When the weather starts to warm up and as signs of spring arrive, it is inevitable that I’ll start thinking about getting out on a wilderness trip during the summer. There is just something about the promise of exploration, solitude, and time spent with good friends, that keeps me dreaming about the next outdoor adventure. […]
Read Full PostAs the Summer Youth & Family Program Director at Wolf Ridge, I get the privilege of talking to many parents each year. One of the biggest things I have learned from all of these conversations is that it is not easy for parents to make the decision to send their child to summer camp. While […]
Read Full PostI often think back to an unforgettable moment on a Wolf Ridge wilderness canoeing trip I guided a few years back. It was the last night of our trip and we had a close to perfect campsite in Voyageurs National Park with a fantastic rock outcropping facing west. We had just finished dinner and all […]
Read Full PostSummers are magical. School’s out, the days are long, and free time abounds. Yet after a month or so, boredom sets in and kids start gravitating toward the couch, glued to smartphones, binging on Netflix, and playing video games for hours on end. That’s where summer camps come in. Camp is designed to let kids […]
Read Full PostWhat is the craziest thing that you can imagine doing? Think about it for a minute, this post can wait. What if I told you that I was offered the opportunity to go to Lake Winnipeg and camp in negative 40-degree weather in order to train to go to the North Pole. Oh yeah, and […]
Read Full Post“Do you know what’s a really small number?” trip leader David prompted. “Eeeeeight,” the group groaned as I stepped into the water, guiding the canoe ashore. I unclipped the packs and hoisted them out of the canoes. Three done, eight more to go. With a “one, two, three,” the canoes were overhead and on […]
Read Full PostBefore I start it’s best that I tell you about my life prior to Wolf Ridge and how working in a summer camp is completely different to anything I have ever done before. I’m currently 19 and studying Business Management and International Business at a university in England. “Business Management? What in the world are you doing at Wolf Ridge?”
Read Full PostDuring my 8th grade year at Murray Middle School, my earth science teacher, Mr. Chase, had this dream of teaching a summer science program. Some fellow students and I became subjects in his experiment to see how it went during that first summer of 2013. In the program, called Murray E2 (Environmental Inquiry Immersion,) we had […]
Read Full PostI came to Wolf Ridge for the first time on a whim four summers ago, and I haven’t left since….
Read Full PostSummer 2015 at Wolf Ridge is slowly coming to an end. A few of the trees are already starting to shift to their autumn hues. With every passing day we find ourselves facing another last—the last Sunday night scavenger hunt, the last Raven Lake camping trip, and the last dip in Wolf Lake. As we […]
Read Full PostIt was 1:00 am on Stockton Island in the Apostle Islands. I awoke to the beeping sound of my watch alarm, and I reluctantly slid out of my sleeping bag to check on the sky conditions. I unzipped the door of my tent to find the sky bursting with billions of tiny sparkles of light. […]
Read Full PostEvery Friday afternoon, I get to wear one of my favorite articles of clothing—my rainbow tutu. In fact, we’ve gotten to the point in the summer where everyone can tell that it’s Friday based on that very prominent tutu. Although it’s not out of the question that I would wear the rainbow tutu just for […]
Read Full PostOur first Apostle Island sea kayaking trip of the season began with a gorgeous paddle in some sandstone sea caves near Meyer’s Beach. The sun was shining, the water was warm for swimming, and the waves were calm. We enjoyed the steep, golden cliffs and arches, and the beautiful red pines clinging to the edges. […]
Read Full PostIt was our last morning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. About half of us woke up at dawn to paddle out into the lake and watch the sunrise. The water was perfectly placid, and we felt at peace as we silently watched the colors change from grey to pink to orange when the […]
Read Full PostWe are roughly halfway through the summer now, which seems impossible! Even though time has been flying, it’s been really rewarding to see how well our team has really come together and grown as a group. Camp is running smoothly, people are gaining confidence and trying new things. Counselors are developing their own lessons for wilderness trips, learning […]
Read Full PostWolf Ridge Summer Camp through the years I suppose one could call me a “seasoned Ridgey.” I have spent a great deal of time at Wolf Ridge while growing up. I attended my first week of Wolf Ridge summer camp the year I turned eleven. I was small, shy, and awkward. I came to Wolf […]
Read Full PostI am finally beginning to dive right into planning my first trip! In a few days, I will be embarking on a seven-day adventure in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with seven 8th-9th graders. There is a lot of preparation that goes into a wilderness trip. I’m planning everything from route, trail lessons, meals, […]
Read Full PostOne of the most basic reasons to love summer camp is the (nearly) nonstop fun! When the week is jam packed with games, canoeing, swimming, and rock climbing it’s easy for campers to not notice all the learning they’re doing. During these first three weeks of camp, I’ve been reminded again and again how much […]
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Claire exploring Iceland I first came to Wolf Ridge three years ago as a counselor. I was halfway through college and decided that I would take a summer “off” from traditional jobs and internships, which I had previously spent my summers doing. My plan was to work at a canoe outfitter or a camp. I […]
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