Quetico Canoe (16 days)
A 16-day canoe trip in Canada's Quetico Provincial Park for grades 9-12, for experienced campers.
▌ Editor's read The provided URL loads successfully for YMCA Camp Widjiwagan, which offers wilderness canoe and backpacking trips. The camp is ACA accredited, with its accreditation expiring in 2025, indicating adherence to industry safety and operational standards. The website states that Camp Widjiwagan has been operating for 75 years, showcasing a long history of experience in outdoor education. The camp is owned by the YMCA of the North, a nonprofit organization. While specific staff-to-camper ratios are not explicitly listed, the website mentions that all staff undergo background checks and are trained in wilderness first aid and CPR. The 'Quetico Canoe (16 days)' program is an overnight wilderness expedition. Google reviews for 'YMCA Camp Widjiwagan' show a strong rating of 4.9 stars from 109 reviews, with many reviewers praising the transformative experiences and dedicated staff. The camp's Instagram handle is @campwidjiwagan and its Facebook handle is CampWidjiwagan.
★
ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
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Since 195175+ years operating
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 14–18
Quetico Canoe (16 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
- 1951 (75 years)
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Adventure
- Ages: 14–18
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 3788 North Arm Road, Ely, MN 55731
- Phone: (218) 288-9912
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: $3070 for 16 days
Runs 24-hour residential, 2 sessions (0 one-week, 2 multi-week blocks), from Jun 11 to Aug 18.
Sessions ⛓
Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.
- Session 1 Jun 11 – 26, 2026 · 3 weeks · $3,070
- Session 2 Aug 3 – 18, 2026 · 3 weeks · $3,070
↗ What parents like
- Travels into Quetico Park
- Refine technical canoe skills
↘ Watch for
- Passport required for Canada
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about Quetico Canoe (16 days)
- What ages does Quetico Canoe (16 days) accept?
- Quetico Canoe (16 days) is open to children ages 14–18. 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 Quetico Canoe (16 days) cost?
- Quetico Canoe (16 days) publishes $1,343/week for the standard session. That sits close to the $1,275 median for adventure camps in Ely. $3070 for 16 days Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Quetico Canoe (16 days)'s hours?
- Quetico Canoe (16 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 Quetico Canoe (16 days) accredited?
- Yes — Quetico Canoe (16 days) is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 75 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 Quetico Canoe (16 days)?
- Quetico Canoe (16 days) is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 75 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 Quetico Canoe (16 days) provide lunch?
- Quetico Canoe (16 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 Quetico Canoe (16 days) compare to other adventure camps in Ely?
- Quetico Canoe (16 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 Quetico Canoe (16 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 Quetico Canoe (16 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
- Advanced Explorer Canoe · Ely, MN · Ages 17–18 · $1,557/week
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (12 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 13–16 · $1,263/week
- BOLD GOLD Tier II (9 days) · Ely, MN · Ages 13–16 · $1,276/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