Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)
Over 10,000 years ago, continental-sized glaciers scraped their way across much of Ontario and northern Minnesota leaving deep ruts, ravines, and holes in their tracks. Eventually, as the glaciers melted, these ravines filled with water, creating a seemingly endless interconnected web of lakes and rivers.
In 1978, the United States designated over 1-million acres of this Northern Minnesota landscape as a protected wilderness area called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Because no roads, power lines, or motorized craft may enter its borders, the BWCAW has remained relatively unchanged since the glaciers receded. The BWCAW extends nearly 150 miles along the Canadian border and encompasses more than 1,000 lakes and rivers. Over 1,200 miles of navigable routes lead to over 2,200 campsites and provide an unparalleled opportunity to travel by canoe and dogsled.
In the winter, the BWCAW transforms into an even more severe and remote wilderness. While more difficult, winter enthusiasts’ travel over frozen lakes and rivers by dogsled, cross-country ski and snowshoe. Winter in the Boundary Waters is mesmerizing, peaceful, and exhilarating. It is a place of spectacular extremes, trackless snow, bracing cold air, glowing warm embers, and powerful silence.
Homeplace, Voyageur Outward Bound School Basecamp, Minnesota
Voyageur Outward Bound's basecamp, Homeplace, is located at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. Situated where the Kawishiwi River meets Birch Lake, you will sleep in bunks in one of our cozy cabins heated by a wood stove. Our Sauna is mere feet away from the Kawsihiwi River where you can relax your muscles after a fun day adventuring in the wilderness. The surrounding boreal forest also makes Homeplace a great location for spotting moose, deer, woodpeckers, chickadees, and eagles. If you're lucky, you may even hear wolves howling as you gaze at the star-studded night sky after you sauna.
Canoeing – It’s possible to canoe to the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic oceans from the Voyageur Outward Bound School basecamp in land-locked northern Minnesota. These journeys, which take anywhere from 3 months or longer, always begin in northern Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW); a million-acre protected expanse of interconnected lakes and rivers. It is also one of the most historically significant and remote wilderness areas in North America.
Our highly-trained Instructors, help students develop and refine new wilderness skills, cultivate a deep connection with the environment, form meaningful friendships, and develop a better understanding themselves through challenge and discovery.
While canoeing with the Voyageur Outward Bound School, students learn a variety of paddling skills to contend with diverse weather and waterway conditions as they learn to navigate a canoe. Paddling partners work together to steer and power their boats through rivers and lakes, and will also learn how to portage and navigate with a map and compass.
In the evenings, you'll return to a rustic, cozy, wood-heated cabin on the Kawishiwi River. You'll enjoy filling, home-cooked meals and in the evening you'll have the opportunity to partake in the age-old tradition of a wood-heated sauna. After sitting in the sauna's heat, take a dip into the Kawishiwi River while the stars glitter above you. The nearby Boundary Waters is a designated dark-sky destination; you'll have the opportunity to stand on the water's edge in deep quiet and gaze at the Milky Way and night sky.
High Ropes Course – The Voyageur Outward Bound School High Ropes Course is an incredible obstacle course set 30 feet in the air. Students look out over the top of the boreal forest as they swing from Tarzan ropes, walk on tightrope wires, and climb a cargo net before jumping off the zip line for a smooth ride back to solid ground. Participate in and support right-sized risk-taking for all, while empowering yourself and others to stretch comfort zones on the ropes course.
Day 0: Travel to Duluth
Day 1: 8 am pick-up at Country Inn and Suites Hotel. Transport to Homeplace wilderness basecamp, meet your crew, intro to Outward Bound, get-to-know-you initiatives, gear-up for day 2, dinner, fireside chat.
Day 2: Breakfast, intro to paddling & portaging, destination paddle day trip, lunch on the water, return to basecamp, river dip, sauna, and dinner
Day 3: Early breakfast, high ropes challenge-by-choice experience, fun lunch, group initiatives, solo reflection time, dinner, campfire, and sauna
Day 4: Bon Voyage breakfast, graduation celebration, travel back to Duluth.
In addition to fall outdoor activities and all the associated skills and learning, Outward Bound’s time-tested curriculum includes education on the many aspects of personal growth and learning that can be found in each activity you undertake. You will engage four important Outward Bound Core Values:
You may find that the most important lessons you take home are learning about yourself and your community while acquiring wilderness skills and having an adventure. You’ll learn to protect and appreciate the unique, unspoiled Northwoods winter environment.
Successful completion of your course includes learning new skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities and the discovery of what’s in you is the purpose of Outward Bound.
Minnesota’s weather can be unpredictable with a wide range of temperatures. Fall brings red, yellow and bright orange leaves. It is cool and crisp and the forest is filled with peace and quiet. The weather can be unpredictable, ranging from bright sunshine, warm rain or sometimes snow. Average temperatures are cool, but can range from 30-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Evenings can be chilly but it’s typically sunny and very comfortable during the day. While you may experience the occasional thunderstorm or rain shower, most days are clear and comfortable.
Please refer to the following link for any questions you may have about COVID-19 and your course.
Please utilize the resource below to physically and mentally prepare for your course. The more preparation you do, the better your experience will be!
Your full tuition payment is due by the deadline in your applicant portal. Please make your payment by that deadline.
We hope you look forward to your Outward Bound course! Now let us help you protect your investment. We partner with InsureMyTrip to offer our students a travel insurance option that will help protect your course from several different disruptions. Together Outward Bound and InsureMyTrip will be here for you before, during, and after your trip. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect your investment in your course. Voyageur Outward Bound School tuition is non-refundable.
You may choose to purchase trip related insurance through InsureMyTrip or a different insurance provider. In either case, the amount and type of coverage you choose is your responsibility and must be discussed directly with the provider.
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