Has anyone here ever gone with a really young kid? Say 2 1/2 years. I'm sure a lot would depend on the individual child; just wondering if anyone here has done it. How about 3 1/2 or 4 1/2? (Thinking to the next few upcoming summers....)

I've taken 5 yr olds, that's the youngest. It would certainly depend on the kid- if they are old enough to not stick their fingers in the fire, and they are potty trained, I'd think you'd be good to go!

I went when I was 10 and my cousin was 7. That trip consisted of my aunt and uncle, me, my 11-year old cousin and my 7-year old cousin. I have no idea how they did it. Must have been a MN III, I guess.

Going with a 5-year old would be a challenge, no doubt.

Several years ago in a canoeing mag, I read a story about a couple that took their infant (maybe 1) on a trip. They said the key was staying way inside their skill level (it was a flatwater trip and they were experienced whitewater canoeists) and that it was easy because the kid wasn't walking yet.

With toddlers, I think the main key would be constant supervision because there is water everywhere.

Andy

We took our son ( 4 years 10 months) out of Sawbill on the Lady Lakes last summer and he did well. He had a little difficulty walking some of the portages with his packback the first day, but adapated pretty quickly ( and mom carried it for him over some tougher sections). We tried to pick a route that would provide some frequency of paddle-portage-paddle-portage to keep things more interesting. We also tried to involve him in as many things as possible like spotting the portages, finding the latrine, gathering firewood, pumping water etc. He felt really proud when mom had to keep telling him "be careful" and "that is high enough" when he climbed some of higher elevations with dad.

We felt like he had the interests, ability, and personality to handle such a trip. Our daughter is 3 1/2 and we are going to wait one more year to bring her.

Paging Canoearoo to the white courtesy phone.

Good one Jackfish! Just FYI- I have friends who took their son into the Quetico with them when he was 2-3 months old. The three of them went every year together until he was 20 and couldn't get off work. No judgements from here- just letting people know what some other people have done.

We've taken our kids when they were in diapers and so have some of my siblings. We tried to make it an every other year event with them, (every year for my brother)so we had experience with kids of all ages in the BW. We only went as far as Ensign after getting a tow up to Splash. When they got older, we started going farther. As some one else said, you've got to match the trip to the kids. Once the kids started walking, they wore a life vest all the time they weren't in their sleeping bags until they got old enough to really swim.

The kids all ended up loving the BW, as do my wife and I. Even a little way in is wonderful and it was all we were willing to try with little kids. Try it, you'll like it!!

When my daughter was 3, we stayed in a cabin on Seagull Lake and fished and paddled around for a couple days each time. Did that twice in 2007.

Last year, I took her on her first canoe trip for 4 days. We also stayed at the cabin again later in the Fall.

Trip Report

This year, we are doing a week long trip on a similar, but longer loop than last year.

One week to go!!

Well I am sure you are going to get many different answers to this one. We took my daughter on her first BWCA trip last year when she was 16 months old. You can read my trip report if you want, its on page 3 of the trip reports. I am really glad we took her and can't wait to go this year. (Hopefully in August again.) Things I would recommend are: bring plenty of Band-Aid! don't forget the favorite blanket or stuffed animal, and be prepared to go at a little slower pace. But hey isn't that what its all about? We had a backpack carrier for her and that worked well. We had diapers of course and even that wasn't to big of a problem. She had a lot of fun and we just took extra precautions. If you have fun and enjoy it so will they. Go for it and let us know how it went. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

Brooklynn07

Took my daughter when she was 4 and had a blast. It was a different sort of trip, much slower and shorter but that will change. Now she is 6 and asks everyday "How long til we go to the Boundary Waters?" I hope to hear that question every summer for a long time. It's still 25 days away for us but the anticipation is part of the fun.

Last year we included my nieces who are 8 and 10. They both can't wait to go back. It's neat to see the impact a canoe trip has on a kid.

I think kids any age can go as long as you're willing to adjust your tripping style to keep everyone comfortable. My main issue was diapers, I didn't want to be portaging out dirty ones. Once she was fully trained we were good to go.

My son took his first BWCA overnight dogsled trip at 3 and begin paddling trips at 4. Canyon is now 7 and has been on 12 paddling trips and 3 dogsled trips. Most trips are long weekends with at least one week long trip each year. We do take a spot and my son knows what to do if something happens. The key to taking kids is to make it their trip and take your time. Mileage cannot be the goal. Try shorter trips at first or do a shakedown trip at a local state park. Make sure your kid has warm clothes and good rain gear. I cannot think of any better place to share with your children.

I just came back with a 8 month old, 3 year old and 5 year old. Great trip!! Its different than as going without kids, but it is so worth it. Go check out the canoing with kids group I made :)

My son is 3 1/2 and I would LOVE to take him. But...

Mom is paranoid. He hasn't had any swim lesson yet (hello... life preserver), doesn't know how he'll do in the canoe (just don't stand up!), and is worried about him wandering away from camp alone and getting lost (doubtful).

She's convinced that she would be so worried about him that she wouldn't have a good time at all, regardless of how the trip went. Which is valid, I guess.

As far as constant supervision goes (someone mentioned this), little toddlers need constant supervision (in my experience) anyway. So different than at home in that regard.

Whenever we get ready to go on a trip, he sees us getting out the gear and such and has a million questions about it. We tell him about this or that and he seems really interested. He even pretends to go camping himself. Though he wants to be doing everything mom and dad do anyway regardless.

But, it's not worth the fight with mom. She has her fears and I don't think I can convince her otherwise. So we are going to wait until he's a little older, much to my disappointment.

Thanks for the thoughtful replies!

I think I have decided what we'll do, provided she continues to be the kind of kid that she seems to be so far (she's 20 months tomorrow). My husband would really like to go on a certain trip, and I would like to do it, too. So I think we'll do that next year, and plan to go the next year with the kids. We also have a 10-year old, who has never been. She's the anxious type, though, and really worries about storms (we could not convince her to join us on this year's trip). Every year she gets a bit better, so I'm hopeful. Plus if we wait until the little one is 3 1/2, she'll probably be fully potty trained and I won't have to deal with diapers, or at least will only have to deal with a nighttime one. She's a feisty little one so far; I think she's going to be a really great camper. Older one loves camping, but tires really easily. We almost took her once when she was probably 5 but then ended up not having the time to go.

What do you think...a Minnesota 4? Dad with the little one in a tandem and mom with the big one in a tandem? Not sure I want to portage a canoe, though, LOL.

I debated in my head about taking both kids this year, but she's a really fast feisty little thing. If she weren't so fast....I worry about controlling her in my regular environment; the thought of adding that to the BW is a bit scary. ;-) I think she would love it, but I am not sure that *I* am up to the task.

thatguyjeff, I would be disappointed, too, but at the same time I am sure she appreciates your respecting her fears, you know? Agree that swimming lessons don't really matter; just a good life preserver. Even with lessons, kids aren't good swimmers until their older, anyway, and the cold water would be a shock (thinking canoe tipping event here).

Canoearoo...I will definitely check out that group!

I personally think bringing the kids to the bw with hubby is easier than going to Walmart by myself lol

think I have decided what we'll do, provided she continues to be the kind of kid that she seems to be so far (she's 20 months tomorrow). My husband would really like to go on a certain trip, and I would like to do it, too. So I think we'll do that next year, and plan to go the next year with the kids.

up till next year have them get use to wearing life jackets all the time. In camp my 3 year old and 5 year old never take them off because there is just to much water around to be safe. Also, the life jacket offers extra cushioning for the falls they take on the rocks ll

What do you think...a Minnesota 4? Dad with the little one in a tandem and mom with the big one in a tandem? Not sure I want to portage a canoe, though, LOL.

the reason we didn't get a mn4 and stuck with a mn3 is because those long canoes are really hard to steer. with the mn3 loaded down we can get it to turn but on loaded you are at the mercy of the wind. I think a mn3 will be easy to fit for you guys. But others say the Champlain is nice for a family- its wider.

I debated in my head about taking both kids this year, but she's a really fast feisty little thing. If she weren't so fast....I worry about controlling her in my regular environment; the thought of adding that to the BW is a bit scary. ;-) I think she would love it, but I am not sure that *I* am up to the task.

yes canoing with small kids is A LOT of work. I did a lot of kid chasing on our trip. The worst is the portages. Someone is always stuck at the end with the kids... boring!

thatguyjeff, I would be disappointed, too, but at the same time I am sure she appreciates your respecting her fears, you know?

ya my kids have been canoing since birth. Been in the BW since 6 weeks. They know you can't get food on there clothes and to ever put it in there tents. Maybe a nice try would a campground and canoe in? Never do a trip you aren't comfortable with. You must be 110% confidant in your canoing skills on any trip with little ones.

Agree that swimming lessons don't really matter; just a good life preserver.

actually we started swimming lessons at 12 months They are great because they taught the kids how to swim in a life jacket. Something that is must should they fall out of the canoe

Canoearoo...you have inspired me to hope that next year we can take TWO trips...the trip hubby wants to take as well as a child-friendly trip. Looks like you all fit into the MN3. I'm going to put a link to this post in your new Canoeing with Kids group as a reference. ;-)

Thats great! I think canoeing with kids is a huge blessing. To see the bwca through there eyes is priceless

About the portages....do you think that leaving an 11 year old in charge of a 2.5 year old is okay? Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about that one yet. Actually now that I type it out, it's not okay. If something happened, I would hate for my 11-year old to have to deal with it. Maybe there are some 11 year olds who would be fine but she gets really worked up quickly.

But yeah, that does sound boring. ;-) We'll try a trip with very few portages for our first time.

Personally I wouldn't bring a small child to the BWCA unless they knew how to swim. A life jacket is not going to keep water out of a kids face bouncing around in the waves or down a fast river. Nobody plans on that but it does happen, I have about 60 or so BWCA trips under my belt and have seen some crazy things. But it is a personal decision and none of my business, but having known 2 families that had children drowned (not in bwca), you will not get over it and not forgive yourself should you be responsible. I do have 4 kids myself and have had dozens of fun trips with them, but there is a time and place, and for me that time is not a 3 year old in the BWCA.

I do not think rivers with small kids are appropriate. And I do not canoe in huge waves. I know my limits and when you follow your limits all will be fine

to the pp- i would not leave your kids alone at the end of a portage. Also my oldest (she is 5) wears a emergency whistle and knows to only blow it in an emergency (like getting lost or fall in the lake)

Little kids' life jackets are designed to keep the head out of the water and the face up.

I realize that childrens life jackets are designed to keep their head out of the water, however, from personal experience with my 4 kids and many others, when younger kids unexpectedly end up in the water, most 1-4 year old kids get frightened, scream and get water in their mouth/face which makes them panick even more regardless of life jacket. I am thinking of scenerios where you tip over a canoe out in the lake or a river, the kid will most likely be really scared and start to cry and get panicky, then throw in some waves, current, colder water, who knows what else. Now some will say, my kid will never do that, and if your lucky enough to have a kid born with a canoe paddle in his hand and Michael Phelps water skills at 2.5 years old, then by all means, have at it.

Second week of June I was at upper Basswood Falls and there was a guy with TWO very little kids. Two or three years old. Had portage wheels so he was probably going back thru Pipestone and Newton to Fall. Thats a long way up there. Just kind of suprised. Thought about that for a while. Dodger.

I first went when I was 4 years old and remember parts of that trip with fondness.
However I did take my kids on a motorized trip to Clearwater when they were 2 and 5 and they were not happy campers. Not that they weren't troopers but it rained the entire time and was very buggy. I still kick myself for tarnishing their view at such a young age.
I am going to try to bring them up this year (now 10 and 7). We did a short paddle at my dad's lake and they seemed to do well.

So I guess my main advice is to do it later in the summer when the weather is more stable, there are less bugs, and the water is fairly warm. Early September would be ideal.

I've never regretted taking my kids... as soon as they were potty trained we were tripping. They restored the newness of the wilderness for me.

In my humble opinion, it is a very individualized decision. I taught water babies to infants 6 months old, and have had my children in the water from birth on. Some were able to swim at 1 year and some not, but I always took safety precautions (ie. life jacket, water wings, and most importantly...supervision). Our youngest son has been in the woods since he was 2 weeks old. Our biggest concerns were insects....we kept a bug net around him, the sun....we kept him covered with clothes, a hat, and sunglasses. Hydration was a concern...we stopped often for nursing. With our recent first trip to BWCA, we went when the water temperature was survivable in the unlikely event of a tip, we went to a smaller lake thinking the wind factor would be less, he wore a whistle and knew how and when to use it, and we made rules about being by the water. He loved every minute of the trip. My experience with children is that in nature, they learn cause and effect quickly and this helps them in life to understand why following rules is important. When we got to our campsite there was trash all over the place, and Braden stated, "Someone didn't take care of the woods." He started to pick up the garbage, and I felt that at age three, he knew more than the person who stayed there before us. I feel satisfied with our outdoors adventures with our children, but we are layed back when we are in the woods with them. They learn a lot out there, if you take the time and plan for the worst.