For over 60 years, Girls Scouts has brought girls from all over the world to the shores of Moose Lake in Ely, Minnesota to experience the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in a way no one else can offer since 1963.
Join us for a Wilderness Canoe Trip! Girl Scouts going into 7th grade and up (and women of all ages) can join us for life-changing canoe trips lasting 3 to 10 days.
Located 20 miles northeast of Ely, MN, the Northern Base Canoe Base offers completely guided and outfitted adventures. Girl Scout canoe guides work with each crew to create a warm and caring atmosphere for campers of every experience level.
Put a smile on your girl’s face and give her the experience of a lifetime as she learns confidence, teamwork, and appreciation for the outdoors. Your camper will return with stories of a great adventure!
Safety is always our top priority, and we have an excellent safety record spanning over 60 years of guiding teenage girls through the wilderness. Girl Scout canoe guides are trained and certified as Lifeguards as well as in Wilderness First Aid. Guides are usually in college or recent graduates from college, with a unique blend of outdoor adventure, canoe tripping, and Girl Scout experience.
In addition to the certifications they have, all Girl Scout guides go through rigorous and hands-on in-person training on-site. Youth and adult participants often comment about our fun, involved, talented, and hard-working guides!
Learn more about our Wilderness Canoe Trips:
What is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is 1.1 million acres of federally designated Wilderness in northern Minnesota. It has been described as America’s most popular wilderness.
Home to some of the world’s most pristine water, this is a canoe paddler’s paradise. You never know when you’ll see an eagle, loons – or maybe even a moose!
Girl Scout trips often paddle along the US border, and Girl Scout Destination Groups often enter Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park for 7 or 10-day trips.
Past Participants
Ready for the next step? Join us for a Guide-In-Training session.
Learn to lead wilderness canoe trips. You must attend a minimum of 3 trips to ensure adequate training. Room and board are provided during training. To arrange dates contact us.
Northern Lakes Canoe Base Alumni Association
Many of our campers fall in love with NLCB, often returning for decades to support the program and stay connected.
Over the years, the Alumni Association has given the Base a replica of a North Canoe, built canoe racks, and honored guides with appreciation gifts. Check out the Northern Lakes Canoe Base Alumni Association to learn more about this group.
This business operates within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the Superior National Forest. As a BWCAW Cooperator, this business is an equal opportunity service provider.