8 Boundary Waters Canoe Tripping Myths Debunked

By Alex Kvanli
October 18, 2020 (comments)

You spend the day paddling over placid water mirroring the sky, looking for moose along the shoreline. You throw a line in and the fish practically jump into your boat. After a delicious meal over the campfire, the sunset presents brilliant hues of orange, purple, and blue you never knew existed. It’s not quite time to crawl into your completely waterproof tent; you must stay awake a little longer to catch glimpses of the mysterious Northern Lights. A wolf howls in the distance. What is that whining sound? It’s the sound of the mosquitoes arriving at your campsite to wake...

2020 Voyageur Offers Guided Trips with Counselors

By Alex Kvanli
June 01, 2020 (comments)

Exclusive guiding for Voyageur families and alumni. Phase II of Minnesota’s Stay Safe Plan began June 1st, meaning that some Minnesota businesses are allowed to reopen under limited circumstances. As a non-critical business, we have been mandated to adopt and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in order to open services for the public. At this time, we are unable to provide families lodging or mess hall meals. Our pre-trip outfitting services include: Phone consultation Route planning and reservation assistance Food menu planning Group packing Full outfitting starts at $75/person/day with a Grumman canoe. Guided trips start at $95/person/day. Outfitting includes...

Alumni Do Work Despite Restrictions

By Alex Kvanli
May 27, 2020 (comments)

Our annual work camp accomplished a great deal this spring in spite of the social distancing, travel, and other restrictions set forth by Minnesota’s Stay Safe Plan and Camp Voyageur’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.

10 Camp-Inspired Activities to Do With Kids

By Alex Kvanli
April 07, 2020 (comments)

Looking to mix things up at home with your family? Try one of these activities from our very own playbook! The keys to success for most of our activities is that they must be themed, hosted by high-energy quirky characters (who never break role), and the set should contain several props. Camp Voyageur’s in-camp program features all of these activities and with a few modifications, you too can catch the Voyageur Spirit with these great projects!

Bring Nature Indoors

By Alex Kvanli
March 31, 2020 (comments)

Many nature lovers around the world have suddenly been confined to their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nature has a powerful effect on our health and wellbeing, especially on our mood and coping mechanisms. While going outside daily and strolling through a local park or even enjoying a picnic in the backyard provides a healthy dose of nature, it is not always possible. Below are 6 ways to bring small doses of nature indoors.

Outdoor Adventure Lays The Groundwork for Lifelong Exercise

By Alex Kvanli
March 10, 2020 (comments)

Going on a wilderness adventure is physically demanding by nature. It also may be a much-needed springboard for a lifetime of physical activity, especially for kids who don’t enjoy competitive sports. With kids spending more time than ever sitting down and consuming electronic media, a new skillset – the ability to take overnight trips into the wilderness – could be the catalyst needed to get them off their seats and spark newfound strength they’ll carry for life, even if they don’t plan on camping ever again.

Take A Break From Organized Youth Sports This Summer

By Alex Kvanli
February 11, 2020 (comments)

I love to play sports. I’ve participated in, coached, watched, and learned about sports my whole life. I even have a degree in physical education. I’m not denying the beneficial role of sports in our lives. Many of us believe that sports play an integral role in developing fundamental values in our children such as teamwork, commitment, and effort. They build character and keep kids out of trouble. Certainly, participating in sports has its merits. It’s easy to glorify sports and professional athletes. They dominate the media. Athletes are constantly in the limelight and one who has made it to...

These Old Shoes

By Alex Kvanli
February 04, 2020 (comments)

I bought my new shoes in 2012 at Scheels in Mankato on the cusp of my first solo backpacking trip. Merrells, size 9.5. Walnut grey with black soles. Mom didn’t believe I was actually going, until we walked out of the shop with my new hiking shoes. Then my new backpack, tent, and ultralight sleeping bag arrived in the mail. Who knew paying tuition on a credit card could rack up so many travel miles? Who knew donating plasma twice a week could be so profitable? Away I flew atop my new shoes, to the islands of Puerto Rico. My...

Why Excess Screen Time Damages Your Child's Brain

By Alex Kvanli
January 28, 2020 (comments)

Nature is an environment that often demands awareness and being in the moment. We must be aware of dangers such as wild animals, the weather, obstacles, our location, etc.… In other words, we have to be on the lookout for new occurrences or novelty. When in this state of awareness, we are cognizant and focused on our surroundings. Human evolution was largely driven by the fact that our ancestors spent large amounts of their time outside. Being aware of new occurrences was necessary for survival and we still operate on many of those same genes that allowed our ancestors to...

Leave No Trace Principles

By Alex Kvanli
January 14, 2020 (comments)

Never Leave Trace. Leave No Trace is a set of outdoor ethics promoting conservation in the outdoors. We practice minimum impact camping and follow the Leave No Trace policies: Plan Ahead and Prepare Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit. Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies. Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use. Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups. Repackage food to minimize waste. Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.

Alex Kvanli

Blogger & Wacky Worm Aficionado