Voyageur Christmas Gift Ideas

By Alex Kvanli
December 01, 2022 (comments)

Camp Swag Second only to, “Will there be hot cereal?”, one of the most frequently asked questions at Camp is, “Can you open the store?” Indeed, the “camp store”–as the small porch attached to the Director’s Cabin is known–has long sold various items such as fishing lures, paddles, and CV apparel. It has perennially been the go-to spot for purchasing camp-related souvenirs and swag. Recently, however, the camp store received its most historic upgrade ever: It’s available online! Deb and Suzanne set up a shop with the eCommerce platform Shopify, meaning your favorite Voyageur t-shirts are available year-round with the...

5 Things Every Prepared Parent Needs to Know About Summer Camp

By Alex Kvanli
March 28, 2022 (comments)

Sending your child to an overnight summer camp is a big decision and may be overwhelming at times. Being prepared helps! 1. Your child will adjust, so relax and enjoy your freedom. Adults see children tethered to their screens and reliant upon them to manage their lives. Suddenly they are dropped off at a screen-free, overnight summer camp, not to return home for two, four, or sometimes eight weeks. How do we do it? Well, actually, kids are naturally resilient and able to adjust to change, especially when they feel cared for. One big way we help them adapt is...

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...

9 Parenting Tactics We Use At Camp to Help Raise Successful Kids

By Deb Erdmann
February 25, 2020 (comments)

When a child comes to Camp Voyageur, our entire staff becomes their substitute parents. I recently stumbled upon a great parenting article by Christina DesMarais called Science Says the Most Successful Kids Have Parents Who Do These 9 Things, and realized that it mirrors how we treat our campers while they’re here at camp. Below are 9 things we do at camp – which can also be applied at home – to help raise successful kids.

6 Stocking Stuffers for the Voyageur in Your Family

By Alex Kvanli
December 10, 2019 (comments)

These 6 gifts are sure to make the Voyageur in your family one happy camper! Note: Links to shopping websites are for informational purposes only.

Packing for Camp in 5 Simple Steps

By Alex Kvanli
April 29, 2019 (comments)

Step 1: Download and print the CV Clothing and Equipment List and Joe Camper.

10 Tips for Preventing Homesickness

By Alex Kvanli
April 09, 2019 (comments)

This summer, many first-time campers will get their first taste of independence at camp. For most, it will be the first time they’ve spent longer than a few days away from their families. Being away from home can be difficult. Especially when you’re a kid. So, it’s no surprise the American Camp Association (ACA) reported that in 2018, 83% of campers experienced homesickness on at least one day of residential camp. However, our camper survey in 2018 recorded about half that figure. Experiencing homesickness is part of growing up. Still, with a little preparation, parents can help to minimize their...

Obtaining a RABC Permit for Your Child

By Alex Kvanli
April 01, 2019 (comments)

This guide is only for children under 17 and under who are traveling remotely into Canada with a Camp Voyageur trip leader. What is a RABC permit? The Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) Permit allows the bearer to cross the border into Canada in remote areas without reporting to a port of entry. All campers and counselors going on an overnight trip into Canada need one. To apply for the RABC Permit you must complete and submit the application, with your child as the primary applicant, along with a Letter of Authorization which gives your child permission to enter into...

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...