Hey all - long time listener, first time caller.

It has been a long 15 years since I've been to BWCA/Quetico, after 3 trips in 3 years and a promise to come back every year.

I want to bring my 9 yo boy for his first trip and I'm looking for some input:

I was planning on trying for the Carp Lake entry point the last week of May - to base camp on Carp. I'm familiar with the area, and like that it is not big water or long portages going in. I also like the fishing, but the more I think about it, I don't want this trip to be too "fishing heavy" with his first trip.

Knowing I need some backup plans since I'm trying to shoot specifically for Memorial Day week, any other routes anyone could think of - either BWCA or Quetico that are relatively easy-in? I don't need too much solitude as this is his first trip. I'd love an "interesting" area to keep him engaged - think pictographs, exploreable land, etc

He also seems to think that the woods is full of bloodthirsty bears ready to eat little boys, so I was thinking some island sites might be a good option. Yes, I do know bears can/do visit islands, but to the extent he would feel better as I ease him in, that would be great.

He really is a happy-go-lucky kid, I just want us to be able to do this for the next several years and don't want to "scar" him in any way.

Any help would be appreciated.

We took our 4-year old on his first trip to Duncan Lake, which requires one easy portage to get to. We stayed on the peninsula site across from the portage, which, while not an island, is "protected" by water on 3 sides, and is great for swimming, though Memorial Day waters may be a tad too brisk. There are lakers in Duncan, and you can paddle to the stairway portage to Rose Lake, check out the waterfall, look out towards Canada, and hike along the Border Route Trail.

Otherwise, my standard entry suggestion is EP 47, Lizz Lake, which takes you to smaller, interesting lakes, including Horeshoe (moose country), Vista, and Misquah. You could get to Gaskin in a day, which has a nice island site and good fishing, and then day trip to Winchell to check out the Misquah Hills.

Welcome to the message board! I hope your trip turns out well!

Welcome JT.... glad you decided to "call in". :) Looking forward to hearing about your trip.

In 2015 my son was also 9 on our first trip. Avoiding big water is a great idea. Other than that, a couple of things we had fun with when not fishing:

We brought an extra map, we'd stop frequently while paddling, and check where he thought we were vs. where I thought we were. (One of those times I was wrong, he was right)

I let him pick the menu before we left and what we had each night, (mostly dehydrated stuff), and kept him involved while making meals.

He didn't get off easy on portages, had to do his share, though with light loads.

He got to filet his first fish on this trip, with close supervision.

We caught crayfish, purged them, boiled and ate them with some Old
Bay Seasoning....they were good and he could brag about it later.

A lightweight, decent monocular occupied a lot of time, looking for wildlife, camptites, etc.

We took some Luci LIghts and he had a paperback he was reading, sack time was easy, no bear worries, etc.,read 'til he got tired and passed out.

We took an inexpensive sling shot and passed a fair amount of time with that. No living thing was hurt during this exercise.

Tried starting a fire with a bow drill....we weren't successful, but it was fun trying.

Take if from me who learned the hard way, avoid all rapids, even the small ones.

Take a few pages of printed instructions for knot tying, learn some new knots and have him tie them/use them in camp.

Have a great trip!

I took my 9 yo daughter for her first trip this summer. We entered at Lizz, and basecamped in the Caribou/Horseshoe area. It was just enough of everything for an intro. We had an inreach device and learned there was some heavy weather coming in on our last full day in. We were able to paddle out in a few hours and avoid a big storm that might have soured her experience.

Good luck, plan well. Anything you can bring to keep it positive for him will be portaging. For us it was bug nets, checkers for in the tent, her own pocketknife, and fun foods.

Took my son when he was 11 to Kelly Lake through EP39(Baker Lake). Fishing is good on Peterson, Kelly and also if you head up to Jack Lake or over to the Fire chains lakes. There is a nice river rapids at the top of Kelly which you can easily run with a canoe(depending on water level) and a camp site right next to it. There is a rock just past the rapids in a calm spot to jump and swim off. You can also explore the abandoned gold mine at the Jack side of the portage between Kelly and Jack. Even if you stay on the middle of Kelly getting to the top, and heading to Jack lake and back is a really easy day trip and offers a few things to do to break up the day. We stayed at the North end site by the rapids. Not a bad site. Only 2 portages in from Baker to Kelly(first is 12 rod, second is 5, but you can also lift the canoe up and over the small rapids and skip it.) It is a busy area that time of year so you may want to get in early and maybe on Thursday. An adventurous day trip may involve going over to Burnt or other fire chain lakes . The portage from Kelly to Burnt is a rough one so only if the boy is up to a challenge. But without a pack it should be doable if he just walks, you on the other hand....well. Hope this helps. Could see moose up by the North end of Kelly also.

My son's 1st was a trip to Disappointment for 3 nights with some of his friends. We have been going up ever since.
Just don't get too ambitious , when you make plans find out what he wants to do and be flexible with your plan.

I took my kids and pregnant wife to Fourtown when they were 7, 5, 4 and oh Sadie arrived a month and a half later. I likely carried about everything since even the dog I had wouldn't carry her pack. Haha. We did some day tripping and had many memorable moments. Five year old Brandon had his big brother's Micky mouse rod started yelling help, help... We ran down and I helped him pull in a 5 lbs northern. A little while later he's screaming like a little girl ah, ah, a spider... Younger sister Kasie ran down and replied. Oh, it's an itsy bitsy spider. To this day Brandon does not like spiders. Many more moments... But I think that is a good area. Poobah aka Chris from Peru called me on his satellite phone and said he and his 10 yr old son were on Fourtown waiting out the rain and playing many hands of Uno. I was happy to announce the favorible change coming in the weather. What a week...
Bringing young and old alike can be life changing in attitudes towards work, personal relationships and how we view and respect the wilderness and outdoor opportunities.