Camp Voyageur - Summer Camp for Boys

1 new camper signed up!

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

1 new camper has signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 31 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.

Winter Rendezvous Schedule

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

We've packed our sack to premier "The Stars Align in 2009," last summer's memories DVD, on a winter swing through the Midwest. Bring friends and 2009 Voyageurs can pick up a copy of the latest CV movie. Campers and friends coming to Dave and Buster's in Indianapolis and Chicago will be treated to food and video games as well. Please RSVP by Wednesday February 24. At each rendezvous John Erdmann will discuss which wilderness trips you want to take this summer. It won't be long before we all 'Hit the Trail'.

Thursday, February 25
5:30 to 8 pm
Julian Math and Science Building, Room #151
DePauw University
602 S. College Avenue
Greencastle, Indiana 46135

Saturday, February 27
2 to 4 pm
Games and food at Dave and Buster's
8350 Castleton Corner Drive
Indianapolis, Indiana 46250
directions

Sunday, February 28
2 to 4 pm
Games and food at Dave and Buster's
1030 North Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
directions

Sunday, March 7
2 to 4 pm
John Erdmann's House
2800 Arthur NE
Minneapolis, Minnesota
directions

Permits Reserved

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

Along with Trip Director Larry Zelenz, John has pounded out a trip schedule for this summer. Some popular BWCAW entry points have already closed and Quetico permits are even more precious. Government permits require four campers' names, so let us know if you are coming to camp this summer. CV trips always challenge novice and experienced campers alike.
Expedition and Advanced Trip announcements were sent out last month. We'll mount one Expedition as well as three 10-day Advanced Trips per session. Trips are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

2010 Expeditions

Superior Hiking Trail The SHT twists along cascading rivers falling into mighty Lake Superior. Hiking over mountain vistas and along rocky beaches, a few lucky trippers will try to match last year's 125-mile route during first session.
Apostle Island Sea Kayaking Crystal clear waters, lighthouses, sea caves and sand beaches await second session Voyageurs. Crewmembers will train both in camp and at Bayfield, Wisconsin before paddling for 10 days among the Apostle Islands.
10-day Advanced Trips

Quetico Counselors Henry Rodman and Will Hebert will each lead a trip around Quetico's Hunter Island, tracing the Voyageur Highway through the Falls Chain, Kawnipi, Keats, Sturgeon, north to Beaverhouse and back via the Namakan River.
Isle Royale Hike Catch the ferry early at Grand Portage for Windigo and hike the Feldtmann Loop, east to Rock Harbor and back over the rugged Greenstone Ridge.
Grand Portage This favorite French Voyageur route takes you along the Canadian border to the Gunflint, past the Height of Land and over the eight-mile Grand Portage to Lake Superior.

2010 Camp Voyageur Calendar

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

Work Camp
May 18-26

Outfitting
June 1- September 1

Boys Sessions
June 13-July 10 (4-weeks)
July 11-August 7 (4-weeks)
June 13-August 7 (8-weeks)

Girls Sessions
June 13-22 (Quetico for experienced Voyageurs over 14)
June 24-July 3
Contact Deb for registration materials

Camp Catch-Up

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

Drake Roth spent a week this winter playing guitar for the St. John's Prep jazz band in Puerto Rico.
Drake was also surprised when Morgan Doyle transferred this semester to St. John's Prep in St. Cloud, and is now his classmate.
Voyageurs Michelle Erdmann and Chris Smith have announced their plans to marry in Costa Rica next January.
Alumni Rich Beal visited snowy Camp Voyageur en route to pick up his brother Ron Beal. They were in the area to participate in to the Freeze Your Gizzard Blizzard Run in nearby International Falls.
In January Henry Rodman followed his dream by moving from sunny California to the snowdrifts of Minneapolis. He has been playing music with Matt "Reggie" Miller when not delivering Dominos Pizzas.
Henry is subletting Darrin Commerford's apartment while Darrin is on a trek photographing India.
Jim Herman is recovering from a heart valve replacement at home in Cedar Rapids, IA. He'd love to hear from fellow Voyageurs here.
Jacob and Sidney Boston's parents Jeff and Michele Boston have assembled two medical teams to help the Haitian earthquake victims. They have selflessly been helping Haitians long before the recent earthquake and founded a nonprofit organization called No Time For Poverty. Check out their website to see how they're making a difference and how you can help here.

4 new campers signed up!

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

4 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 30 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 signed up!

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

1 new camper has signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 26 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 signed up!

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 PST

1 new camper has signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 25 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 signed up!

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

4 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 24 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.

Gene Behnke's Legacy

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

The camp family regrets to report the peaceful passing of Camp Voyageur legend "Geno" Behnke of Monmouth, Illinois on November 19, 2009. He dedicated most of his 82 years to coaching and educating children, campers, teachers and even inmates.
After college Gene married Dorothy, his Monmouth College sweetheart, and went on to teach high school math and coach football near his hometown of Kewanee in northern Illinois. Gene earned a master's in education from the University of Colorado, became a principal at two Monmouth elementary schools and taught math at the nearby Galesburg penitentiary upon retirement.
In 1967 Geno stepped into the role of program director, replacing Babe Wheeler, for 11 summers over the next 13 years. Coming to Voyageur was a family decision for the Behnkes. Their arrival meant Gene's wife Dorothy became known as the "Salad Lady," chopping and mixing dressings with Mim Erdmann, son David became a camper, daughter Anna Behnke Thompson began a friendship with Debbie Erdmann eventually landing them both in Ely year round, and Janie and John Behnke grew up in the camp program-John being a camper and counselor for many years.
In the early 70's Geno purchased a beautiful, rocky lot and built a small summer cabin for his family high above Farm Lake. Several Voyageurs also built nearby, and today Dave Casey, Tom Bose, the Sullivan brothers, Paul Keller, Larry Zelenz and Dick Crane call the Behnkes neighbors. Gene and Dorothy hosted the annual Fourth of July neighborhood celebration where dozens of neighbors and camp friends enjoyed Geno's creamy hand-cranked vanilla ice cream, just like he prepared at camp for special occasions.
Geno was a skilled and enthusiastic builder, the perfect complement for a mathematician. Prior to the camp season he pounded camp projects together with rough cut lumber. He headed up crews of inexperienced but willing counselors to build cabins Eight and Nine, extended the back portion of the trip hut, constructed the ball hut and added a sleeping porch onto his family's cabin at camp. He designed and built a stone foundation for the Camp Voyageur sign next to Pine Stadium that still greets visitors upon arrival today. The Paddle Post chronicles the time capsule Gene cemented inside the wall.
In 1979 Geno was program director the last year Mim and Charlie operated camp. Gene was contracted to continue operations under a lease to ex-counselor David McCracken, but camp did not reopen until 1984. In recent years you might see Geno and Dorothy walking down the road for cookies and coffee on the Kawish, a neighborhood gathering hosted in the camp mess hall. He'd scoot about Farm Lake in the Silver Streak, his Alumacraft speedboat (recently replaced by a new, red Lund boat). When not fishing, he methodically tested water purity of Farm Lake as a volunteer for WICOLA. Gene opposed the copper/nickel mining operation on Birch Lake, which runs into the Kawishiwi River flowage, because of the potential toxic runoff. Always a supporter of the CV mission, Gene and Dorothy's granddaughters went on the CV girls trip last summer.
Gene's big smile and easy manner touched all who knew him. He and Charlie supervised rest periods leaning against the granite rocks between Cabin One and the basketball court. Charlie and Gene were playful as kids at heart and rumor has it they painted the green head red one summer. They understood how communal living, athletics and camping positively shape a boy's life. Gene and Dorothy's son John directed and produced a documentary about camp, The Trail of Life, where Gene and Dorothy commented on their tenure at camp. In January 2000 Gene gave a loving camp eulogy for Charlie Erdmann.
Many from the Voyageur camp family attended the calling and memorial service for Gene in Monmouth in late November. (Link to obituary) John Behnke wrote and, along with Anna Behnke Thompson, presented a eulogy at his memorial service, appropriately entitled Gene's Toolbox. (Link to Toolbox) Dorothy lives at 818 First Street, Monmouth, IL 61416. In late spring you will find her on Farm Lake, living in the cabin Geno built for his family down the road from camp.(Link to her remembrance)

Wolves Patrol Peninsula

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

At times it seemed as though winter would not arrive this year. In recent weeks we've endured the coldest weather of the season thus far with record cold of 20 below and more. Northwest winds made it feel even colder at camp at times. Farm Lake froze completely on December 4th and locals think it's firm enough to safely ski and support weight. The big Minnesota blizzard you may have heard about was south of Ely. Regardless we've had enough snow to freshen things up and camp's evergreens are laden with fluffy white. Now we can easily track the wolf pack that is patrolling the peninsula. Archery range point seems to be a hangout for four wolves at the moment.

Camp Voyageur Daypack for Boys Registered by December 31

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

Though winter is just beginning, we still have sights on next summer at camp-which is now only six months away. Reservations for 2010 have been brisk and next month we'll reserve wilderness permit reservations to give our campers the best trip options available. If you know you're coming to camp and have not reserved your bunk, register now to put in your trip requests.
All campers registered by the end of this month will receive a CV special limited edition daypack made to carry books, a laptop and water bottle. This daypack is ideal to stash raingear, water bottle and other items for day trips at camp. This pack was shipped last week and is a gift to all 2010 Voyageurs registered by the end of December.

Camp Calendar

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

Outfitting
June 1- September 1
Boys Sessions
June 13-July 10 (4-weeks)
July 11-August 7 (4-weeks)
June 13-August 7 (8-weeks)
Girls Sessions
June 13-22 (10-days for experienced campers over age 14)
June 24-July 3 (10 days)
Contact Deb for registration materials.

From the Erdmanns and the Camp Voyageur family we wish you a grand holiday season and a peaceful New Year.

2 new campers signed up!

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

2 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 22 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 signed up!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

2 new campers have signed up for this summer. We now have a total of 20 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.