will secure our wilderness permits for the Boundary Waters, Quetico, Isle Royale and Apostle Islands. If you're coming to camp or need help planning your own trip let us know so we can reserve the best permits.

     It's time to take Camp Voyageur on the road again. The next few months our 60th anniversary celebration will travel to several cities. We've spliced together historic photographs and 8 mm movies from the 50s, 60s and 70s documenting camp's first 60 years. You'll recognize familiar camp characters and may even see a younger, perhaps smaller, version of yourself on the big screen.
     We'll be driving, so if you cannot attend one of the scheduled events we'll try to swing by your home to visit and introduce camp to your friends. Contact Deb to set up a home meeting. We'll premiere and distribute the 2011 memories DVD so we'd like current campers and prospects to arrive early. Later in the afternoon in each city, the historic 60th movie, vintage slides and swapping camp stories will highlight the 60th celebration for alumni. We'll be traveling with the Erdmann clan (Vick, John and Deb), Bill Burgman, Larry Zelenz and Chris and Michelle Erdmann Smith. Campers and prospects will rock climb at Vertical Endeavors in Minneapolis and Chicago. Note, in order for minors to climb parental permission is required and a waiver must be signed. Contact Deb and she'll send you a waiver or go to the Vertical Endeavors website to download a waiver.

     If you're on Facebook, we'd like to be your friend. Join our CV Facebook page. In addition to camp news we'll post info about upcoming events. Invite your friends and family to join us on Facebook so they can learn what the CV spirit is all about. In the future we hope to connect to more alumni via Facebook, and will post names of alumns that we have dropped out of contact with. Hopefully some of you can help us find the lost alumni!

     There are opportunities for people of all ages to join us at CV. Need registration info...click here.

     Congratulations to David Clark, Franklin High School Basketball Coach, who won his 200th game as of mid-December. A big milestone and Babe Wheeler would be proud.
     Jim Latimer has launched his own coaching business called StrongStartCoaching after concluding a 3-year contract with Community United Church of Christ, Reading, PA as their Transition Minister.
     Peter Grunawalt a junior at University of Vermont will study in India next semester.
     Pete Lippert will finish a masters in geology in May and teaches undergraduate students at Kansas University.
     Doug Merriman took a two-week bike trip across Peru starting at Lake Titicaca and ending at Machu Picchu.
     Ryan Huntoon is an Army Ranger in Afganistan.
     David Huntoon has trained and now works for the Secret Service.
     Brandon Erdmann will return from Afganistan and pursue another career as a military chaplain.

     Imagine camp covered in a thick blanket of snow as the holiday season approaches. The camp bay froze in a single night last week. Ice around the shore thickens daily, stretching further into Farm Lake. Loons and other waterfowl left months ago, but open water still attracts the occasional bald eagle. Grouse, snow buntings, pine grosbeaks and pileated woodpeckers will remain throughout the long winter. Otters recently left their distinctive tracks on the mess hall dock, before it was surrounded by ice. Snowshoe hares are turning from brown to white as daylight hours shorten. Our most unusual sighting in recent weeks was a coyote near the chalet deck and a pine marten peering through our window! Now it is dark by 4:30 pm.allowing plenty of time to gaze at the stars, which hang like jewels in the crisp winter sky.
     We've had a surge of camper registrations. Look online to see who's coming to camp. Larry Zelenz has begun mapping out the 2012 trip chart and in January he'll reserve Boundary Waters permits. We've also scheduled trips to Isle Royale, the Quetico, Superior Hiking Trail and hopefully the Apostle Islands. If you plan to attend camp, let us know by the end of year to include you in trip plans.
     Girls' trips information will go out in early December. This year we'll have two different kinds of trips: June 10-19, an eight-day hike along the Superior Hiking Trail for girls 14 years and older; and June 21-30, a seven-day Boundary Water canoe trip. Contact Deb for registration details.
     We are offering several guided trip options next summer season as well: Walleye opener May 10-16 with Larry Zelenz, and four-day guided family trips following each camp session, July 7-10 and August 4-7. Remember that CV offers complete or partial outfitting June 1 through September 1. Specializing in family canoe outfitting, we can help you share your love of the Boundary Waters with family and friends.
     Plan to join us in January and February as we make our way across the Midwest, visiting with camp friends and alumni celebrating camp's 60th anniversary. We'll show movies and slides of camp through the years and pictures from August's alumni camp. And we'll tell you about plans for next year at camp.

     Congratulations to former counselor Jon Jenkins (JJ) who is Director of Amazon's new Kindle Fire browser, Silk. Check out these links: rumors , video
     Congratulations to CV alumni and coach Tim Quealy who coached his Benilde-St. Margaret's High School soccer team to the Minnesota state championship. In preparation for the season his team joined us at Camp Voyageur for some preseason training Labor Day weekend.
     Congratulations to Elliott Keller (alumni Paul and Nancy Keller's son) and the Concord High School band for winning the best in state trophy at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
     Campers Katelyn and Ben Bercaw (alumni Bill and Crystal's children) were selected for IMEA Musical Festival honor band this year.

     The largest Forest Fire in the Superior National Forest's recent history has been burning since August 18th. Started by a lightning strike August 18th on Pagami Creek, approximately 7 miles from camp, it really took off in high winds in early September, rapidly covering 93,000 acres. It was moving AWAY from camp during this time. We hear planes patrolling the forest throughout the day. Fortunately the prevailing winds have taken most of the smoke and debris away from camp, so we've encountered few of the effects of the fire. The dry forest and high winds at times keeps our awareness keen. At present over 600 firefighters are on the ground and it's reportedly over 60% contained. While fire is a natural function of the forest ecology of the area, this event will change the landscape as we've known it. We will also get to see just how fast the forest will regenerate. Even this chapter is a natural part of the BWCAW and living in the woods.

     The CV peninsula was filled with activity during the month of August. Campers departed on the 5th filled with Tynee's donuts and plenty of camp memories. The following weekend we hosted our 60th celebration. Alumni and campers from all over the country (IN, IL, FL, OH, KY, MN, WI, GA, TN, CA, CO, NY, TX) and Italy joined us for three days of fun and fellowship. We sailed, kayaked, canoed to the Hegman Pictographs, Kawishiwi Falls and Haystack Rock. We even paddled during the full moon and some swam to Indian Island. After a Saturday evening banquet we showed photos and film clips from all the decades while sharing stories. We gathered at the fire circle for a Sunday morning service officiated by Bill Defenbaugh. To see pics from the 60th celebration go to our photo gallery on the CV website. Though few of the folks knew everyone in attendance the common link was camp, and the CV spirit was evident.
     In addition to the 60th reunion we outfitted several camp families and alumni for Boundary Waters trips throughout the month of August. At the end of the month we hosted the University of Minnesota women's Cross Country team, 55 top athletes and three coaches. This was our 19th year welcoming Gary Wilson's team for a week of training. They have created their own traditions (freshman skit, hauling in the swim dock, Whiteside Park Run, Progressive Run etc.) and can call camp their own during the time they are here. A few days after the women departed we welcomed Benilde St. Margaret's boy's soccer team. Coach (and CV alum) Tim Quealy organized their agenda. They took full advantage of our facilities as they prepared for the start of their soccer season. Currently they are ranked #1 in the state of MN.

     Our rates are going UP. Campers can save $300 per session if registered by October 15. This gives the same savings as the early reservation discount offered last year. This is the best rate we'll offer so don't delay and register today.
     Reservations are rolling in. Check on the CV website to see who's coming to camp. Contact Deb for details and registration materials.

     Ian Parmley has moved to Montana and is working as a program director at Triple Creek Ranch.
     Congratulations to Charlie and Ashley Erdmann of Milan, TN. They welcomed John Charles Erdmann to their family on September 23rd.

     We're in the midst of the final week of our second session. For two months campers have traveled the Boundary Waters from west to east and south to north. A first session expedition to the Shebandowan River led by Henry Rodman and Will Hebert pushed through the Quetico and the Crown Lands of Ontario and down the Shebandowan and Coministiquia Rivers to Thunder Bay. Joe Baumann is kayaking with four campers in the Apostle Islands National Lake Shore for 12 days while his brother Andy Baumann is hiking with a group across the Lake Superior island gem of Isle Royale. We also sent out three different hiking trips on the Superior Hiking Trail during the season and three van trips that explored the north shore of Lake Superior, Duluth and west to the MN Forestry Center. All trips come home on Tuesday, which means marshmallows and trip stories at the fire circle Tuesday night. The CV Olympics of friendly sports competition among campers begins on Wedneday, wrapping up the session. The camp season will culminate with Parent's Day, our final banquet and finally, Initiation at the fire circle on Friday. Throughout the summer campers have enjoyed big games on Pine Stadium like Scrobnitz, CV commando, soccer and ultimate Frisbee. In-camp favorites have included the gong show, sing down, bean auction, CV carnival, WELK, canoe tag and the cardboard boat regatta. In addition we also hosted two 10-day Boundary Waters girls' trip programs in June for girls aged 11-16.
     Our trip and outfitting director Larry Zelenz has coordinated family canoe outfitting all summer long. We've seen Chris Palmatier, Rauson and Madison Clower and family, Lee and Sue Schoenfeld's family, Grant Ekstrom and his dad, Lucas Levine and his dad, Kyle Maxwell and his dad and CV alumns Mark Mellick and Tristan Ford. Later on this year we are expecting trippers Erik Thomley, Tim and Kevin Quealy, Aaron Gerber, John Burgman and other alumni to paddle from camp. Contact us if you want to book your next northwoods vacation in a canoe or at camp.

     August 12-15 we're celebrating Camp Voyageur's 60th anniversary. All Voyageurs are invited for this landmark celebration. There is still time to sign up and join us. Contact camp or call 800.950.7291 to make your reservation.
     We've scheduled voluntary activities each day, so alumni can choose from guided fishing trips, hikes, International Wolf Center, Bear Center or canoe/kayak lessons, for example. Each day's activities will depend on the weather and what people want to do. For evening programs we'll gather at the fire circle, share slides of camp and expeditions through the decades and host a variety show on Sunday night-starring YOU. You and your family are invited to attend and catch up with camp friends while meeting new ones. The cost is only $300 per person, which includes incredible meals and in-camp lodging. If you prefer to stay in town, check here for accommodation options (and reduce tuition by $25 per person per night if you're staying some place other than CV for the weekend).

     August 12th Expedition Trip Stories from all decades
     August 13th The 60th Anniversary Banquet and evening program
     August 14th Firecircle Sunday Service, Obstacle Course, and the WELK Radio Show starring YOU
     August 15th Farewell donut breakfast and guided trips shove off or outfit for your own wilderness adventure

     Guided canoe and hiking trips will depart August 14 and 15th. If you've wanted to rekindle your love of camping we hope you'll choose one of these guided trips. We've scheduled the very best Voyageur trips as our guided destinations. So, "pack your sack" and head back.to "good old Voyageur"!

     13 new photos have been added to the Photo Gallery since July 21, 2011. As a continuing effort both during the camp season and during the rest of the year, we update the Photo Gallery. We hope these photos help to give you an idea of what the camp family is doing.