Camp Widjiwagan - Wilderness Tripping Program

Wilderness Tripping Program

The wilderness tripping program at Widjiwagan runs from June through August and works with youth from the ages of 12 to 18. Three types of trips are offered: canoe, backpack, and 'combo' trips incorporating both canoeing and backpacking. There are a progression of trips in both canoeing and backpacking, as the age and skill level of a camper increase. The trips are single-sex and feature a high ratio of staff to youth, as high as 1 to 2 on the introductory trips, though a ratio of 1 to 5 is more common. The program offers standard, open-enrolled trips as well as by-invitation advanced trips for experienced campers.

The canoeing progression is as follows:

Trip Title: Travel time in days: Typical age of participants: Destination: By invitation:
Intro 5-10 12-13 BWCA No
Boundary Waters 7-13 13-14 BWCA No
Quetico 10-19 14-15 Quetico Provincial Park No
Explorer 21 16 Crown Lands, Quetico, BWCA Yes
Advanced Explorer 27 17 Manitoba and Ontario Rivers Yes
Voyageur 45-52 18 Nunavut and Northwest Territories Yes

In 1972, a parallel backpacking program was started. Backpacking trips are similar to the canoeing trips, except that time spent on trail is typically 2-3 days shorter, due to the need for travel days to and from camp. Backpacking trips take place in the mountain ranges of Isle Royale, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska.

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