Summer 2015 Trip Dates

The CIT & PA Trips are officially on our 2015 calendars....now mark yours!

PA Trip
July 7th-9th, 2015
Copper Falls State Park
Hiking/Canoeing/Camping

CIT Trip
July 22nd-27th, 2015
Boundary Waters
Canoeing/Camping

BWCA Trip Returns

We are home safe from our 4-day, 3-night trip to the Boundary Waters. The two groups, led by Margaret Duffy and Laura Meadows, and Kevin Bolger and Melissa Granick experienced some extreme weather. Margaret and Laura’s group started out strong and made it a few miles in when the weather took hold and the decision was made to stay at a campsite for the night. When the rain and thunder didn’t stop, the group found themselves there for all three nights. The group was thankful that the paddle out was sunny enough to dry all clothes and tents, and they were all cheery to meet the other group paddling by. Kevin and Melissa’s group also experienced some harsh weather (even hail!) but they had the perfect windows to be able to complete a loop and take their canoes out where they originally planned. Overall it was a wonderful experience for everyone, and the girls were all delighted on the last night at the lodge to take canoes and paddle over to Canada’s shores.

Pictures will be on the website shortly!

Day Trip Program

The new Day Trips program which we are starting this summer will bring the Agawak girls to some wonderful locations near Minocqua. One day trip that will be sure to be a hit includes a hike around Fallison Lake Trail and a picnic and swim at Crystal Lake! Other day trips include Copper Falls State Park, Rib Mountain State Park, and Escanaba Lake Trail. We want to get the girls interested in hiking and adventuring the outdoors so these trips will be a great introduction to longer trips.

Here is a photo (taken from the web) of one of the water falls the girls will be visiting at Copper Falls State Park. It is a beautiful hike with plenty of overlooks!

http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc8691.php

Precamp 2013

We are getting ready for a great summer here at Camp Agawak, and the trips program is getting prepared to bring the Agawak girls out on some fun adventures! The PA trip will again be held in the Sylvania Wilderness Area as a canoe trip, and the CIT trip will also stay the same as a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Please see the calendar for dates of these trips, and the gear list on this blog or the website for questions on what to bring. Also feel free to email us at agawaktrips@aol.com if you have any questions or concerns!

This summer we will be adding a day trips program which will involve bringing different cabins and groups of girls of all ages on day hikes and paddles in and around Minocqua. These trips will be leaving after breakfast and getting back to camp in the afternoon. We are very excited to start off this new program.

We will also be taking trips to the Porcupine Mountains State Park as well as to Black River Harbor which was a hit last summer! Who doesn't love a good waterfall? We will be updating the calendar as these and other trips are officially planned.

Get ready for a summer full of campfires and s'mores! We can't wait to see you all!

BWCA CIT Trip

The CITs have returned from a successful boundary waters trip safe and sound. Trip staff have been preparing all session for the week long excursion to Northern Minnesota and Canada. This was the first year that Agawak outfitted itself with food and gear, still using Gunflint Outfitters for canoes and accommodations.

There were four groups this year, Group One led by Johannes & Rachel, Group Two by Josh & Bridget, Group Three by Amy & Laura, and Group Four by Emma, Jordyn, & Casey. All groups were out for 3-nights and 4 days canoeing the expanse of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The trip departed on Wednesday, July 20th around 9am. The bus stopped for the traditional McDonald's lunch on the way up & continued on its way North to Grand Marais, MN. The girls hung out at the lodge watching movies & playing games, getting to bed early to prep for the early morning wake up to head out in canoes. The four groups were dropped off with boats and gear at their entry points & their journeys began.

Weather was generally good overall with lots of sun the first two days, cooling off a bit for the second two. The groups met up on Sunday afternoon after being shuttled back to the lodge. Excitement and stories ensued along with songs and cheers that the groups had made up about the trip. The final night was spent together in the Canoer cabins. Busses rolled back into camp around 2pm on the 25th being met with hugs and greetings from the awaiting camp.

Watch for more pictures to be uploaded soon!

Porcupine Mountains Trip #1

Mac and Cheese, Cheesecake, Brats, & S’mores were just some of the fabulous dishes the participants of the Porcupine Mountains backpacking trip got to indulge on while in the wilderness. 30 individuals- 24 campers & 6 staff members participated in a 3 day- 2 night backpacking trip to the Porcupine Mountains of Upper Michigan.
This was the first intensive open-sign-up trip that Agawak has offered in many, many years and will certainly not be the last. Ages of participants ranged from 3rd grade to sophomores in high school and all campers experienced much of the same aspects of the trip. A few of the highlights included learning to filter water with a purifier, cooking over a fire or camp stove, dealing with leeches and more mosquitoes than the Amazon could offer, but more importantly having fun, meeting new people, and experiencing the outdoors like never before.
Participants traveled to the state park together, ate a group lunch of pitas, pb&j, honey, crackers & applesauce at the Visitor Center, and proceeded to break up into the three groups that they would be hiking with for the next 2 1/2 days. The groups divided up group gear & headed out on three different routes- reuniting on the final day of the trip at the Lake of the Clouds overlooking the entire park. The groups saw the beauty of early morning sunrises over lakes, cool evenings gathered around the fire, or deep discussions while sitting in a circle on a rocky ridge enjoying the tradition of upside-down Frisbee cheesecake.
Thursday morning brought a sense of accomplishment and pride for the campers as many had completed their first camping trip- let alone, a 3 day intensive hiking trip! You go girls!

Sylvania Wilderness P.A. Trip

The P.A.'s have survived! Yesterday afternoon all campers, counselors and trip staff arrived back at camp after a 3 day-2 night excursion to the Sylvania Wilderness Area of Upper Michigan. After contending with a bout of rain the first afternoon & evening on the water, day two turned out to be cloudless and beautiful! The group split up into four groups and paddle into the depths of the Ottawa National Forest, camped in remote sites, & paddled back to entrance points to meet the other groups around lunch time.

As the girls stood on the shores encouraging those paddling in a sense of accomplishment fell upon all participants. The groups packed up the boats & gear and headed further north to Marion Lake group site where all 33 participants spend the afternoon relaxing, swimming and singing around the fire after a dinner of Lemon-Pesto pasta & S'mores. Wednesday morning brought even nicer weather as we swam and packed up before heading back to camp just after lunch.

Overall the trip was a large success & certainly gave the girls a sense of what they can expect at next years CIT Boundary Waters trip.