Voyageur Staff Prepare Camp for the Season

By Peter Grunawalt
June 09, 2017 (comments)

As the long awaited first day of camp approaches, our staff are wrapping up their training and preparation. While the staff this year have a breadth of experience at the helm, it’s still important to have a thorough refresher, brushing up on everything from safety protocols to the “art” of making sure all campers feel included in the program. But still, two weeks to do that?! Well, there’s more to it… What is “pre-camp”? Preparation has always consisted of a wide array of topics that include everything we could possibly encounter up here. Of course, that includes a healthy number...

The Staff Trip: Camping Like It's Your Job

By Peter Grunawalt
June 08, 2016 (comments)

Once per summer, some of the most qualified wilderness leaders of the century gather in one location to test and hone their skills. That place happens to be Camp Voyageur. And these wilderness leaders I speak of? Why, they’re our camp counselors of course! Over the past two weeks, our counselors have been put through the ringer. They’ve been trained and tested in risk management, wilderness first aid, life-guarding, CPR, aquatics and water safety, behavior management, counseling techniques, transportation safety, healthcare, and a number of specialized activities we do here at camp. That’s not including the other certifications they need...

Top 10 Mistakes Made at the Campsite

By John Erdmann
May 02, 2016 (comments)

I believe wholeheartedly that Camp Voyageur groups move through the woods in the most responsible and efficient ways possible. Camp works hard to train its staff and inform its campers of the best environmental and safety practices. Still, it’s an ongoing process of learning and evolving, and even the most efficient group has its sluggish days. Here’s what I see as 10 of the most common mistakes made by folks at a campsite—not necessarily Voyageurs, mind you. Do you have any to add to this list? Let us know! 10. Not setting up the tent right away This is an...

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...