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 50 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)
• 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, email info@amnicon.org, or click the button below.

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, enthusiasm, 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.

Safety is our primary concern. If we can’t keep you safe in the wilderness, then we won’t keep you in the wilderness. Amnicon fully appreciates the risks of this kind of travel and we respect that “The Lake is the Boss.”

We have over 50 years of organizational knowledge about how to do this well. Our wilderness guides are trained in how to navigate on open water, and how to respond to various weather situations. They undergo a 3-week-long training period which includes topics like mental health first aid and group management. They are also certified in Wilderness First Aid, CPR, and Wilderness Water Safety.

The Montreal Canoes are very stable, and have never been unintentionally swamped. It’s actually pretty hard to intentionally swamp them, too.

We WILL NOT TRAVEL if there is a “small-craft advisory”, which is a weather warning determination made by the NOAA. These advisories are possible any time, so there is a small chance that a group might get wind-bound on an island and might not be able to get back to the mainland on their scheduled return date. We send extra food in case this happens, and recommend that trip participants not schedule any major plans (like flights or weddings) for the day after their trip.

Typically we camp on Basswood, Oak, Stockton, and Sand Islands. We are able to visit several others, including Hermit, Raspberry, and York Islands. Routes differ widely from trip to trip as our camping reservations are determined via lottery with the National Park Service, and weather considerations often prevent us from simply going wherever we wish. The Lake is the boss. Our guides love exploring new islands, but they will never choose a dangerous route just for a change of scenery.

We stay at group campsites that are maintained by the National Park Service. They tend to be large and comfortable, with beautiful views of Lake Superior and the surrounding islands, access to hiking trails, and a good swimming area. You’ll find an outhouse at every campsite & boat landing.