Northern Tier High Adventure is three program bases - Charles L. Sommers National High Adventure Base on Moose Lake, 22 miles northeast of Ely, Minnesota; Atikokan Canoeing, in Atikokan, Ontario, Canada; and Northern Expeditions at Bissett, Manitoba, Canada.

The Program For over 75 years Northern Tier has been offering scouts and explorers the world's best canoeing. The Northern Tier has several adventures, each with a different character, that take you on an unforgettable journey through primitive and wilderness canoe country.

Each group will have a trained Interpreter (staff member) join the crew. The Interpreter will act as a guide and teacher. Trekking without an Interpreter is available for those crews experienced in wilderness canoeing,

The Charles L. Sommers Base offers canoe treks into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in northeastern Minnesota and the Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.

The Atikokan Canoeing Base offers canoe treks into Quetico Provincial Park or north into the Turtle and Seine River areas.

The Northern Expeditions Base offers treks into the bush country east of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada.

In BWCAW a crew will explore the greatest wilderness canoeing area in the United States. Crews will learn wilderness camping and navigation skills handed down from the Native American, fur-trappers, and Voyageur. BWCAW provides beginning to intermediate level challenges for all types of crews. Crews have the option of challenging the Boundary Waters without an Interpreter.

Quetico Provincial Park is one of the most tightly controlled areas in North America with respect to wilderness canoeing. The limited number of permits issued for canoeing in the Park make for a trek that will appeal to any group looking for the solitude of a true wild country. Quetico Park treks can be planned for crews seeking all levels of challenge with or without an Interpreter.

The Turtle and Seine River areas north of Quetico Park is a challenging land of lakes and thundering rapids. These areas offer treks of all challenge levels both with and without an Interpreter.

The Manitoba bush east of Lake Winnipeg offers the wildest and most diverse canoeing experience available at Northern Tier. Most crews trekking from the Northern Expeditions Base take advantage of the optional chartered floatplane in order to begin and end their trek from air-only accessible Scout Lake.

Who May Participate Participants must be registered Scouts or Explorers, at least 13 years old by January 1^st of the year of participation or have attained rank of First Class prior to departure.

Adult advisors must be at least 18 years old. Each crew must have at least one advisor that is at least 21 years old. Coed crews must have coed adult advisors each of which is at least 21 years of age.

Crews The contingent will be formed into four crews of between 6 and 11 members (youth and advisors). Each crew has at least 2 advisors, but the majority of the members of a crew must be youth. Crews are formed based on unit membership and geographic proximity.

As soon as enough participants to form the four crews make a paid reservation, an informational meeting for crew participants and parents will be held to provide detailed information and answer questions about equipment, physical fitness, logistics and other details of the trek. Training for crew leaders and advisors on topics specific to Northern Tier expeditions will be held in the late fall. Additional materials to support planning and training will be provided throughout the year.

Transportation The contingent will travel via commercial airline to and from Minneapolis or Duluth, Minnesota. Charter bus service will be used between the airport and the chosen Base.

Fitness As in any high adventure, physical fitness will make or break your adventure at Northern Tier. All participants should be swimmers in good physical condition. Paddling a canoe requires endurance and upper body strength. Portages between navigable waterways require carrying canoes and heavy packs full of gear and food.

Cost The estimated cost $750 and includes Northern Tier fees, camping permits, airfare, bus charter, and meals in route. The cost estimate does not include floatplane charters in Bissett. Please note that fees are not refundable, but are fully transferable. Equipment costs are minimal. Crew members should have money with them while traveling and to purchase souvenirs at the Trading Post.

Ready to sign up? Or check out the Northern Tier website?

For more information, contact the Expeditions Director.