In 2026, Wilderness Canoe Base is Celebrating 70 years of Outdoor Ministry. In honor of all who have served and loved this place that has touched the lives of so many, we will be hosting a few events in 2026.
Please take a moment to share your Wilderness Story here.
Purchase your WCB 70th Anniversary gear here. Items can be picked up at Wilderness June 18-21 or shipped to you after 6/22.
Alumni Weekend
June 18-21, 2026
UPDATE: Housing for the weekend at Wilderness is FULL. If you are staying somewhere nearby you can still come to camp for daily programming. Please register for the commuter options. Registration for the Alumni weekend is available here.
If you are already registered to stay at Wilderness for the weekend, here is some info to help you plan for your stay.
If you plan to stay elsewhere, please register for the commuter option(s) so we can plan meals and programming accordingly. For those needing housing in the area, consider a reservation at one of the nearby state parks (Tettegouche, Temperance River, Cascade), or at a campground on the Gunflint Trail (Two Island Lake, East Bearskin, Flour Lake, Irone Lake, Trails End) at the recreation.gov website. Accommodations may also be available at one of the Gunflint Trail Resorts (Trout Lake Resort, Bearskin Lodge, Hungry Jack Lodge, Norwester, Poplar Haus, White Pine Lodge, Gunflint Lodge, etc)
Anniversary Worship Service
Sunday, June 21, 2026
9:00 am pontoon rides start from the Cove
10:00 am Worship at the Chapel
To help us in our planning, please register for the Sunday commuter option.
Info from 6/1/26 email
Dear WCB Friends & Former Staff,
We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming 70th Anniversary celebration of the founding of Wilderness Canoe Base (WCB). This email contains important information to help you prepare for your visit to camp. Some of you registered to attend the June 18-21 Family Camp weekend and will be housed at WCB. Others are registered as a “commuter” and will be at camp during the day only on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, or some combination of the three.
For commuters, if you wish to attend First Word in the Chapel on Friday or Saturday, you must arrive in the Cove no later than 7 am to catch the pontoon to Dominion Island. 7:30 am First Word will be followed both mornings by a continental breakfast at Pinecliff. Others are free to arrive anytime morning or afternoon and be transported to and from the Cove & Fishhook. You will have an opportunity to participate before, or after lunch in any of the activities listed below.
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Self-guided tours of Fishhook & Dominion
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WCB nature hike with the WCB Naturalist
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WCB history tour with Jim Wiinanen
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WCB scavenger hunt led by Jay Toogood
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Swim & Sauna with WCB staff
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Paddle around Fishhook Island and/or to the Palisades
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Viewing WCB posters & slideshows in Pinecliff
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Informal group gatherings & group singing
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Geology tour & discussion with Marybeth Hatteberg
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Friday evening devotion/Saturday evening vespers/campfire
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and much, much more!
For Sunday commuters, please arrive in the Cove no later than 9 am (not 9:30 as originally advised) to ensure adequate time for all guests to be transported on pontoons to Dominion for the 10 am worship in the Chapel. There will be muffins or rolls for you to enjoy as you visit with other guests & WCB staff. After worship, lunch will be served, followed by various weather dependent activities. Sunday’s program will wrap up at approximately 4 pm, but you are free to leave earlier if needed.
You are encouraged to carpool on Sunday since we anticipate a large crowd for worship. In the event the main WCB parking lot is full, attendants will assist & potentially ferry guests from the end-of-the trail parking lot, 1 mile away.
To maximize your enjoyment at camp, remember to bring your bug spray or lotion, sunscreen, rain gear, durable footwear, a hat, swimsuit, towel & stories to share with new & former friends.
If you are registered for lodging at Wilderness Canoe Base for the weekend event, here is some helpful info for your planning.
6/10 update
We are looking forward to seeing so many of you this weekend at Wilderness Canoe Base. Here are a few updates from the planning committee as you prepare for this weekend.
Dear Friends registered for the Wilderness Canoe Base 70th Anniversary gatherings June 18 to 21,
We are looking forward to being together in the wilderness in just a few short days!
Please note… there will be videotaping and photography at the worship and over the weekend. We are excited to put something memorable together for the October event and the Wilderness archives.
The Anniversary Choir: Here are two pieces of music for the staff and volunteer choir at our Sunday worship service at 10 AM at the chapel on Dominion Island! If you want to be a part of the choir, take a look at the music and join us for a short rehearsal before the service at 9:30 AM. Note the instructions below. Marie and Paul Scholtz will be serving as music leaders this summer and they will help us get ready for the service.
We anticipate some text changes in a few of the verses, but would love to learn this hearty chorus together! The arrangement is for low voices and is voiced TTBB. Please note that the melody is in the T2 part.
We will be singing Mountain Vespers in its entirety on Saturday night, and will bring back the final prayer for our Sunday service. If you have a C instrument ready to play the melody, please bring it!
See you soon!
The Anniversary Planning Committee: Jim Cherry, Jim Wiinanen, Kim Nelson, Jay Toogood, Tammy Nelson Mattson, Jeff Barrow, Jordyn Sjoberg Berkus, Hannah Sackett, Jen Nagel, Jeanne Heer, Rolf Olson, Marybeth Hatteberg, Nate Muus, Bill GeMiner, Dan Olson, and Nancy Baker