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.
The Voyageur Experience Starts with Great Counselors
That latest edition of Camp’s newspaper recounts our 71st summer.
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!
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...
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.
Camp Swag Second only to, “Will there be hot cereal?”, one of the most frequently asked questions at Camp is, “Can you open the store?” Indeed, the “camp store”–as the small porch attached to the Director’s Cabin is known–has long sold various items such as fishing lures, paddles, and CV apparel. It has perennially been the go-to spot for purchasing camp-related souvenirs and swag. Recently, however, the camp store received its most historic upgrade ever: It’s available online! Deb and Suzanne set up a shop with the eCommerce platform Shopify, meaning your favorite Voyageur t-shirts are available year-round with the...
Our hearts filled with joy, we paddled off from the Mess Hall dock. Alex Kvanli led the trip consisting of James (going for his Big Man), Harrison, bicyclist Deven, wild man Luke, and Eian “Genius” rounded out our crew. We paddled hard up the meandering Kawishiwi River. Our first night was quiet, and the wind soothed us as we played Spyfall. Deven won almost every game. The next day we were hit by a thunderstorm, and I regretted leaving my rain jacket back at Voyageur base-camp. The storm brought in extreme heat and I was thankful that our second campsite...
Our 71st season was another great time for campers who explored the Boundary Waters, continued generations-old traditions, and made friendships to last a lifetime. Here are a few highlights:
Gaga Ball Addictive and fast-paced, this gentler version of dodgeball has been all the rage for cabins one through three. Campers are in a pit with a soft foam ball; if the ball touches you below the knee, you’re out. Players cannot throw the ball, it must be hit with a closed or open hand. The last camper standing wins! Closely Contested Inspections We hold Inspections each morning after breakfast at Voyageur base camp, which rewards the American flag to the cleanest cabin. Most years, one cabin dominates. So far this year, they’ve all been pretty even! Kudos to our...