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.

The Most Unusual Summer

By John Erdmann
May 20, 2020 (comments)

Opening camp this summer is unlike any other. Mim and Charlie Erdmann experienced a couple of relatively empty summers after retiring in 1979 while renting camp to previous counselor Dave McCracken and then to Dick Lyons of DePauw. We notified camper families in mid-May that camp sessions were canceled due to COVID-19. Subsequently, most of the Minnesota camps we have counseled with have followed suit. We will miss each and every camper and staff member who was signed up this summer and we hope that they will join us again in a year. Even in the absence of campers, counselors...

2020 Summer Sessions Canceled

By Deb Erdmann
May 14, 2020 (comments)

For 70 years the Erdmann family has proudly provided Camp Voyageur summers for youth to share sports, meals, and wilderness trips in the north woods. By nature, camp is communal and emphasizes interdependence and collaboration. The impact of COVID-19 has made the prospect for camp anything but normal this year. Minnesota’s stay-at-home order expires May 18th with limitations thereafter. The Canadian border is closed, and Boundary Waters permits are currently restricted for day use only. Limited COVID-19 testing, six-foot social distancing, gloves, and masks have slowed the virus, but a threat remains real, particularly in group settings. Amid safety concerns...

Top 10 Books to Bring to Camp

By John Burgman
May 05, 2020 (comments)

A typical day at Camp Voyageur is fairly busy. From morning inspection to the afternoon activities and the evening entertainment programs, there is not a lot of idle time for campers or counselor’s. Still, within the action-packed day are periods of downtime when campers are encouraged to relax, write a letter, or read a book. And while good books often get passed around from camper-to-camper and cabin-to-cabin throughout the course of a summer, it’s always a good idea to arrive at camp with something of a personal library. In no particular order, here are 10 books for consideration. We realize...

Meet the Staff: Mikey Meves

By John Erdmann
April 28, 2020 (comments)

What is your favorite part about the trail? Reading for fun was something I never really did growing up, in fact my reading level was so poor that holding me back a grade was a consideration. When I came to camp and went on the trail for the first time, I brought a book with me, Fahrenheit 451. While on trail I got this feeling like nothing before, where my mind was fully free to picture and experience the story as I read it. I fell in love with reading while on the trail, especially fantasy, where the book brings...

Meet the Staff: Matt Berning

By John Erdmann
April 21, 2020 (comments)

Where is your favorite place in the wilderness? Laying on a rock, on an island, on Crooked Lake with the sun shining. What is your favorite part about the trail? Devouring lunch after a successful morning of paddling. What is your favorite part about our in-camp program? Evening Programs and the Big Games. Who or what inspires you? People who are passionate inspire me. What are you looking forward to most this summer? I am most excited to get back outside and see the campers again. What is one piece of advice you would give a new camper? Embrace the...

Meet the Staff: Jackson Peacock

By John Erdmann
April 13, 2020 (comments)

What are you looking forward to most this summer? I’m looking forward to seeing all the returning campers, and hearing about all the fun things they did with their time away from camp. Where is your favorite place in the wilderness? My favorite place to visit in the wilderness has to be Devil Track River on the Superior Hiking Trail. It’s a beautiful rapid river that links up with the SHT near Grand Marais. It’s an excellent place to spend the afternoon or night after a long day of hiking! What is your favorite part about the trail? My favorite...

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.