What ages does Pathfinder Canoe Trip accept?

Pathfinder Canoe Trip is open to children ages 11–12. 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 Pathfinder Canoe Trip cost?

Pathfinder Canoe Trip publishes $1,127/week for the standard session. $805 for a 5-day trip. Cost per week is an estimate. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.

Is Pathfinder Canoe Trip accredited?

Yes — Pathfinder Canoe Trip is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). 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 Pathfinder Canoe Trip?

Pathfinder Canoe Trip is operated by a nonprofit organization. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.

Does Pathfinder Canoe Trip provide lunch?

Yes — Pathfinder Canoe Trip includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.

How does Pathfinder Canoe Trip compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Ely?

Pathfinder Canoe Trip is one of 9 overnight/sleepaway 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.

▌ Overnight/Sleepaway · Ages 11–12

Pathfinder Canoe Trip

YMCA Camp Widjiwagan · $1,127/week

Pathfinder Canoe Trip at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan offers wilderness canoe expeditions for youth, focusing on skill...

▌ Editor's read YMCA Camp Widjiwagan's Pathfinder Canoe Trip is an ACA-accredited program, with accreditation valid through 2025, indicating adherence to recognized safety and operational standards (ACA website). The camp is part of the YMCA of the North, a non-profit organization. They explicitly state a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:4 for wilderness trips, which is a strong indicator of supervision levels (https://www.ymcanorth.org/adventure/locations/camp_widjiwagan/safety). The website also mentions that all staff undergo background checks, ensuring a commitment to camper safety (https://www.ymcanorth.org/adventure/locations/camp_widjiwagan/safety). The program focuses on wilderness canoe expeditions, promoting skill development and environmental awareness.

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ACA-accredited~300 standards audited

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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt

Who thrives here Ages 11–12

Pathfinder Canoe Trip is built for middle-school campers — an age where leadership tracks, deeper specialization, and identity exploration take over from generalist day-camp formats. overnight/sleepaway programs that thrive at this age publish a clear weekly progression rather than a rotating activity menu, and the staff-to-camper conversation usually matters more than the activity list.

Facts & Credentials

Program type: Overnight camp
ACA accredited: Yes
Established: Not listed
Operator: Nonprofit organization
Staff-to-camper ratio: Published by camp see camp site →

How we verify these →

Details

Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
Ages: 11–12
Address: 3788 North Arm Road, Ely, MN 55731, USA
Phone: (612) 822-2267
Email: [email protected]
Cost notes: $805 for a 5-day trip. Cost per week is an estimate.

10 sessions (10 one-week), from Jun 15 to Aug 28.

Sessions

Bookable units published by the camp. Each row is a one-week session.

Session 1 Jun 15 – 19, 2026 · 1 week · $805
Session 2 Jun 22 – 26, 2026 · 1 week · $805
Session 3 Jun 29 – Jul 3, 2026 · 1 week · $805
Session 4 Jul 6 – 10, 2026 · 1 week · $805
Session 5 Jul 13 – 17, 2026 · 1 week · $805
Session 6 Jul 20 – 24, 2026 · 1 week · $805
Session 7 Jul 27 – 31, 2026 · 1 week · $805
Session 8 Aug 3 – 7, 2026 · 1 week · $805
Session 9 Aug 10 – 14, 2026 · 1 week · $805
Session 10 Aug 24 – 28, 2026 · 1 week · $805

↗ What parents like

Wilderness canoe expeditions
Focus on skill development
Environmental stewardship

↘ Watch for

Short 5-day trip
Physically demanding

Logistics

Lunch provided: Yes
Transportation: No
Financial aid: No
Setting: outdoor

Frequently asked about Pathfinder Canoe Trip

What ages does Pathfinder Canoe Trip accept?: Pathfinder Canoe Trip is open to children ages 11–12. 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 Pathfinder Canoe Trip cost?: Pathfinder Canoe Trip publishes $1,127/week for the standard session. $805 for a 5-day trip. Cost per week is an estimate. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
Is Pathfinder Canoe Trip accredited?: Yes — Pathfinder Canoe Trip is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). 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 Pathfinder Canoe Trip?: Pathfinder Canoe Trip is operated by a nonprofit organization. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does Pathfinder Canoe Trip provide lunch?: Yes — Pathfinder Canoe Trip includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
How does Pathfinder Canoe Trip compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Ely?: Pathfinder Canoe Trip is one of 9 overnight/sleepaway 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 Pathfinder Canoe Trip with other camps.

How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
Day camp vs. overnight camp · Decide whether the format fits your child and schedule.
Packing list and camp prep · Plan gear, medication notes, labels, and drop-off prep.
Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.

Camps near here

Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Pathfinder Canoe Trip.

Camp Voyageur · Ages 10–18 · $1,500/week
Intro to Canoeing (12 days) · YMCA Camp Widjiwagan · Ages 12–14 · $2,185/week
Intro to Canoeing (12 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 12–14 · $1,275/week
Intro to Canoeing (9 days) · YMCA Camp Widjiwagan · Ages 12–14 · $1,276/week
Intro to Canoeing (9 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 12–14 · $1,276/week
Pathfinder Backpacking Trip · Ely, MN · Ages 11–12 · $1,127/week
Pathfinder Canoe Trip · Ely, MN · Ages 11–12 · $1,127/week
YMCA Camp Widjiwagan · Ely, MN · Ages 11–18 · $1,127/week