St John’s

St Peter’s

& First UCC

TRIP TYPE: Whitewater Canoeing on the Brule

DATES: July 7-12, 2024

AGES: 9-12th grade

COST: $400/person

CONTACT CAMPCONTACT Kristin

It’s like a roller coaster you can win!

The Bois Brule River flows into Lake Superior, and is renowned for it’s exciting paddling. The current can range from wide and calm to windy and swift, and every day features some fun white water sections to navigate. 

You’ll get an extra day of paddling practice at base camp before you hit the river so that you’re ready to navigate the meadows and shoot the rapids like a boss. At the end of the week you’ll come to the mouth of the Brule on Lake Superior and feel an awesome sense of accomplishment know…YOU DID IT!

sign up today

1. Register with Amnicon

You’ll need to create an account, and enter the Group Reg Code:

24JPFNBRULE

to see & sign up for this trip.

2. Pay through St John's

Trip Cost: $400/person

Cash accepted, or checks made out to St John’s Lutheran Church. Contact Kristin Partlo with questions regarding payments.

 

3. Get a Doctor's Signature

All trip participants must be seen by a licensed medical practitioner within 1 year prior to the trip. EITHER get a doctor to sign the form below, OR get a copy of an after visit summary from your health care provider. Forms may be uploaded here or brought to camp. 

prepare for your trip

Paper Work

UPLOAD HEALTH FORM

This trip’s Group Reg Code is: 24JPFNBRULE

how to pack for your trip

frequently asked questions

What is a schedule for the week?

On the first day of your trip you’ll come to Amnicon’s base camp (30 minutes outside Duluth) to meet your guides and begin learning everything you need to know to have a fun, safe, and successful trip. Brule groups get an additional full day in base camp to practice their paddling & steering skills on the Amnicon River. You’re gonna need it! 

Once you hit the river you’ll find that each day has it’s own unique character. The first day goes through a chain of lakes before coming to a few sets of rapids right before the campground. The second day is narrow and meanders through some beautiful meadows. The third day has lots of rapids and even a few ledges (think one-foot-high waterfalls, and think FUN). On the last day the river widens and slows way down before coming to it’s mouth on Lake Superior. There’s a unique sense of accomplishment when you come to the mouth of the river, knowing that you have literally paddled the entire river. Good job! 
You’ll start each day by gathering with your group for a brief discussion or activity designed to get everyone on the same page and ready to work together. You’ll end the day with a deep converstion around the campfire, under the stars.
By talking together, working together, playing together, and overcoming the challenges of the trip together, you’ll get incredibly close to your fellow travelers and your guides. These will be memories that will last a lifetime and friendships that will really mean something to you. We can’t wait to share this incredible experience with you. 
What is the Bible study like?

We’ll start and end every day with a brief devotion we like to call First & Last Words. First Word usually consists of 15-20 minutes of reading a short story or poem, and then discussing it as a a group. Last Word is a little bit longer, as we gather around the campfire in the evening. Everyone in the group will have the opportunity to share a story from their own life, and hear and discuss a story from the Bible.

All spiritual elements of this trip are designed to bring people closer to each other and closer to God. Do you have doubts, struggles, questions? Good! This is a safe place to share those and talk about them openly. Have you walked with God for a long time? Good! Please share that experience too, and be ready to learn from the life experiences of the other people on the trip.

What are the guides like?

Our wilderness guides are amazing, and you’ll love them. We send two highly trained individuals with each group. They will be at least 19 years old, and have been chosen because they have demonstrated an impressive level of maturity, care of creation, and a desire to connect with and serve our campers. We do our best to hire a diverse staff every year, and often hire staff from overseas! Amnicon does not discriminate in our hiring based on gender identity, sexual orientation, race, country of origin, or religious affiliation. 

Who can come on this trip?

Trip participants must be:

  • At least 14 years old on the first day of the trip,
  • In reasonably good health,
  • Able to lift and carry 30 pounds over a short distance,
  • Able to swim 25 yards and tread water for 30 seconds while wearing a USCG certified Personal Floatation Device (life jacket),
  • Be able to communicate and follow instructions given in English,
  • Able to walk half a mile over uneven terrain without assistance, AND
  • Have a licensed medical practitioner sign a health form certifying that they are healthy enough to engage in the kinds of activities we’ll do on this trip.

Anyone with a chronic medical condition must:

  • Be able to manage their own care without assistance,
  • Bring all their own medications and supplies,
  • Be willing and able to communicate with Amnicon staff if they’re not doing well,
  • Have experience managing their condition during prolonged periods of increased stress & activity, AND
  • Have not had any medical emergencies within the last year.

If you have questions about whether this trip will be a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to contact us! Call 715-364-2602 or email info@amnicon.org

What if I’ve never been camping before?

That’s TOTALLY FINE! Lots of people who come on Amnicon trips are new to the whole wilderness, canoeing, and camping thing. Your guides will make sure that you have what you need and know what you need to know. You are in good hands.

Are the bugs bad?

The answer…maybe. How many bugs there are depends on a LOT of different factors. We’ll bring bug spray, and you’re welcome to bring your own as well. 

We’ve found that the one thing that makes the biggest difference with the bugs is your attitude. If you decide at the beginning of the trips that the bugs aren’t important enough to ruin your whole experience, then they won’t be that bad! 

How is the food?

Good food is a high priority at Amnicon! We have a trail menu that adapts lots of the foods you are used to at home: pancakes, pasta, brats and lots more. There are plenty of snacks, too! If you have specific dietary needs please let us know so we can be prepared with good food for you, too. 

Can I bring my cell phone?

One of the ways we are going to challenge ourselves this week is by leaving our cell phones behind. Yes, even the adults will leave their phones behind too. Cell phones will only distract from the experience we’re trying to have together, and are highly prone to getting lost & damaged. Every year, we have campers (and adults!) tell us how freeing it was to not have a phone for the week, and how valuable it was to take a break from technology. This is a unique experience that’s hard to do in everyday life, but we get to do it together at camp. 

That said…we REALLY value getting good photos from the trips. Amnicon will send along one (or two) cameras with each group. Campers ARE allowed to bring their own cameras as well if they’d like. We’ll share the photos from the week in a Google Photos album, and on social media after you get back home. 

What are the toilets like on this trip?

Each campsite (and most boat landings along the way) have sturdy outhouses that are maintained by the Wisconsin DNR. 

Wondering something else?

current weather on the Brule

broken clouds 42° F 40° F | 42° F
  • Oct 31, 2024 light rain 40° F
  • Nov 1, 2024 scattered clouds 27° F
  • Nov 2, 2024 broken clouds 36° F
  • Nov 3, 2024 overcast clouds 41° F
  • Nov 4, 2024 overcast clouds 48° F

Meet your directors

Brad Damon

Brad Damon

Director of Programs & Facilities

Hannah Damon

Hannah Damon

Director of Outreach & Administration

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Answers to all the awkward questions you're wondering about but are too nervous to ask

What kind of underwear should I bring? Pooping in the woods? PERIODS?!?! It’s totally normal to feel nervous if you’ve never done this before. Click the image to learn the answers to all those questions!

10 Things Youth Learn in the Wilderness

Freedom from technology, connecting deeply, discovering their strengths. Our campers learn so much on trail! Click the image to see what they had to say about their experiences with Amnicon.