Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: How young to start kids on BWCAW trips?
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DeanL |
Our next hurdle will be the same as some of the rest of you are dealing with. When will they be too big to fit 4 of in 1 canoe vs strong enough to paddle on their own? |
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Themagicone |
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Mad_Angler |
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TuscaroraBorealis |
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stevedug |
Lots of great advice. Plan your trip with your child's age and personality and likes in mind. It's all good. |
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anthonyp007 |
Tony |
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mirth |
This year we're putting in at Seagull, heading over to Alpine for a couple nights, then Red Rock for a couple nights, then Sag for a night or two before paddling back to the car. Should be the right mix of changing campsites and travel to get a good initial experience for the area. Hopefully the blueberries are at or just past prime when we're there! My #1 rule is regardless of ability, if you're going to to play in the lake you're wearing your PFD and staying close to shore if unattended or swimming with a buddy if you want to go farther out. |
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sns |
I think it was a pretty ideal age. My daughter probably could have gone a year or two earlier...not so sure about her brother. Agreed 100% with those who have the ability to swim as a prerequisite. |
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mjmkjun |
TuscaroraBorealis: " " HA! I was going to respond by telling DJJRW7 to search for your trip reports. |
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Eyedocron |
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HighnDry |
SteveF: " My daughter brought her kids with us last year on our trip to Alton lake. " Cute grandkids! Those two look about the age of my son and daughter when my wife and I paddled them into Horseshoe Island on Sag for a 3 day stay. Those were magical times (the present trips still are to be honest :) |
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4keys |
I'm sure they would have done fine in the BW at a younger age, but we waited until our son was in 8th grade so he could portage a canoe ( no lightweight Kevlar either). By default that made our daughter a few years older, but she is very petite. We wanted both kids to be able to paddle effectively, even if the water got a bit rough, which it definitely did on our last day. We also tried to visit an area that had some activities for them. We made sure there was a lot of fishing for our son, and a nearby beach for our daughter. We also found a jumping rock (adults swam the area first, and only feet first jumping). And of course we took cards and books for down time. |
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yellowcanoe |
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riverrunner |
about the age of 8 granted not to far from the farm but we be dropped off 10 to 12 miles away fish and swim on the way down set up camp. Arriving at the farm and pull the canoe up on the lawn. I was absolutely thrill to make my 1st BWCA trip in 1968 at 12. Mt father personally knew Sigurd Olson and his wife's farm was just a few miles away from ours. His son Robert still lives there and I talked with him occasionally. I personally meet Sigurd at about the age of ten on a field trip. I could have went earlier and been thrilled to do so. Given the proper up brining I would not be afraid to take 5 to 7 yoa or younger on short easy couple of over nights . Depending on the 8 to 10 yoa much longer. If they were a fishing addict like I was with a lot of camping and outdoor experience it would be not problem doing a week or so. It all depends on the child and their willingness. I wouldn't take no I am not going for a answer but then I would not force them into a hard trip the first time. Make it fun with some work and you well have them hooked. |
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MN_Lindsey |
Mudro>Fairy>Gun>Fourtown>Horse |
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BWPaddler |
Soledad: "I was 4 months old when my parents took me." WOW! So THAT's what's wrong with you, lol! My parents didn't take to the BWCA, but did a 90 day road trip starting in January when I was 3 months old, sleeping in the car or a tent (19 degrees the first night). So that is MY excuse for wanderlust and a need to sleep outside, ha! |
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jwartman59 |
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CityFisher74 |
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DJJRW7 |
Thanks! |
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CrookedPaddler1 |
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ducks |
This is what we did.... at 1 and 3, we started taking them state park car camping... 2 and 4 we started doing edge of the BWCA rustic campground camping w/ daytrips into the BWCA. At age 5, my older daughter did her 1st daddy/daughter BWCA trip with me and just did her 5th trip w/ me last week at age 13. My younger daughter did her 1st daddy/daughter trip with me at age 6 and will be doing her 4th trip next year. I alternate each year which girl goes with me for 1 on 1 time in the BWCA while the other one gets to do fun stuff w/ mom while we are gone. The alone time that each of us gets each year w/ one of the ducklings is priceless. They were able to do a little portaging and help a tiny bit w/ paddling. I used a small tandem canoe (16ft) that is ok to paddle solo and kept to small lakes. |
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thlipsis29 |
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Jackfish |
A trip with kids is all about the wilderness experience - not the miles or number of portages or campsites. If you paddle in, do one portage and camp on an island or at some really nice campsite, your kiddo will think that's absolutely the coolest thing ever... and maybe you've paddled a mile. Make the trip fun, throw rocks in the lake, hang out, do some fishing, have some good meals and wrap up the day with a campfire... pay attention to what your kiddo's ability is and you'll have a great trip. Quick side note: My two Quetico buddies and I each had sons born a total of six weeks apart. After they were born, we couldn't help but ask the question... how old do they have to be until they can do our annual Q trip - meaning sit in the bow seat, paddle and portage? We decided that age 12 would be the target. It worked out perfectly. My (now) 28 year old son just got back from Q after probably his 12th or 13th trip. The other two boys have been up there between 6-10 times. They're all hooked. |
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SteveF |
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heavylunch |
CrookedPaddler1: "Both of my daughters were in a canoe before they could walk! I would say that their first extended overnight trip they were probably 3 and 5.." Our daughter did well on her first overnight BWCA trip at 4 years old. |
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Canoearoo |
Make sure to check out the Canoeing with Kids forum. |
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johndku |
I've read trip reports with much younger kids than mine on them, you just have to be vigilant and know your limitations. |
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drnatus |
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Canoearoo |
Cradle to Canoe is a great book for bringing kids to the BWCA |
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AtwaterGA |
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Bumstead |
Piece of advice: Don't set over ambitious distances for daily travel or daytrips. |
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nofish |
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heypaddler |
DJJRW7: "I am looking for advice as to what age to start bringing my daughter to the BWCAW and any advice on bringing young kids to the BWCAW. I was 3 when I went for the first time. My dad is an avid BW person though. This year, we're taking my nephew for the first time, and he's 5. My philosophy is the same as the tobacco companies: get 'em while they're young. |
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BWPaddler |
Shoved kids off in their own canoe with gear at ages 8-9, with me in separate boat and calm weather. Piled all 3 in SR Q18.5 for many years with my bow paddler age 8 or older. Pick the right boat so you can paddle solo if kid needs to be ballast for a while! Enjoy!! |
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arctic |
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Soledad |
"If you can pee on a tree, you can camp with me!" I was 4 months old when my parents took me. |
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Savage Voyageur |
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3Ball |
I think that you need to be careful. When you go on that trip, it has to be about them, not you or other adults. Choose a trip that you think they will like and adjust it if they don't like it. It seems that you are very much looking forward to that trip, and perhaps a lifetime of tripping together, so keep that long-term focus in the forefront of your mind. |
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nctry |
3Ball: "Its great to read about all of the successful trips taken when kids were very young. I took my kids when they were young but it was on short trips and still it was a lot for them. They join me now on some trips, but I think it was close to being too much for them when they were young. I like that response... When you take kids it's got to be geared to them... I have a picture somewhere with my oldest sitting on Dorothy's lap up there on Knife at three years old. Their safety is number one... TuscaroraBorealis and Vicky are very qualified and able paddlers... They worked together and made Aurora's safety and comfort number one. No matter what there is a risk... Just be very careful! Teaching good wilderness ethics young is a great thing. Probably wouldn't do the border challenge with them... But there are some real good places for them to go... |
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JJ47 |
nctry: "3Ball: "Its great to read about all of the successful trips taken when kids were very young. I took my kids when they were young but it was on short trips and still it was a lot for them. They join me now on some trips, but I think it was close to being too much for them when they were young. Yes sir, good advice above. Your ability level is a very important consideration. Your kids safety is top priority especially if things turn to crap. Be sure you can handle the worst circumstances. That being said, I took my son on his first trip when he was 6. We covered 27 miles, 13 lakes and 14 portages, over two travel days and one layover day. We took a "high traffic" route, and he loved it but, it was probably a little over ambitious. He was pretty worn out when we landed at the take out on that trip and now much prefers to base camp. |