Paddling Through Time: History and Fishing along the Four Mile Portage

By Alex Kvanli
October 16, 2023 (comments)

Deleterious drought conditions with the summer solstice fast approaching foreshadowed a rugged but tolerable four-day fishing adventure. We kicked off from Fall Lake and paddled two miles to the Four Mile, or Truck, Portage, leading to Hoist Bay of Basswood Lake. The portage was built in 1901 by the Swallow and Hopkins Company as a railroad for a 40-ton locomotive to serve the logging industry. After World War II, the rough road was used to bus tourists to resorts and houseboats on Basswood Lake. Alas, the last motorized vehicles to cross the portage were removed in 1984, so we had...

Building Character Through Canoeing: Life Lessons from a Wilderness Adventure Camp

By Alex Kvanli
September 18, 2023 (comments)

Adventure is an efficient teacher, and the ancient waterways of Northern Minnesota offer a unique platform for building character in kids. The journey across the Boundary Waters isn’t just about paddling; it’s about personal growth, teamwork, resilience, and learning invaluable life skills. Here are some of the ways canoeing builds character at Camp Voyageur:

Trip Stories: Moose Lake to Camp Voyageur

By CV Staff
June 29, 2023 (comments)

5 Nights on the Trail By: Joey Erdmann with Ben K., Finn H., Lleyton A., Chuck H., Demetri S., and Trip Leader Charlie Erdmann. Day 1 We loaded two small vans–later than expected– because our big van had been hijacked for a rescue mission. Alex trekked us up the Fernberg Trail to the Moose Lake landing where he and Kevin O’Kane helped us to the water and snapped a photo to see us off. The wind had picked up by this time, so we paddled across the waves to a protected point and crossed paddles. “May the wind be at...

10 Things to Look For When Choosing an Overnight Canoe Camp

By Alex Kvanli
May 09, 2023 (comments)

Summer camps come in all shapes and sizes. The following tips are for parents searching for a sleepaway camp where canoe camping is a primary focus of the camp’s program.

Liquid Gold

By Alex Kvanli
April 07, 2023 (comments)

What do asparagus, brussels sprout, waffles, granola, and hot cereal have in common? They’re excellent means for transporting Sugar Shack pure maple syrup from the plate to your mouth. Our family has been making syrup for 29 years and I bring a couple of gallons up to Voyageur each spring. Work camp volunteers in mid-May especially enjoy the sweet, rich tree juice at breakfast before John pulls out the daily chores list.

Voyageur Foundation Funds Counselor Incentive Package

By Alex Kvanli
February 22, 2023 (comments)

The Voyageur Experience Starts with Great Counselors

2022 Paddle Post

By John Erdmann
February 03, 2023 (comments)

That latest edition of Camp’s newspaper recounts our 71st summer.

2023 Trip Options

By Dylan Jackson
January 20, 2023 (comments)

In a couple of weeks, the National Forest Service will open wilderness reservations for the 2023 summer season. In addition to our most popular wilderness routes, CV will offer an array of options for traveling outside of our region. Each permit we reserve requires the names of four registered campers. Select your son’s trip preference from the options listed below; he can pick one trip per four-week session. Please contact me to sign up or if you have any questions!

Trip Stories: The Pagami Creek is Always a Good Idea

By Alex Kvanli
January 11, 2023 (comments)

There are several infamous “shortcuts” in the Boundary Waters. Morris Creek from Saganaga Lake to Granite River eliminates several miles of paddling along the U.S./Canadian Border. The rugged Beartrap River offers an alternative route to Iron Lake. The Angleworm entry point could be considered a shortcut to the fishing-hotspot Crooked Lake. All of these routes have three things in common: (1) They may be less in miles but not in time or effort, (2) that is no secret, and (3) it doesn’t stop people from trying. The Pagami Creek shortcut from Lake One to Clearwater Lake is no exception. Below...

Alex and John B. Launch Camp Podcast

By John Erdmann
December 16, 2022 (comments)

Years ago, John Burgman and Peter Grunawalt unveiled the W.ELK Podcast, which featured chats with Camp alums and explored various camp-related topics. The show proved to be extremely popular, despite its limited run of episodes. Now, with podcasts more popular than ever, the show has returned under a slightly different name—The Camp Voyageur Podcast.