The ice went off area lakes the first week in April--weeks earlier than normal. Since then we've had variable temps with record highs and lows. Fortunately, last week we had enough gentle rain to keep the fire danger down, but now it is back up to "very high". The Forest Service issued a fire ban from April 12 to May 14th, much earlier than in recent memory.
     This week at CV has had many seasonal firsts: our inaugural sauna, first dip in Farm Lake, first fishing boats in the bay and off Cabin Four point, first tiger swallowtail, first bumblebees, first strawberry plant flowers, first turtle basking in the bay, first frog crossing at the narrows, first batch of midges AND mosquitoes.
     Chris Steiner (Charlie and Jack's dad) with daughter Sophie were the first 2010 visitors. They volunteered to do major repairs and prep cabins for our season. Chris, a commercial construction contractor from the Twin Cities, along with Deb's husband Jeff Kemmer worked on the CV kitchen floor. It's now almost level and ready to produce plenty of that famous camp cookin'. Last weekend at "walleye opener" we saw Trip Director Larry Zelenz, who wet a line with Sophie and reeled in a few near the Garden Lake narrows and other nearby fishing haunts. Even the real Minnesota Governor caught four walleye on opening day. We've also seen CV alumni Tom Bose and Dave Casey who have cabins down the camp road.
     Work camp volunteers (including Greg Pike, Jim Herman, Morgan Doyle's mom Diana, Emma Plattes, Bob Corpus, Suzanne Erdmann and more) have been helping the last few days. We're chipping away at various maintenance projects because next week counselors arrive for two weeks of training. Check on-line to see who is coming to camp this summer.
     June 13 kicks off our 59th season with plenty of in-camp fun and challenging canoe, kayak and hiking trips in the surrounding wilderness. We can hardly wait for the first campers to arrive! Camp Director John Erdmann has reserved premium permits to offer our campers the best the north woods has to offer. Campers, remember to bring your yellow BWCAW area map so you can mark all your canoe trips at camp this year. Also tell your buddies to join you at camp and we'll save them a bunk, too.
     Registration packets and final billing info have been mailed to all camp families. If you have questions preparing for camp contact Deb. Remember that remaining payments, transportation information (how your camper is getting to camp), the health form and any other important papers are due June 1st. A quick reminder for campers going to Canada: all persons traveling to Canada need to have proper documentation (US passport) and a letter signed by parents stating they allow their child to travel with Camp Voyageur out of the country. Campers 18 years and older also need a Remote Area Border Crossing Permit which is available on-line, though it takes several weeks to process.