This camp is definitely one of the best outdoor camps in the country. Both of my kids have gone there and enjoy all aspects of it: the in-camp time, the traveling, the hiking (or canoeing). The counselors are very caring and with-it college students. They are super safety conscious and understanding of various differences that all campers have. We even had our friend from Paris go on a trip and he remembers it fondly! Sign ups start in January! read more

The premier camp of the YMCA adventure camps. They have the largest fleet of wood canoes in the world (at least the last time I checked). The camp is right on Burnside Lake and in the wilderness tripping world, they are viewed as the "Keepers of the Boundary Waters." They get 12 year old kids to do things that NOLS and Outward Bound can't get 18 year olds to do. After two weeks in the wilderness they'll have canoe loads of character, know few John Prine songs by heart, and be able to carry a wooden water logged canoe 100 rods. It's a great place with a fabulous tradition. If you want a wilderness tripping experience for your children, look in to this place. But be aware reservations start months in advance. read more

I went to this camp with high hopes. The camp did not meet any of my expectations at all! I didn't do anything, we basically just walked around the whole time. The food was terrible and gave me food poisoning. I was barfing all night, and the water tasted like crap. And the counselors are super sketchy. I wish we could have just stayed in a hotel and ate only granola bars for a week. That's how bad it was. read more

An outstanding camp - I attended camp here for 6 years between the ages of 12 and 18 and I can't speak highly enough of it. They run challenging, exciting trips that helped teach me how to be hard-working, part of a team, independent when necessary, resourceful and respectful, both of other people and of the outdoors. While working to build strong character you're also building a strong body. I can't recommend Widji enough to anyone who wants their children to learn these things. read more

My cousins deepened their respect for the outdoors at Widji canoe camp, and so I sent my daughter at age 12. We live in the Southwest, but Widji has a program where they will pick up your child at the airport in Minneapolis, supervise them in a hotel, and get them on the camp bus the next morning. Widji is up in N. Minnesota. My daughter had a great time in intro canoe, but the next year, at age 13,she was ready for a bigger challenge. Since she signed up for the same time slot (early slot) however, she ended up with the same group of three girls Felt like a repeat , which wasn't exactly what she was hoping for. The following year, her third, she signed up for a new time slot, and a longer trip, and had the trip of her life, heading up into the quetico. I know from my cousin that they teach the campers to take good care of equipment, no matter if it's basic or high end they treat it all like high end, because they're developing long-term skills. My daughter surprised me, however when we were working on our tent, and I mentioned we might need to restring the poles. "Oh, I hate doing that!" she exclaimed. She may hate doing it, but I was impressed that she knew all about it. One of her teachers back at home told me that she really saw a new level of confidence in my daughter with respect to the classes occasional outdoor trips and she attributed it to Widji. Note: the trips do build up from one year to the next, so a child could skip a year and come back, but it would be worthwhile, if they enjoy their first year, to complete one camp at each of three levels. The beginner canoe class is really for beginners, the regular canoe would be ok for an intrepid child of the right age. The food is not gourmet, and the ground is as hard as anywhere, but the experience is solid gold. read more

This camp is amazing! They are only in camp for a few days and then head out "on trail" for canoeing or backpacking adventures that build confidence and teach skills. My son loves his summer sessions there, and says that it "irons out his soul." There is a progression each summer so that they grow so much. The values that underlie the program are infused in all they do and sustain the kids through the year. (The review by "Robert" is so far off from a description of the program that I suspect he was writing about a different camp especially since they don't stay in camp.) Can't say enough about this camp, and my son would say the same. Amazing, quality people as counselors. If you want a wilderness experience, this is the place to go! read more