Have your summer plans been canceled?

Are you looking for a way to:

Come to Birchwood's Family Camp

Typically, we run as a summer camp for boys. Often, parents of our campers and groups paddling by Birchwood ask if we offer adult camp or family camp. While our sister camp, Camp Birchwood for Girls, has offered family camp for many years with great success, we've stuck to wilderness adventures for boys, ages 7-17. However, this summer, we have decided to offer our location, facility, activities, and guiding services to you and your family!


 

To maintain a safe environment, each family will have their own:

 

Our summer plans were affected by COVID19 just like yours. As a result, we've decided to not operate camp as normal for the first half of our summer. Since our campers fly to Birchwood from all over the world, we decided it would be in their best interest to stay home and come to camp later in the summer (pending the progression of the pandemic).

While having a full camp in June was not a safe or responsible option, we found an option that is - FAMILY CAMP, with a caveat:




 

Nestled against the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, we can be the safe haven for your summer vacation

But...why now?

We are limiting the number of families to three per week so we can keep the group size small for social distancing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What about the Birchwood staff? How do I know it's safe for my family to interact with the staff?

What about contact with the other families attending family camp?

We will have 7 staff members on board during your stay at Birchwood. All 7 will have been properly quarantined prior to your arrival and social distancing practices will be in place to protect both your family and our staff.

Space is limited to three families so that we can properly social distance. A three family capacity means each group gets their own private bathroom in the shower haus, their own full table in the dining hall, and enough space at campfire gatherings and activities.

Where is Birchwood located and how do we get there? Do we have to fly?

Birchwood is located at the end of the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota. Our facility is not accessible by road, meaning we will pick you up via boat. We are encouraging families to drive to Birchwood instead of fly. Pickup at the Duluth or Minneapolis airport is possible but will incur additional fees. The drive from Minneapolis takes approximately five hours.

What will the food be like? Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

All meals will be served family style (shared with your family only) in the dining hall or on our porch when the weather is nice. Meals include traditional camp fare, think BBQ's and comfort food. As with our boys camp sessions, we can absolutely accommodate dietary restrictions. We are completely used to it!

What would a "typical" day in camp be like? You know, in case we didn't want to go on a canoe trip of our own.

A typical day at family camp is similar to a typical day at our normal boys camp, which you can check out HERE. BUT, it is much more relaxed. You can choose to skip morning activities and lounge in a hammock or book an afternoon rock-climbing outing. It's all up to you. After booking, we will help customize a five-day plan to fit your family.

How about the cabins? What are those like? Is there Wi-Fi?

Remember, Birchwood is a summer camp and our cabins reflect that. The Birchwood experience is meant to be a comfortable step above camping. We only have one cabin with electricity, which is our 12 person cabin. The rest sleep 8 people, without electricity. All cabins have traditional bunk beds. Guests are required to bring sleeping bags (or twin sized comforters) and pillows. For your health and safety, we use mattress covers that are laundered after each stay. Also, we do not have cell reception at Birchwood. We do have a phone that you can use, and we can get adults onto our Wi-Fi for basic communications. This, of course, has never been available for our kids at camp, and that's a great thing. However, we understand your non camp life may require some connection to the outside world. 

What is your cancellation policy for family camp?

We do not require a deposit ($1,500) until 14 days before your session begins. Up until that date, you may cancel at anytime without penalty. If we are unable to operate family camp due to COVID19 mandates, you will receive a full refund. If you decide to cancel for personal reasons after your deposit has been placed (14  days before your session starts), you will forfeit your deposit.

Feel free to call us Directly at
(218) 388-4402 to Secure your spot today!