Fund Lucy's 26-Day Advanced Wilderness Canoe Trip
Donation protected
In just 11 days Lucy embarks on the Advanced Explorer Canoe trip for summer 2025 with Camp Widjiwagan in Minnesota -- one of TWO final, INVITATION-only, advanced wilderness trips offered.
- "Dear Lucy and family, Congratulations! After careful consideration, we invite you to register for a 2025 Advanced Explorer Canoe (AECN) trip! Your trip leaders and Widjiwagan’s administrative team feel you have demonstrated the necessary skills, judgement, and enthusiasm to meet our high expectations for AECN remote river travel. We extend this invitation to you in recognition of your aptitude and willingness to meet our high expectations in these areas. Advanced Explorer trips are emotionally and physically demanding. They require substantial time, energy, and financial commitments [$7,470 plus the investment of personal gear]. If you accept this invitation, you will need to quickly master skills and rise to a level of leadership and maturity higher than that of your previous trips."
This moment of invitation, for Lucy, was thrilling, validating, and inspiring! We talked through the increased expectations, the physical and emotional demand, the leadership required and developed in real time, the commitment of time, and the financial ask. Lucy was a clear and confident YES - ready for this next opportunity to be challenged, to grow in ways both expected and unexpected, to connect with nature - experience the freedom found in disconnecting and being fully present with herself and the task at hand - and to connect deeply with herself.
While Lucy possesses the drive, desire, and grit to make this experience truly spectacular, we need help financially to make this work.
Camp Widjiwagan (founded in 1929) provides transformative wilderness canoeing and backpacking trips throughout North America for teens ages 11–18. The mission is to develop, in young people, respect for self, community, and the environment, through wilderness adventure and environmental education.
The Widjiwagan progression of challenges culminates with the advanced trips programs, which gives experienced, qualified campers the added challenge of traveling in more remote areas for a longer duration. Qualified campers refine their skills in wilderness travel, group dynamics and leadership.
Last summer Lucy spent 21 days on trail with the Explorer Canoe trip and traveled 254 miles - paddle & portage - exploring the Crownlands of Ontario, Quetico Provincial Park, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Lucy's route is detailed in the photos.
THIS summer's Advanced Explorer Canoe program is a 35 days program, with 26 days on trail. Lucy's group will travel farther north and spend a significant amount of time in either Wabakimi Provincial Park in Ontario or Caribou Provincial Park in Manitoba.
Your support is a mirror to Lucy's drive, desire, and grit to make this experience truly spectacular! We are so grateful.
Organizer
Sara Huelle
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN