Wilderness Living Commitment

Each member of the group will commit to some basic principles of wilderness living and travel. These are essential for the safety and unity of the team, for the preservation of the Boundary Waters, and for a great trip.

Wilderness Living Commitment

As a valued and important member of this trip, I commit to the following:

TEAMWORK

  • Stay together in sight of the group on portages, in camp, and on the water.

  • Listen to and follow the guide’s instructions promptly and sincerely for the safety and unity of the group.

  • Readily help with camp chores and also speak up if needing a break.

SAFETY

  • Wear a lifejacket properly fastened when paddling, loading canoes, and swimming.

  • Wear sturdy boots into water while portaging; wear sturdy sandals with a back strap to swim and in camp.

  • Keep all food, sunscreen, chapstick, bug spray, and toiletries in bear vaults.

LEAVE NO TRACE

  • Pack out all trash, food, or any items we bring in or find on trail.

  • Keep paddles and canoes in air or water, store them on their sides on the land, and not run them into or push them off rocks.

  • Use hand sanitizer after using the biff and a sanitizing wipe before cooking/eating.

All campers will sign the Wilderness Living Commitment when they sign up for a trip.
This will be included in the registration forms: Health Form, Waiver Form, etc.
Read below to understand the importance of each part.
Ask any questions!

Teamwork

The body is not made up of one part but of many. (I Corinthians 12:14)

Importance of Teamwork

  1. Staying together - to be ready to help if someone needs it and to prevent missing campers so that we can travel with the united and greater strength of the team.

  2. Listening to the guide - to trust the experience and expertise of the guide in large and small decisions so that we don’t unduly hinder or endanger the group.

  3. Camp chores - to lighten the load, learn new skills, and work together to get the job done so that we can all eat, rest, sleep, and relax sooner and longer.

Safety

Let the beloved of the Lord rest securely in Him. (Deuteronomy 33:12)

Importance of Safety

  1. Lifejackets - to be ready for capsizing, injury, cold shock, cramps, or exhaustion in the water so that we can safely and uneventfully enjoy beautiful remote lakes.

  2. Wet Boot Policy - to protect our feet, toes, and ankles from sprains, stubs or cuts on land or underwater so that we can portage and load canoes to our fullest ability.

  3. Bear Aware- to reduce human scents in camp, tents, and personal packs so that we can enjoy our campsite without having to wake up to a bear sharing it with us.

Leave No Trace

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. (Psalm 24:1)

Importance of Leave No Trace

  1. Pack it In Pack it Out - to let the wilderness remain wild and largely untouched by human interaction so that we can enjoy it ourselves and leave it beautiful for others.

  2. Care of Gear- to be gentle with wooden paddles, zippers, canoes, and technical gear so that it can last a lifetime serving us and the many groups to come.

  3. Hygiene - to protect our team’s bodies from waterborne and fecal-oral transmitted microbes and parasites so that we leave no trace in our GI systems.