The 2020 Camp Voyageur Summer

By John Erdmann
September 08, 2020 (comments)

Fortunately, we have taken advantage of this most unusual summer to spruce up camp, preparing for 2021 (Voyageur’s 70th anniversary) and beyond. With summer in our rearview mirror and fall in the air, we’d like to again thank the families, alumni, and staff who supported camp during this summer season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work camp lasted all summer long. While we did not have campers in a traditional sense, we made lemons out of lemonade with the help of many collaborators. The season kicked off when alumni and seasoned volunteers like Jim Bergman assisted with numerous projects, including...

Positivity Amid the Pandemic

By Bill Burgman
July 02, 2020 (comments)

I arrived at camp very late a few evenings ago. Exhausted, I quickly moved in some gear and crashed for the night. The next morning, strong mixed feelings set in. It was a beautiful day—misting, then turning sunny; loons calling from the Kawishiwi River; and some friendly, familiar faces in the Mess Hall. But something was definitely off: First, there were quirky—but justified—COVID-19 pandemic precautionary rules and protocols in place, such as “No Handshakes or Hugs,” “No Handling the Coffee Carafe,” etc. But more striking was that no campers were around—no stirrings from the cabins, no voices coming down the...

Virtual Programming Unveiled

By John Erdmann
June 18, 2020 (comments)

Campers will be happy to know that Bill Burgman will be reprising his role as Bill Burgman. Our dynamic staff – lead by licensed teachers Mikey Meves and Alex Kvanli, M.S.Ed. – along with a host of outlandish characters are leading the program, which includes various “How To” videos along with interactive camp favorites such as WELK Radio Show, Olympics, Word of the Day, and Bean Auction. All campers and alumni are invited to join our free 8-week virtual session this summer. To participate: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and/or YouTube so you can catch the latest updates. Have access...

Counselors Arrive: What Will They Do All Summer?

By Kyle Montgomery
June 11, 2020 (comments)

John Erdmann’s glad you asked. For the first time in 70 years, campers won’t be moving into the cabins this Sunday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the penninsula is still crawling with life; veterans Alex Kvanli, Mikey Meves, Kyle Montgomery, Harrison Pratt, and newcomer Jack Diedrich are working hard to get the peninsula tuned up, create interactive virtual programming, and outfit CV families for Boundary Waters canoe trips. Improvements and Maintenance A summer without campers has given us ample time to tackle maintenance projects around camp that have slipped through the cracks over the years. On any given day,...

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...

Update from the Peninsula

By Deb Erdmann
March 24, 2020 (comments)

We hope your family is doing well during this historic time of self-isolation. Despite the uncharted waters, we are moving forward with the 2020 camp season. Though things could change, we continue to actively recruit campers, make final hiring decisions and plan for the summer ahead. Given the uncertainty, we have extended our April 1st, full refund cancellation deadline to May 1st. This gives you an extra month to consider summer options with no risk of losing tuition money already paid. If the national Coronavirus emergency forces us to alter Voyageur season dates, we will announce those plans by May...