This morning, our first campers of the summer put canoes in the Seagull River and paddled off on their first trips in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness! Spirits were high and we could feel a sense of excitement in the air (and a drizzle of rain)!

Each cabin group is going on a two-night/three-day trip (returning Friday afternoon) together to bond as a cabin. Read more about each cabin trip and follow their group throughout the wilderness via their satellite pings!

AVANT CABIN

This trip is led by Birchwood Wilderness Camp Counselors, Duke (right) and Frizz (left).

The young Avant adventurers will be enjoying a scenic paddle into the big Lake Saganaga. They have set their sights on American Point today but are ready to find a nice island campsite closer to camp if the rain picks up. They plan to spend the next two days exploring some nearby coves, which there is no shortage of on Saganaga, and playing lots of games at their campsite. They might even check out the haunted Horseshoe Island!

Follow them on their adventure: https://share.garmin.com/65CZR (Birchwood 1)

RAVEN CABIN

This trip is led by co-counselors Ghost (left) and Lobo (right).

Raven Cabin is also paddling into the mighty Lake Saganaga for some island hopping! They’re aiming to camp on Munkers Island tonight followed by Clark Island tomorrow night but, if the rain gets too heavy today, there are plenty of great island campsites along the route for them to stop at. Fishing is top of mind for these gentlemen and they’re going to the right lake for it! We hope the fish are biting!

Follow them on their adventure here: https://share.garmin.com/XXT8Z (Birchwood 2)

FAR AND AWAY CABIN

These adventurers are led by co-counselors Puddin’ (left) and Hemi (right)!

This group is also headed into Lake Saganaga! They might bump into their friends from Avant Cabin as they’re both setting their sights on American Point today. We wonder if they’ll find one of our favorite islands up there with two campsites connected by a trail. On night two, Far and Away Cabin plans to venture onward to the beautiful Loon Island, which will put them in a great spot for their paddle back to camp on Friday.

Follow them on their adventure here: https://share.garmin.com/GXMPD (Birchwood 7)

BEAR CABIN

Team Bear is led by co-counselors Dragon (left) and Nairo (back right)!

The Bear boys are paddling the Alpine Loop, a Birchwood classic! You can do this trip in roughly 8 hours but these boys are making it a three-day trip so they can enjoy the scenery. The first lake they’ll enter is big Seagull Lake! They’ve set an ambitious goal for themselves on day one by attempting to get as far as Red Rock Lake. If the rain gets the best of them, they’ll likely settle for Alpine Lake or may even call Seagull home for the night. On night two, they’d like to find a campsite on Munkers Island or Clark Island on Lake Saganaga so that they have an easy paddle back to camp come Friday.

Follow them on their adventure here: https://share.garmin.com/GXMPD (Birchwood 4)

SHANG CABIN

Team Shang is led by co-counselors Curby (second from right) and Hercules (left)!

The Shang crew is small but mighty! Three of their cabin mates are arriving a week late to camp but that isn’t stopping these boys from picking a substantial trip! Like Bear Cabin, they’re also paddling the Alpine Loop and are attempting to camp on Red Rock Lake tonight. On night two, they’d like to camp on the slightly haunted Horseshoe Island on Lake Saganaga before paddling back to camp on Friday. Maybe they’ll bring us back a few new ghost stories to tell around the campfire.

Follow them on their adventure here: https://share.garmin.com/GXMPD (Birchwood 5)

SUMMIT CABIN

Our senior leaders are guided by counselors Mac (front left) and Nemo (front right).

These gents are headed down the Gunflint Trail to be dropped off on Gunflint Lake! From there, the Summit boys will run the Granite River all the way back to Lake Saganaga. Today, they’re aiming for Marabouef Lake, which is about halfway down the Granite River. On day two, they’ll paddle into mighty Lake Saganaga where they’ll do some island camping before heading back to camp on Friday.

Follow them on their journey here: https://share.garmin.com/N4V2F (Birchwood 3)

As our campers set their sights on their first adventure of the summer, let’s wish them calm waters and clear skies!

Happy Trails,

Ashley, Director