Wilderness Canoeing (June 2026)
Status: Operational
Location: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Ely, Minnesota)
Length: 9 days (noon Saturday thru the following Sunday morning)
Dates:
- Trip 1 – JUN 6-14, 2026
- Trip 2 – JUN 20-28, 2026
Application Window: JAN 1,2026-MAR 15,2026
Youth Age Requirement: Youth should be aged 12-17 during the trip. On a case-by-case basis, we will consider 11 and 18-year-olds. Note: this trip requires youth to carry canoes/backpacks full of gear over a half-mile trail several times, as well as possibly paddling in physically demanding conditions. If you’re considering applying for an 11-year-old, they should be at least as strong as a typical 11-year-old.
Overview: Participants arrive in Ely, MN, by noon on Saturday to begin the Base Camp Phase (Saturday/Sunday), where they’re housed in a modern bunkhouse with OMM staff. Base Camp Phase focuses on Skills Training, where they’ll learn critical skills (canoeing, fishing, navigation, first aid, fire starting, etc.). Lakes Phase runs Monday-Saturday in the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We’ll paddle pristine lakes, fish for bass/pike/walleye, swim and explore. We camp as a group on primitive sites – this is true wilderness! We return to the bunkhouse on Saturday night, and participants depart on Sunday morning. Throughout the experience, we’ll hold our life-shaping Campfire Talks, biblically-based discussions about Christian Manhood. The final Talk concludes with each young man receiving a knife to symbolize they’re a warrior for Christ along with a bible.
Cost: FREE! Once participants arrive on site, OMM covers all costs (housing, permits, meals, equipment, etc.)
Safety Measures:
- All OMM personnel are highly experienced in wilderness canoeing
- All guides are CPR-certified
- Due to limited cell service, we carry GPSs using satellites to communicate with the outside world via text messaging. The units have an SOS feature, allowing instant communication with medical/rescue personnel.
- Each canoe team carries a 2-way radio for communication with OMM personnel
- Life jackets are worn by everyone when in a canoe
- Comprehensive 1st aid kits/1st aid training
- All participants must be able to swim
- Close weather monitoring/adjustments made
- Youth/mentors always canoe in teams (i.e., they never canoe alone)
Mentors: Unlike most of our other trips where each youth typically brings an adult male mentor (i.e., father, relative, family friend), not every youth can bring a mentor. Boundary Waters regulations limit group size to a max of 9 people. OMM teams include a Head Guide, an Assistant Guide, five youths, and two mentors. These two mentor positions are typically the father/relative/family friend of one of the youths on the trip. We encourage applicants to include a mentor in their application. While we can’t guarantee that a mentor listed on the application will be on the trip, we do our best to maintain youth/mentor integrity.
Notes:
- All meals are provided
- Participants are responsible for their transportation to/from Ely, MN (OMM staff can pick up/drop off those using Duluth airport)
- OMM provides nearly 100% of the required equipment: canoes, life jackets, tents, sleeping bags/pads, cookware, fishing equipment (rods/reels/tackle/nets/cleaning equipment)
- Youth/Mentors are responsible for personal clothing, snacks, and misc. personal items (a detailed packing list will be provided for those selected).
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL US AT OMM.MINISTRY@GMAIL.COM
Please spread the word about our life-shaping adventures! Tell your family, friends, co-workers, youth group leader, etc.!
Thank you, and we look forward to helping guide your young man into Christian Manhood!
Want to help with those costs? Make a donation, sponsor a teen or purchase equipment and you can make a difference!