The Camp Voyageur Podcast

Ned Brandt recalls how the war canoe could be a heavy, cumbersome, water-logged vessel on the trail—but also how its size allowed for moving very fast across the water when absolutely necessary. 
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Charlie draws upon his experience raising four boys, camp counseling, and leading 100+ camping trips.

See also:

• 5 Things Every Prepared Parent Needs to Know About Summer Camp by Alex Kvanli
• 9 Parenting Tactics We Use At Camp to Help Raise Successful Kids by Deb Erdmann
• 9 Newbie BWCAW Camping Questions Answered—Simply and Honestly by John Burgman

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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Camp alumnus Tom McKenna recalls the camp programming of the 1960s, the memorable Greencastle and Monmouth cohorts of campers, and one of the most legendary “Voyageur Firsts.”

See also:

• 1960s: Changing with the Changing Times by John Burgman

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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Dale Reckman reflects on a trip from the mid-1970s during which the solution to a particular dilemma resided in an unlikely place—on the muddy shoreline.
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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Ned recounts his fond memories of Coach, a certain infamous trunk, Charlie Erdmann, and growing up at summer camp.

See also:

• 1980s: New Names, Same Voyageur Spirit by John Burgman
• The Trail of Life Documentary by John Behnke
• 1980s photo gallery 

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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay, Charles P. Erdmann)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Alex and John discuss some of the highlights from the recently concluded camp season, including pre-camp preparations, in-camp activities, and trail adventures. (Plus, Alex shares details and dates about the upcoming 2024 summer camp season!)

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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Camp alumnus Greg Lippert recalls having to improvise when it came to eating well on the trail.
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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band, JuliusH, AntipodeanWriter, etc.)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Former counselor Joe Baumann reflects on an overly ambitious trip to Nibin Lake and Bibon Lake—known as “Nibin & Bibon” in Camp Voyageur lore.
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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band, JuliusH, Breviceps, Andrewkn, etc.)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Bryan and Kyle share their 415-mile canoe expedition from Farm Lake to Minneapolis.
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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Dale Reckman was a camper for a couple of years in the mid-1970s, and he has continued to enjoy and explore the wilderness of Northern Minnesota ever since.  In fact, he has spent a total of more than 300 nights in the Boundary Waters and the Quetico...and has acquired a lot of wisdom along the way. 

See also:

• A True Well-Rounded Education by Alex Kvanli

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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band, Olexy)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Greg Lippert attended Camp for a series of years that spanned the late 1960s and early 1970s. Almost immediately, he developed an affinity for the trail and became an avid fisherman. But more broadly, his time at Camp was marked by the historic happenings of the Vietnam War era, a unique and unprecedented time to be a camper.

See also:

• Summer Camp: An American Tradition by John Burgman
• A Freedom Almost Forgotten by Peter Grunawalt 

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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—AudioCoffee)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Former camper and counselor Ned Yonkers recalls a trail dinner mishap...and its feared consequences.   
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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band, JuliusH, Musictown, and MondayHopes) 
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Alex and John share some of their favorite gear tips. 

See also:

• 9 Food Hacks You Can Do in the BWCAW by Alex Kvanli
• 8 Golden Rules of Efficient Portaging by Alex Kvanli
• 3 Musts in the BWCA by Hal Holmes
• Top 10 Mistakes Made at the Campsite by John Erdmann

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(Music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Otto's passion for the outdoors included his Camp Voyageur summer experience in 1974. His love for the outdoors led to a 30+ year career in outdoor recreation/education and wildlife conservation. This included working for Indiana University's Bradford Woods Outdoor Education Center, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After all the time that has passed since being a Voyageur camper, he still considers the experience one of his most cherished memories. His son also attended Voyageur in 2016.

See also:

• Staying Inside Could Harm the Environment by Alex Kvanli

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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

A fishing story for the ages...from the pages of an old Paddle Post newspaper.  Story by David Millett.
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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Nesrality and Olexy)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Joe Baumann was a counselor for many years, starting in 2007. His time at Camp included evolving from a total newbie to a renowned trail leader and trip enthusiast. But he also learned to embrace the quieter, easier times at Camp—and the special trail moments that are so hard to explain with words.
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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

An audio exploration of one of Camp's most meaningful traditions.
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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Phill_Dillow, 21039285, and Olexy)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Why are we drawn to the Boundary Waters? 

See also:

• Nature's Effect on our Brains and Well-being by Alex Kvanli
• How Wilderness Adventures Foster Lifelong Success by Alex Kvanli
• Beyond the Tower by John Erdmann
• Bring Nature Indoors by Alex Kvanli

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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay–Lesfm, betheart789, and Coma-Media)

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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Ned started coming to Camp when he was 9 years old back in 2004. He made the long journey from New Hampshire to Ely every summer until 2018. From overnight trips to long expeditions in remote wilderness, Ned fell in love with the outdoors while at Camp, and forged some of his tightest bonds while on the trail. He now works as a university space planner in Boston, Massachusetts.

See also:

• 10 Tips for Preventing Homesickness by Alex Kvanli
• 9 Parenting Tactics We Use at Camp to Help Raise Successful Kids by Deb Erdmann
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Lesfm and Olexy)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli

Sometimes finding something really small on the trail can have a really big impact on the overall experience.

See also:

• 7 Cool Treasures Found on the Trail by Alex Kvanli

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(Sound effects and music from Pixabay—SoundGalleryBy, Magiksolo, and ohhgeeeznotagain)
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Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. They also trade Boundary Waters travel tips & advice. Whether you’re a former camper, a current camper, or an adventure enthusiast looking to improve your Boundary Waters experience, there’s something for everyone in each episode.

Can't get enough?

• Read our blog
• Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube
• Enroll your son at Camp Voyageur
• Work at Camp Voyageur
• 11 Proven Ways Wilderness Adventure Camps Can Transform Your Kid's Life by Alex Kvanli