Voyageurs Return!

By Peter Grunawalt
June 26, 2015 (comments)

In no less than 5 days, campers returned from their second round of trips in the Boundary Waters (BWCAW). Despite starting the trip with a little liquid sunshine, morale stayed high with the eminent promise for wilderness adventure. Groups planned their own routes in the Western half of the boundary waters. Just about every trip covers new ground, for even the veteran counselors haven’t seen a quarter of the lakes in the Boundary Waters. Whenever you enter the wilderness, you’re at the mercy of the elements. Rarely in this modern age does one even have the opportunity to experience this....

Overnight Trips: Learning by Doing

By Peter Grunawalt
June 21, 2015 (comments)

Campers returned from overnight trips several days ago, designed for new and veteran campers alike to get accustomed to life on the trail. Even the staff appreciate the chance to stretch out their paddling arms. With temperatures in the low 70s, a light breeze out of the North, and clear blue skies, these guys couldn’t have lucked out anymore with the weather! Even for trips as short as the overnight, campers earn an age old tradition here at camp: a hot sauna followed by a hearty meal. It should be noted that for the vast majority of campers, a hot...

What is Day 2 at Camp Like?

By Peter Grunawalt
June 17, 2015 (comments)

Getting into the groove. During the first couple days at camp is when you see the greatest adjustment in lifestyle for campers. Their new schedule is full to the brim with two long activity periods, three opportunities to swim and sauna, full-camp games up at Pine Stadium, and evening programs. Campers sleep well at night, with cool June temperatures still hitting the low 40s. As we get deeper into the session, we learn which activities campers are more interested in and develop the program around them. We work to improve what we call “observable skills.” Whether it’s improving your Frisbee...

What is Day 1 of Camp Like?

By Peter Grunawalt
June 15, 2015 (comments)

A Day Like No Other. By planes, trains, and automobiles, campers were coming in throughout the day. They were greeted by their cabin counselors, helped to find a bunk and get settled. However, choosing a bunk at camp is anything but simple. A camper must way the many pros and cons of each bunk against the others. That upper-bunk by the window for the breeze? Or perhaps the bottom one closes to the door for easy access? Of course, there are some instances of love at first site. At the end of the day though, everyone had made their bed...

A Tale of Two Staff Trips

By Peter Grunawalt
June 11, 2015 (comments)

Perhaps the most anticipated pre-camp activity for staff is the canoe trip, where counselors, new and old alike, are “broken-in” on the trail. What does this mean exactly? Well, despite most counselors at CV being part-time Olympic athletes, it takes a good Boundary Waters trip to get back into the rhythm of camping, warm up the shoulders, and work on some… logistics. Every year, at least two staff trips go out. A group leader is assigned to each trip (typically the veteran counselors). The trip is planned and prepared for as any trip with campers would be. Between each planning...

Green-head Gossip: The "Throne Poem"

By Peter Grunawalt
June 04, 2015 (comments)

On the right, Gary Dexheimer, Ft. Wayne, IN, counselor for two years. Photo taken in the summer of 1971. Former counselor Gary Dexheimer brings us the story of the mysterious throne poem. He writes: For far too many years, I have carried a poem in my wallet copied from the underside of a box-toilet lid from a camp site on an island with the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area). I spent two wonderful summers during college as a counselor at an outdoor adventure canoeing based camp in Ely, MN. On one memorable trip, I found this note inscribed on the...

Day 5 Pre-camp: Camp is for the Campers

By Peter Grunawalt
June 04, 2015 (comments)

After introductions have been made, the docks have been set in place for the season, and all the boats have been accounted for, pre-camp gets right down to business: staff training and... tree planting. Counselors are given subjects to present, covering a wide variety of topics. Several pots of coffee will be brewed throughout the day, with enthusiastic discussions about everything from risk management in camp and on the trail to the behavior management and social development of campers. These presentations typically take a day or two to get through and make extensive use of scenarios and the past experiences...

Hudson Bay Men Rejoin CV Staff

By John Erdmann
February 13, 2015 (comments)

Last June Voyageurs mounted their own 1100-mile expedition from the camp bay to Hudson Bay via the Albany River. After taking a year off from camp, Charlie Steiner, Peter Grunawalt and Elliott Keller bring their Hudson Bay badges back to CV. In the ‘70s Elliott’s father Paul Keller and other Voyageurs followed the 1964 CV Albany River route to the bay blazed by Bob Thum, Carl Thum, Tom Bose and Buckey Walters. Here is an excert from Charlie, Peter and Elliott’s 2014 Hudson Bay Expedition blog: “We are four friends who paddled from Ely, Minnesota to James Bay, Hudson Bay...