YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days)
A 12-day wilderness expedition for teens in the Boundary Waters.
▌ Editor's read YMCA Camp Widjiwagan's BOLD GOLD program is an overnight wilderness expedition camp for teens, operating out of Ely, MN. The camp is ACA accredited, with its accreditation expiring in 2025, ensuring adherence to industry standards for safety and program quality. The YMCA North website mentions a commitment to safety, including staff background checks and training. The camp has been operating for over 90 years, indicating a strong legacy in outdoor education. Google reviews for YMCA Camp Widjiwagan average 4.9 stars from 100 reviews, with many parents praising the transformative experiences and leadership development their children gain. The program focuses on wilderness skills, leadership, and environmental stewardship within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Social media presence includes an Instagram handle @campwidjiwagan and a Facebook page YMCACampWidjiwagan, showcasing camp activities and community engagement.
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ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
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Since 193690+ years operating
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Who thrives here Ages 13–16
YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 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 overnight/sleepaway, 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
- 1936 (90 years)
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
- Ages: 13–16
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Address: 3788 North Arm Road, Ely, MN 55731, USA
- Phone: (612) 230-9622
- Cost notes: YMCA member/non-member pricing may apply
Runs 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 1 session (0 one-week, 1 multi-week block), from Aug 10 to Aug 21.
Sessions ⛓
Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.
- Session 51 Aug 10 – 21, 2026 · 2 weeks · $2,165
↗ What parents like
- Longer, more immersive trip
- Builds emotional intelligence
↘ Watch for
- For teens only
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days)
- What ages does YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) accept?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) cost?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) publishes $2,165/week for the standard session. YMCA member/non-member pricing may apply Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days)'s hours?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) runs 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) accredited?
- Yes — YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 90 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days)?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 90 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) provide lunch?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Ely?
- YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 days) 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 YMCA Camp Widjiwagan - BOLD GOLD (12 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 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
- Boundary Waters - Canoe & Backpack · Intercept Semester · Ages 14–25 · $1,700/week