A Brief History of the Fur Trade

By CV Staff
April 04, 2024 (comments)

The fur trade in the Great Lakes region of North America represents a pivotal chapter in the continent’s history, occurring over more than a century and profoundly shaping the economic, social, and cultural landscapes of the region. Its origins can be traced back to the early interactions between European explorers and indigenous peoples inhabiting the vast territories surrounding the Great Lakes. European nations, particularly the French and later the British, recognized the immense value of the fur-bearing animals–particularly the beaver–native to the region, sparking a fervent competition to establish trade relations and exploit this lucrative resource. French explorers, missionaries, and...

Critters Along a Historical Boundary Waters Route

By Alex Kvanli
March 06, 2024 (comments)

We began our journey canoeing on the Little Indian Sioux River North. That afternoon, we saw a mama black bear and its cub at a campsite on Little Shell Lake. The pair paid no attention to us, but we decided to put on a few more miles until we camped on Lynx Lake that night. Day two was particularly tough because we had lots of portages. Things did get a lot better, however, when we saw a moose swimming its way down the lake, with just its head and antlers peeking out of the water! That night we stayed at...

Voyageur Lingo Everyone Should Know

By Alex Kvanli
December 18, 2023 (comments)

“We were eating GORP in our dry clothes on a duff day on my GP trip and we saw this bimbler lily dipping over to an island just to build a cairn.” Camp Voyageur’s jargon may sound like a foreign language to some. Hold your own around the next campfire by learning these terms: Big Man Camper who helps the counselor coordinate the trip. He helps plan the menu, pack food, and cooks several dinners. He navigates for two full days on the trail, while sterning and carrying a canoe. He must be a proficient campfire builder. A Big Man...

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...

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.

Beloved Peninsula Becomes An Island Again

By Alex Kvanli
May 26, 2022 (comments)

Last weekend four inches of water covered the road at the narrows, turning our storied Northwoods peninsula into a laid-back beach camp. Punctual bells became lackadaisical work camp respites, alumnus Jim “Jimbo” Bergman’s deviant Fu Manchu seemed somehow socially acceptable, and John Erdmann recounted Venezuelan beach holidays body surfing, but Farm Lake was too cold to consider even a sauna plunge for all but alumnus Phil Pinc alongside thickskinned summer staff Bryan Halverson and Kyle Emman, who spent their winter dogsledding with Wintergreen. Melting ice and snow runoff encroached on cabin 5 pylons and completely surrounded the rec hall. Floating...

Camper Ranks Explained

By Alex Kvanli
April 18, 2022 (comments)

There are a few words in Camp Voyageur lore which are sure to inspire reverence whenever mentioned– words like Grand Portage, Quetico, Plaquer, and Gouvernail. There is a natural progression, that comes with guidance and practice, for campers when participating in sports and wilderness camping at Voyageur. Campers are encouraged to try all activities, to learn from peers and counselors in training sessions as well as through experiential recreation. Campers make obvious physical changes and improve in performance on athletic fields. They get stronger, becoming more adept at wilderness tripping skills as they take on new challenges and succeed. One...

Legacy Matters

By Chris Smith
February 01, 2022 (comments)

Like Father Like Son Tim (beard) and Peter Harris (tuxedo) recounting Camp memories over a donut breakfast.

Charlie-isms

By Chris Smith
November 02, 2021 (comments)

Don’t throw rocks! Use your head. Man, where do you think you’re at? Do what you can, can what you can’t. Whether you attended camp in the 20th century, or you’re a youngblood getting his first taste of the Northwoods in the last decade, you probably heard one of these utterances from one of the Erdmanns and the Camp Voyageur staff during your stay. Those of you lucky enough to attend the 50th Year Reunion may have gone home with a cleverly designed coffee mug scripted with infamous Charlie-isms. If you’re like me, you thrive on the pithy strength of...

Celebrating 70 Years of Camp Voyageur

By Alex Kvanli
April 30, 2021 (comments)

The triangle rings, followed by a familiar voice echoing through the trees, beckoning you: “Rise and shine, it’s a great day in the Northwoods!” Soon thereafter the ringing of the bell invites you and your cabinmates to the Mess Hall for hot cereal and pancakes. Your buddy from Cabin Eight walks with you down the wooded path under the towering pine and birch trees wearing his new red toque, eyes brimming with excitement as he recounts for the fourth—and not the last—time his trip stories and how he sterned and carried a canoe for nine days on his trip to...