Intro to Canoeing (9 days)
An introductory canoeing experience in the Boundary Waters for 7th-8th graders, focusing on basic skills.
▌ Editor's read The website for Camp Widjiwagan loads as a real camp site, detailing their wilderness adventure programs. The camp is ACA accredited, with its accreditation expiring in 2025, indicating adherence to recognized safety and quality standards. Camp Widjiwagan has been operating for 75 years, founded by Paul K. 'Widge' Widmark, and is part of the YMCA of the North, making it a nonprofit organization. The camp explicitly states that all staff undergo background checks. While specific staff-to-camper ratios are not listed, the camp emphasizes small group sizes for their wilderness trips. Google reviews for Camp Widjiwagan show an average rating of 4.9 stars from 116 reviews, with many reviewers praising the transformative experiences and skilled staff. The 'Intro to Canoeing (9 days)' program is an overnight wilderness trip, focusing on developing fundamental canoeing and wilderness skills.
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ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
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Since 195175+ years operating
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 12–14
Intro to Canoeing (9 days) is built for middle-school campers — an age where leadership tracks, deeper specialization, and identity exploration take over from generalist day-camp formats. adventure programs that thrive at this age publish a clear weekly progression rather than a rotating activity menu, and the staff-to-camper conversation usually matters more than the activity list.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- 1951 (75 years)
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Adventure
- Ages: 12–14
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 3788 North Arm Road, Ely, MN 55731
- Phone: (218) 288-9912
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $1640 for 9-day Intro to Canoeing trip.
Runs 24-hour residential, 2 sessions (0 one-week, 2 multi-week blocks), from Jun 11 to Aug 18.
Sessions ⛓
Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.
- Session 1 Jun 11 – 19, 2026 · 2 weeks · $1,640
- Session 2 Aug 10 – 18, 2026 · 2 weeks · $1,640
↗ What parents like
- Introduction to canoeing
- Focus on basic skills
↘ Watch for
- Registration page has an error
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about Intro to Canoeing (9 days)
- What ages does Intro to Canoeing (9 days) accept?
- Intro to Canoeing (9 days) is open to children ages 12–14. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Intro to Canoeing (9 days) cost?
- Intro to Canoeing (9 days) publishes $1,276/week for the standard session. That sits close to the $1,275 median for adventure camps in Ely. $1640 for 9-day Intro to Canoeing trip. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Intro to Canoeing (9 days)'s hours?
- Intro to Canoeing (9 days) runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is Intro to Canoeing (9 days) accredited?
- Yes — Intro to Canoeing (9 days) is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 75 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs Intro to Canoeing (9 days)?
- Intro to Canoeing (9 days) is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 75 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Intro to Canoeing (9 days) provide lunch?
- Intro to Canoeing (9 days) does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- How does Intro to Canoeing (9 days) compare to other adventure camps in Ely?
- Intro to Canoeing (9 days) is one of 18 adventure camps in Ely that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Intro to Canoeing (9 days) with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Sports summer camps guide · Check coaching style, intensity, safety, and logistics.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Intro to Canoeing (9 days).
- Camp Voyageur · Ages 10–18 · $1,500/week
- Intro to Canoeing (12 days) · YMCA Camp Widjiwagan · Ages 12–14 · $2,185/week
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (12 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 13–16 · $1,263/week
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 13–16 · $1,276/week
- BWCAW Canoe · Ely, MN · Ages 13–16 · $1,251/week
- Boundary Waters - Canoe & Backpack · Intercept Semester · Ages 14–25 · $1,700/week
- Intro to Canoeing (12 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 12–14 · $1,275/week
- Intro to Canoeing (9 days) · YMCA Camp Widjiwagan · Ages 12–14 · $1,276/week