Venturers

Website: https://www.vlmcamps.org/summer-camps/venturers

Site: Camp Hiawatha / Camp Vermillion
Ages: Completed grades 2-4
Cost: $205 - 280*

This two-night program is another great way to introduce your child to an overnight experience without committing to a full week of camp. Venturer campers will experience many of the same activities as a week-long program - daily worships and campfires, Bible study, large group/all-camp games, swimming, canoeing, creative arts, community living, and meeting new friends. Venturers stay in a cabin with 5-6 friends and a VLM counselor, and each day is filled with new adventures. Come ready to learn, sing, swim, run, and laugh!

*See full fee schedule here.

Program Details

The program ends at 4:00 PM on the last day. This is a chance for the campers to share some of the songs they learned during their time at camp, as well as give our staff a chance to share one more message with them before saying goodbye. If the final day of Venturers overlaps with a Discoverer program we will often combine these closings and give each program a chance to share. This is a great way for siblings in these two programs to experience camp together.

Venturer campers are housed in cabins with 4-5 other campers and one of our trained summer staff.

At Camp Hiawatha the Venturer campers stay in either the Lindberg or Gloria Dei dorms. These dorm rooms have bunk beds as well as their own sink, shower, and toilet.

At Camp Vermillion, our Border Lakes cabins are typically reserved for younger campers. These cabins are a bit bigger than the dorms at Hiawatha but do not have their own bathroom. Our camper bathhouse is a short walk from the cabins, and has plenty of sinks, showers, and toilets. For those up for a bit more adventure, and a shorter walk, there is also an outhouse available near the Border Lakes cabins! The path between the cabins and bathhouse is well-lit, just in case your camper has forgotten their flashlight.

In addition to packing in as much fun and learning as we can into three days, Venturers campers also get to have a hot dog roast during their stay. This typically happens at supper on their second night. Cabin groups, their counselor, and perhaps a few additional support staff, enjoy roasting their own hot dogs over the fire. This meal also includes chips, fruits, and s'mores. In case of rain, both of our camps have indoor fireplaces for this fun activity. (Our kitchen provides alternative menu items for campers who may have food allergies or dietary restrictions; contacting us about these prior to your child's time at camp is helpful for our kitchen staff.)

Going to the Canteen, or camp store is often a highlight for many of our campers. A visit to the canteen for a snack is built into the cost of the Venturers program so these campers do not need spending money for their stay. On the second day of the program, Venturers go as a cabin group and get to chose one food and one beverage item for their afternoon snack. Drinking a root beer or eating an ice cream treat with your friends around a picnic table is perfect chance for silly conversation and lots of laughter!

Typical Daily Schedule

7:00 - Polar Bear Swim (early morning jump in the lake)
7:45 - Morning Mai (devotion time as a group)
8:00 - Breakfast
8:40 - Kapers (chores or tasks to help keep camp picked-up)
9:10 - Game time
9:25 - Morning Worship
10:00 - Bible Study
11:00 - Large group activity
12:00 - Lunch
12:40 - Quiet Time
1:15 - Afternoon Activities (including games, swimming, creative arts, and more; a visit to the canteen also happens during this time)
5:00 - Cabin Time
5:30 - Dinner (Hot Dog Roast on second night)
6:15 - Large group/All-camp game
7:30 - Evening snack and get ready for campfire
8:20 - Campfire
8:50 - Back to cabins to get ready for bed
9:15 - Evening devotions in cabins (called Wattape)
9:30 - Lights out

The first evening and last day of the program follow similar schedules with modifications made for registration and closing program. We do offer swimming for Venturer campers on the last day of the program, so be prepared for your child to bring home a damp swimsuit!

Contact:

CAMP OFFICE

1325 N 45th Avenue E
Duluth, MN 55804
(800) 331-5148

CAMP HIAWATHA

36944 Camp Hiawatha Rd
Deer River, MN 56636
218-246-8604

CAMP VERMILION

2555 Vermilion Camp Rd
Cook, MN 55723
218-666-5834