Wilderness Canoe Base

Fleet of Witnesses

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The fleet of canoes that we have here at Wilderness Canoe Base is full of stories. Canoes are paddled, portaged, and have endured many ups and downs of camping trips- these memories are passed along through storytelling. Our fleet has grown over generations since 1956. Canoeing as a way of transportation has a long history in the Boundary Waters. From birch bark to wood to aluminum to kevlar, canoes have evolved following indigenous communities’ use of canoes in daily life. There are not many other places in the world where canoeing is the primary mode of transportation, but recreational paddling is part of what makes a trip in the BWCAW so formative. Here at Wilderness Canoe Base, we honor the history of each canoe and value that each one has an individualized name with a story behind it. Each canoe guide has 3 canoes in their assigned brigade, which they take on trail with their campers throughout the summer. (A brigade is the rack on which canoes are placed when not in use.) On trail, campers often come to have a favorite canoe or fondly remember the one that they paddled the most. Caring for our canoes is just one representation of stewardship; a value that Wilderness holds highly.

Many of our canoes have been sponsored by colleges, alumni, churches, the wider wilderness community and many others!

Keep reading to see featured canoes from different generations!

The Oles (1957) 

In 1957, the student body of St. Olaf College sponsored a cedar strip canoe which they named “The Oles.” Oles is a nickname for students, as the college is named after the Norse King, Saint Olaf. A Grumman aluminum canoe which now bears the name “The Oles,” is an In-Camp canoe that is still frequently used to paddle between the islands that make up Wilderness Canoe Base. This is just one of many canoes that St. Olaf College has sponsored throughout the years.

Jonathon (1987)

The canoe, “Jonathon,” was donated by the summer staff of 1987 to commemorate the death of Jon Rorem, a beloved member of the Wilderness Canoe Base community and staff. In 1987, the summer he passed away, the current staff as well as some alumni sponsored this light-weight aluminum canoe in his honor. The canoe Jonathon is cherished by many that knew him at WCB and holds a special place in our fleet to celebrate Jon’s life and love for WCB.

In addition to the dedication of the canoe, this song, “Jonathon,” was written by Rhoda Anderson Habedank in his memory.

Thank you to Sue Ahrendt for sharing stories about Jonathon with WCB.

Song of the Soul & Ruach (2017)

Three years ago, the canoes “Song of the Soul” and “Ruach” were sponsored by a generous group of alumni and friends of Wilderness. “Song of the Soul” was named after the song written by Nancy Koester, a past WCB guide and musician.

In 2017, the 4 women who ventured on the “Journey for Renewal” (J4R) trip were given the opportunity to name the second canoe. Emma Harness, (a past WCB director) along with the J4R women: Tessa Larson, Stephanie Branchaud, Chelsea Froemke and Whitney Vogel chose the name “Ruach” which means spirit, breath or wind. In Hebrew, the word “ruach” is a feminine noun that is used throughout the bible. The name was inspired by a significant bible verse throughout their trip to Hudson Bay. It reads: “The Spirit of God [Ruach Elohim] was hovering over the waters” -Genesis 1:2.

Watch this video of the Journey 4 Renewal trip!

Thank you to Jeff Barrow for sharing about Song of the Soul and Ruach.

Thank you to Tessa Larson and Chelsea Froemke for insight on Ruach.

We invite you to share any information, favorite memories or stories that you have of a certain canoe! Which canoe is your favorite to paddle?

Written by Katie Malcom and Lily Askegaard