BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days)
A 9-day wilderness canoe trip in the BWCAW for grades 8-10, focusing on leadership and outdoor skills.
▌ Editor's read Camp Widjiwagan, part of the YMCA of the North, is an ACA accredited overnight camp, with accreditation valid through 2025. The camp specializes in wilderness canoeing and backpacking expeditions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, with programs like BOLD GOLD Tier II designed for leadership development. The website states the camp has been operating since 1929, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to youth outdoor education. The camp's 'Staff' page mentions that all staff undergo background checks and extensive training. Google reviews for 'YMCA Camp Widjiwagan' show a strong rating of 4.9 stars based on 100 reviews, with many reviewers praising the transformative wilderness experiences and dedicated staff. The camp is clearly a nonprofit organization under the YMCA umbrella.
★
ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
⌬
Since 971929+ years operating
◍
Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 13–16
BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in adventure, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- 97 (1929 years)
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Adventure
- Ages: 13–16
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 3788 North Arm Road, Ely, MN 55731
- Phone: (218) 288-9912
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $1640 for 9 days
Runs 24-hour residential, 1 session (0 one-week, 1 multi-week block), from Jun 11 to Jun 19.
Sessions ⛓
Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.
- Session 1 Jun 11 – 19, 2026 · 2 weeks · $1,640
↗ What parents like
- Wilderness canoeing and backpacking
- Leadership development focus
↘ Watch for
- Short 9-day duration
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days)
- What ages does BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) accept?
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) is open to children ages 13–16. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) cost?
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) publishes $1,276/week for the standard session. That sits close to the $1,275 median for adventure camps in Ely. $1640 for 9 days Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days)'s hours?
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) accredited?
- Yes — BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 1929 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days)?
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 1929 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) provide lunch?
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- How does BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) compare to other adventure camps in Ely?
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) is one of 18 adventure camps in Ely that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Sports summer camps guide · Check coaching style, intensity, safety, and logistics.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days).
- Camp Voyageur · Ages 10–18 · $1,500/week
- Explorer Canoe · Ely, MN · Ages 16–17 · $1,447/week
- Intro to Canoeing (12 days) · YMCA Camp Widjiwagan · Ages 12–14 · $2,185/week
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (12 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 13–16 · $1,263/week
- BOLD GOLD Tier III (19 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 15–18 · $1,341/week
- BWCAW Canoe · Ely, MN · Ages 13–16 · $1,251/week
- Boundary Waters - Canoe & Backpack · Intercept Semester · Ages 14–25 · $1,700/week
- Intro to Canoeing (12 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 12–14 · $1,275/week