BACK TO THE ISLAND!

Laketrails Island with the full moon 

Only 16 weeks until the big 60th Reunion at Laketrails Base Camp.

We are looking forward to seeing you.

There is a limited number of bunks and tent space available, so be sure to register now!

Go to:   www.laketrails.org to download the registration form 
     or laketrails60threunion.eventbrite.com to registrar on line. 
                                 (Send in your payment now or pay at the reunion).

Paddling Through 60 Years ~ August 17 - 19, 2012

How Did You Get to Camp?

Resolute brings boys to Laketrails

Bert Steele brings girls to camp

Getting to Laketrails has always been part of the adventure.  Many things have changed over the 60 years of camp, with transportation to the island being one of them. Campers in the first 20 years,  came across the big lake.  They boarded boats such as the Bert Steele, Resolute or Island Queen in Warroad.


Or, some were lucky enough to fly to camp on one of the local charter planes.

"Swede" Carlson dropping off campers

With the building of the Angle road in the early 1970's,  campers were bused all the way to the Northwest Angle.  Laketrails picked campers up at Jake's Resort with the Island Princess.  Campers in the late 70's may also remember being greeted with canoes at the Angle, and learned to paddle on their way to Laketrails island.

"The Red Head"  brings in a crew

Camp Director Sue Lemm drops off campers

Today, Laketrails campers are picked up at Young's Bay with the help of the Island Passenger Service, run by Deb Butler with her boat the"Red Head".  The staff also use the Laketrails boats to bring campers to the docks of camp.  Here the campers are greeted with drums, cheering, some crazy outfits and the bell ~ welcome to camp!

The Bell

         The Laketrails bell came from the old Catholic church in Warroad.  It was originally bolted down to some timbers, but those rotted over the years. It was put on a cement stand in the summer of 1967 when they were mixing the cement to pour the floor of the mess hall. This is where it still stands today.
        The bell is an important part of Laketrails. It greets people as they come to the island, calls campers and staff to meals, sends canoe trips off on adventures and welcomes the voyageurs back.  The last thing you hear as you leave the island on a boat back to Young's Bay is the bell... reminding you to come back again some day!
       It is probably one of the top things photographed on the island, who doesn't have a "sunset bell" shot?
 

'94 Camper Workers: Josh Hutchins, Steve Siewe, Amy Noble and Beth Miesle

Lucy,  Jim (Moose) Musielewicz and Sarah McLarnan  '98

Fr. Bill Mehrkens, Camp Director Jeff Odendahl and 2002 Laketrails Staff