The Voyageur Canoe Training Program was established in the Crossroads of America Council of the Boy Scouts of America following the tragic death of a youth in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the early 1960s. The youth’s parents and local scout leaders established this program to provide adults and youth training and education in canoe safety and trip planning. The program is designed to reduce the potential of that tragedy being repeated. Through the years the training has been limited to only registered adult scout leaders but is now open to any adult over 18.
See BSA Voyageur Canoe Spring 2023 website for additional information and sign up.
CIWC provides opportunities for various wilderness adventures. Each year we host and Introduction to Canoe Camping at a local State Park. This event provides members with the basic training to participate in a wilderness canoe trip. We strive to have members become coleaders through experience and/or training.
The Crossroads of America Council of Scouts BSA (formally Boy Scouts of America) offers a training event to teach adults to lead a wilderness canoe trip. It's commonly referred to as the Voyageur Canoe Training Program. This training is not only focused on safe canoeing skills it also lays the groundwork for planning a wilderness canoe trip. Some co-leaders of CIWC took their early canoe training through this program including CIWC Paddle President.
The training is two weekends in May. The instructors are BSA trained, and many are ACA certified. The training is held at Camp Belzer in Indianapolis and the Sailing Club on Geist Reservoir. This program in the past was only open to Adult's registered as a BSA leader. Recently this program has been opened up any adult over the age of 18. If you are new to canoeing and interested in coleading a wilderness trip with CIWC, this is a good program to take.
This is not a CIWC sponsored event.
Any questions about CIWC's involvement, please contact: ciwcinfo@gmail.com
