Humility, Taught By a Canoe Paddle

By Hal Holmes
November 12, 2019 (comments)

As we came back across the portage to get the next load of gear, I came up behind Tom who was standing with hands on his hips looking as one of our canoes was drifting about fifteen feet away along the shoreline. “Well, that sucks,” I, quite the wordsmith, said as I sidled up to Tom. “Yep,” replied the ever-chatty Tom. At this point the rest of the group came up behind us and there were a number of stifled laughs as they figured out what we were looking at, and one gasp, I heard to be wrought with shame,...

Finding Peace Along the Trail

By Alex Kvanli
November 05, 2019 (comments)

A veteran counselor recounts, during the summer of 2018, how he found peace along the trail. To some the trail symbolizes strength, traversing tough terrain, carrying yet heavier loads. To others, it’s simply the land and the water themselves. Every tree and rock offers a world of discovery to the observant Boundary Waters traveler. Revealing trail events are different for everybody… sighting wildlife, the drama of a storm, a long thoughtless paddle or a quiet, uneventful moment like enjoying a rainy day.

Sketchiest Camp Characters of 2019

By Alex Kvanli
October 30, 2019 (comments)

The summer of 2019 was full of sketchy characters. In honor of Halloween, we give you some dubious camp characters who wandered their way to the peninsula on everything from spaceships to pirate ships.

A BWCA Thank You Letter

By Hal Holmes
October 22, 2019 (comments)

The Why of the BWCA With over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, more than 1,000 lakes, and 2,000 plus designated campsites, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW or BWCA) is one of the most impressive pieces of land management operations in the United States. If you have ever been there, you can appreciate the amount of work and governance needed to keep this little bit of heaven on earth as untarnished as possible. If you have not had the pleasure, then you will have to call upon your imagination to understand how amazing it is in this area of...

Alumni Complete Canoe Trip Expedition in the Wilds of Canada

By Alex Kvanli
October 16, 2019 (comments)

On July 2, Doug Merriman and I reached Peawanuck Village-the final stop of our 500-mile canoe expedition down the Pipestone and Winisk Rivers to Hudson Bay. It took us 23 days to paddle the remote rivers of this extensive boreal forest.

Save the BWCA from Sulfide Mining

By Paul Thompson-Nelson
October 09, 2019 (comments)

This op-ed - published last year - is still relevant today as lawmakers and groups such as Save the Boundary Waters are still actively fighting the proposed sulfide-ore copper mining near the BWCA. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota is one of the last untouched natural beauties in the world. The BWCA is the premier destination for people to get away from the concrete jungle that is modern civilization. Camps such as Camp Voyageur and others provide kids the opportunity to learn how to survive and navigate in the vast wilderness. My family members and peers have made...

5 Reasons to Pick Camp Voyageur

By John Burgman
October 02, 2019 (comments)

There are countless things that make camp special, but here are the aspects—in no particular order—that get cited most often by current campers, staff, and alumni as the keys to Voyageur’s enduring allure.

Why We Cut Down Balsams

By Alex Kvanli
September 25, 2019 (comments)

Fall Has Fallen on the Peninsula The maples are turning red, aspen yellow, and balsams brown. The beauty of the Great Northwoods is only interrupted by the sounds of loons and…. chainsaws? I glimpse what appears to be a human tornado slashing through the trees. Charlie “Turbo” Erdmann rarely runs the chainsaw at anything but full throttle as he rips through tree after tree, leaving a path of destruction through the beautiful fall foliage. A Historical Battle With Renewed Significance CV has always been ‘fighting the forest’ away from its buildings. Early on, emphasis was placed on removing the trees...

CV Receives Fishing Grant from MN DNR

By Alex Kvanli
September 18, 2019 (comments)

Who taught you to fish? Many kids arrive at camp excited to go fishing. Located within a renowned fishing destination, Camp Voyageur’s wilderness adventure program offers the perfect opportunity for kids to try their luck catching bass, northern pike, and Minnesota’s (state fish) famous walleye. In recent years, however, we’ve noticed a decline in fishing. This year, CV received a grant – the jumpstart it needed – to revamp campers’ annual pursuit of fish. The Voyageur’s Fishing Program, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is designed to get more kids to fish successfully. The project aims to...

Today Was a Duff Day

By Alex Kvanli
September 11, 2019 (comments)

Veteran camper Christian W. recently released the exclusive lyrics for his new hit single Today Was a Duff Day, featuring counselor Paul Nelson. He recounts a recent trip which was full of Duff Days, or days on the trail where campers don’t pack up and move out, but rather use the campsite as a basecamp for a day full of fun activities and relaxation. Listeners of the 2019 WELK Pirate Radio Show were the first to hear his new hit single, which has since meteorically risen to the top of Wandering Elk’s Hot 100. Today Was a Duff Day Just...