YMCA Camp Widjiwagan
Wilderness tripping experiences for teens in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, focusing on personal growth...
▌ Editor's read YMCA Camp Widjiwagan's website loads successfully, detailing its focus on wilderness tripping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park. The camp is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), with accreditation valid through 2025, indicating adherence to industry standards for health, safety, and program quality. The website states the camp has been operating for over 75 years, highlighting its extensive experience. As a YMCA camp, it is operated by a nonprofit organization. The site mentions that all staff undergo background checks. Google reviews for 'YMCA Camp Widjiwagan' show a strong rating of 4.9 stars based on 100+ reviews, with many reviewers praising the transformative wilderness experiences and dedicated staff. The program type is exclusively overnight, focusing on extended wilderness expeditions. Social media handles include @campwidjiwagan on Instagram and YMCACampWidjiwagan on Facebook.
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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 11–18
YMCA Camp Widjiwagan serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in adventure, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
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: 11–18
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 3788 North Arm Road, Ely, MN 55731
- Phone: (218) 288-9912
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $805 for 5-day Pathfinder Canoe Trip. Weekly cost calculated from daily rate.
↗ What parents like
- Wilderness canoe and backpacking trips
- Focus on leadership
↘ Watch for
- Registration page has an error
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about YMCA Camp Widjiwagan
- What ages does YMCA Camp Widjiwagan accept?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan is open to children ages 11–18. 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan cost?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan publishes $1,127/week for the standard session. That sits 12% below the $1,275 median for adventure camps in Ely, which makes it one of the more affordable options in the category. $805 for 5-day Pathfinder Canoe Trip. Weekly cost calculated from daily rate. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are YMCA Camp Widjiwagan's hours?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan accredited?
- Yes — YMCA Camp Widjiwagan 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan provide lunch?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan compare to other adventure camps in Ely?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan.
- Camp Voyageur · Ages 10–18 · $1,500/week
- Explorer Canoe · Ely, MN · Ages 16–17 · $1,447/week
- Intro to Canoeing (12 days) · YMCA Camp Widjiwagan · Ages 12–14 · $2,185/week
- Advanced Explorer Canoe · Ely, MN · Ages 17–18 · $1,557/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
- BOLD GOLD Tier III (19 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 15–18 · $1,341/week
- BWCAW Canoe · Ely, MN · Ages 13–16 · $1,251/week