The troop is beginning to plan a 5-day trip in August 2022. Likely two crews of 6 to 8. Most of the adults have experience, most of the youth have no wilderness canoe trip experience. We have some gear and will be renting some.

We're not interested in NT even though it is the 100th anniversary.

I'm soliciting trip ideas. We're not looking for a 50 miler, or even concerned with mileage at all. Base camping with day trips would likely be preferred, some fishing opportunities, waterfalls, pictographs, etc. would be a plus and we would prefer no really big water crossings because of the limited paddling experience of some of the youth. It could be a loop or in-and-out. We're located 4.5 hours from the BWCA so East or West doesn't matter.

What say you?

JJ... nice to see you planning a trip with your Scouts. It will be high adventure like nothing they've ever done before. I hope the planning gets everyone excited for a great trip.

My Scouting days are now behind me, but when we took our Troop to the BW & Q (we went through NT), the majority of the members in the three crews had no previous canoe tripping experience. After the trip, nearly everyone told me they thought it was the best trip ever.

You might consider posting this question in the Trip Planning forum so you get a larger audience.

To toss a couple route options on the table for discussion, you might consider entering at Snowbank and paddling out to Ima. You can get there through Parent, Disappointment and several small lakes. Lots of campsites on Ima with room for exploring and day tripping.

Another option could be entering at Poplar off the Gunflint Trail (Lizz/Swamp EP) and finding a campsite on Caribou, Meeds or Horseshoe. Lots of smaller lakes there. Meeds, Gaskin and Vista have good fishing.

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I did this last fall with my brother as a first timer and I think it would work well for the Scouts -
Enter Clearwater/E. Bearskin and explore around the Vento. Check out Johnson Falls, Clearwater Palisades, maybe the border marker @ the Mountain side of the Mountain to Watap portage.

If you want to see pictos I would recommend going Moose River N. and seeing the panels on Lac La Croix but multiple groups might be harder to keep apart to comply with the 4/9 rule. There's also the S. Hegman pictos however I've never been so I can't tell if logistically you could do more than one group of Scouts via this EP. There's also the Crooked/Basswood River paintings, but after having seen both I was blown away by the LLC ones. You'd also have to get there via Mudro/Horse or Basswood.

Our first "Troop Trip" went in Snowbank and looped to Knife and back via Ensign. We had two crews of mostly inexperienced Scouts and Scouters and all had a great time. In 2020 we let the crews decide EP and so one went in LIS N towards LLC and out Moose River. The other went more leisurely and entered N. Kawishiwi and explored around the triangle for a week.

Being from N. Illinois I prefer weeklong trips since we lose a day on both ends due to travel. We're right on the edge of the 10 hour drive limit per the G2SS.
Jealous of all our WI and MN Scout friends who are much closer to wild spaces.

Have a GREAT trip!

When my son was in scouting I led a few trips to the BWCA. We always had the 6-8 size groups and it was a good mix of adults and scouts. All of the trips were great but I think the trip to Shell lake was particularly enjoyable for the scouts. We camped on on the north side of Con Island. You may already know, but the campsite is large and accommodating, but because it is on an island it is picked over for firewood. There is a small bay the kids can fish and swim in.

The trip included easy, moderate and technical (crossing the beaver pond), portages and was doable by all participants, even those without any experience. We were able to take day trips to Lynx etc., for some exploring and fishing. Also, just north of Con Island about 200 yards on the north shore of Shell lake, you can connect up with the hiking trail (which we did) and hike over to Devils Cascade. Some of the scouts enjoyed hanging out below the falls. Great place to have lunch. Fun stuff.

We also did the numbered lakes when the entirety of the crew (other than me) had no experience at all. Pretty easy trip when you have to portage from the parking lot to Lake 1.

Couple areas Ive done with Scouts that I really like -

Use EPs at Moose/Snowbank/Lake 1 and do a criss-cross so crews end up at each others starting point (and vehicle). I love the small lakes east of Snowbank - especially the creek between Ima and Thomas (past Hatchet Lk).

Enter at Mudro and head up Fourtown. The first (or second?) portage is really tough but the rest of the area is nice. The creek up to Moosecamp Lk is fun and the rest of the loop through Gun/Fairy/Boot was nice.

Always liked EP 14 and 16 for young scouts. Start off going down stream on small rivers.

My apologies for the delayed response to all of you. Things have been a bit chaotic for the last month.

These are all great suggestions, and I've been in most of these areas. Many are on the "options" list for the PLC's final choice. They're currently in the final stages of forming crews and I expect them to select routes within 10 days so they'll be ready for permit opening on the 26th.

Thank you all!
JJ