Best Northwoods Collective Podcasts (2024)

1
Trip Story: A Collection of Memories (ft. Tom McKenna) 10:00

19d ago10:00

10:00

Longtime camper Tom McKenna recounts some highlights of his many trail adventures, including some experiences that took place in the rugged Alaskan backcountry after Camp. See also: Alumni Complete Canoe Trip Expedition in the Wilds of Canada by Alex Kvanli "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp V…

1
12 Days in Wabakimi Provincial Park, Ontario 1:05:53

2M ago1:05:53

1:05:53

Grab a front-row seat as Alex shares stories from his crew's epic trip and the preparation involved. Don't forget to check out his trip video! The Wabakimi Provincial Park in Ontario offers world-class wilderness canoeing and fishing. After two days of whitewater canoe training, the crew rode a train into the park, embarking on a 12-day adventure t…

1
Big Trips & CV Olympic Highlights with Ben, Ben, & Huck 1:30:15

4M ago1:30:15

1:30:15

Veteran campers Ben and Huck share what it's like being a Camp Voyageur Olympic Captain, hiking in the mountains of Montana, paddling from Ely to Lake Superior, portaging over the 8.5-mile Grand Portage, & more. "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail st…

1
LIVE Late Nights with Camp Voyageur 50:16

5M ago50:16

50:16

Join Ben and Ben live in the Mess Hall where campers and staff share hilarious stories of fish, epic trips, and current events. John Erdmann closes the show with two songs you can't miss. "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageu…

1
The Biggest Boundary Waters Myths... BUSTED! 1:27:08

6M ago1:27:08

1:27:08

Co-hosts Alex and John discuss some of the biggest “myths” about camping in the Boundary Waters, including common misconceptions related to portaging, weather, trail food, and more. See also: 8 Boundary Waters Canoe Tripping Myths Debunked by Alex Kvanli 9 Newbie BWCAW Camping Questions Answered—Simply and Honestly by John Burgman Top 10 Mistakes M…

1
Paddle Post Archives: The Sirens of Eskwagama (2001) 7:31

7M ago7:31

7:31

A story about the time-honored camp day-trip of bushwhacking into Mystery Lake. Story by Jack Davidson and John Ranson. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on …

1
Jim Nicholson on 50 Years of Canoe Trips, Meeting the Root Beer Lady, & Saving the Boundary Waters 38:25

8M ago38:25

38:25

Jim ponders how his tripping philosophy has changed since the 1960s and describes his visit with Dorothy Molter, the last permanent, non-indigenous resident of the Boundary Waters. You might also like: Canoeing: A Lifelong Pursuit by Alex Kvanli -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman dis…

1
Trip Story: Racing a Storm (ft. Ned Brandt) 4:32

9M ago4:32

4:32

Ned Brandt recalls how the war canoe could be a heavy, cumbersome, water-logged vessel on the trail—but also how its size allowed for moving very fast across the water when absolutely necessary. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Mi…

1
Charles Erdmann on Parenting Today's Kids, Developing Their Personalities, & Tips for Taking Them Camping (Without Screens) 33:35

10M ago33:35

33:35

Charlie draws upon his experience raising four boys, camp counseling, and leading 100+ camping trips. See also: 5 Things Every Prepared Parent Needs to Know About Summer Camp by Alex Kvanli 9 Parenting Tactics We Use At Camp to Help Raise Successful Kids by Deb Erdmann 9 Newbie BWCAW Camping Questions Answered—Simply and Honestly by John Burgman --…

1
Tom McKenna on Appreciating Leadership at Camp, Working Up to “Great Big Trips,” & Discovering Serendipitous Camp Connections Later in Life 38:54

11M ago38:54

38:54

Camp alumnus Tom McKenna recalls the camp programming of the 1960s, the memorable Greencastle and Monmouth cohorts of campers, and one of the most legendary “Voyageur Firsts.” See also: 1960s: Changing with the Changing Times by John Burgman -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss…

1
Trip Story: Digging Deep (ft. Dale Reckman) 5:40

12M ago5:40

5:40

Dale Reckman reflects on a trip from the mid-1970s during which the solution to a particular dilemma resided in an unlikely place—on the muddy shoreline. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interv…

1
Ned Brandt on Camp in the Late 1980s, His Unique Connection, & Lessons Learned 26:11

1y ago26:11

26:11

Ned recounts his fond memories of Coach, a certain infamous trunk, Charlie Erdmann, and growing up at summer camp. See also: 1980s: New Names, Same Voyageur Spirit by John Burgman The Trail of Life Documentary by John Behnke 1980s photo gallery -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay, Charles P. Erdmann) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli…

1
2023 Summer Recap 1:09:08

1y ago1:09:08

1:09:08

Alex and John discuss some of the highlights from the recently concluded camp season, including pre-camp preparations, in-camp activities, and trail adventures. (Plus, Alex shares details and dates about the upcoming 2024 summer camp season!) -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discus…

1
Trip Story: The Ultimate Protein Diet (ft. Greg Lippert) 3:50

1y ago3:50

3:50

Camp alumnus Greg Lippert recalls having to improvise when it came to eating well on the trail. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band, JuliusH, AntipodeanWriter, etc.) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview V…

1
Trip Story: Almost There (ft. Joe Baumann) 16:49

1+ y ago16:49

16:49

Former counselor Joe Baumann reflects on an overly ambitious trip to Nibin Lake and Bibon Lake—known as “Nibin & Bibon” in Camp Voyageur lore. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band, JuliusH, Breviceps, Andrewkn, etc.) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely…

1
Trip Story: Paddling from Ely to Minneapolis with Bryan Halverson & Kyle Emmans 1:03:45

1+ y ago1:03:45

1:03:45

Bryan and Kyle share their 415-mile canoe expedition from Farm Lake to Minneapolis. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Great Northwoods. Th…

1
Dale Reckman on Camp Donuts, Perfect Rocks, & The Value of Lifelong Learning 43:47

1+ y ago43:47

43:47

Dale Reckman was a camper for a couple of years in the mid-1970s, and he has continued to enjoy and explore the wilderness of Northern Minnesota ever since. In fact, he has spent a total of more than 300 nights in the Boundary Waters and the Quetico...and has acquired a lot of wisdom along the way. See also: A True Well-Rounded Education by Alex Kv…

1
Greg Lippert on Benefitting from the Small-Group Dynamic, Gaining Proficiency on the Trail, & Attending Camp During the Tumultuous 1960s 52:01

1+ y ago52:01

52:01

Greg Lippert attended Camp for a series of years that spanned the late 1960s and early 1970s. Almost immediately, he developed an affinity for the trail and became an avid fisherman. But more broadly, his time at Camp was marked by the historic happenings of the Vietnam War era, a unique and unprecedented time to be a camper. See also: Summer Camp:…

1
Trip Story: Strange Sounds (ft. Ned Yonkers) 6:00

1+ y ago6:00

6:00

Former camper and counselor Ned Yonkers recalls a trail dinner mishap...and its feared consequences. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band, JuliusH, Musictown, and MondayHopes) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, in…

1
Boundary Waters Gear Hacks 1:01:56

1+ y ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Alex and John share some of their favorite gear tips. See also: 9 Food Hacks You Can Do in the BWCAW by Alex Kvanli 8 Golden Rules of Efficient Portaging by Alex Kvanli 3 Musts in the BWCA by Hal Holmes Top 10 Mistakes Made at the Campsite by John Erdmann -- (Music from Pixabay—Caffeine Creek Band) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John…

1
Otto Jose On His Career in Conservation, Introducing Kids to the Outdoors, & Chasing Mountain Lions 47:31

1+ y ago47:31

47:31

Otto's passion for the outdoors included his Camp Voyageur summer experience in 1974. His love for the outdoors led to a 30+ year career in outdoor recreation/education and wildlife conservation. This included working for Indiana University's Bradford Woods Outdoor Education Center, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Parks and Wildli…

1
Paddle Post Archives: Horse Lake (1959) 5:31

1+ y ago5:31

5:31

A fishing story for the ages...from the pages of an old Paddle Post newspaper. Story by David Millett. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Nesrality and Olexy) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect …

1
Joe Baumann on Pickleball, Photography, & the "Magical Meditation" of BWCAW Canoeing 29:18

1+ y ago29:18

29:18

Joe Baumann was a counselor for many years, starting in 2007. His time at Camp included evolving from a total newbie to a renowned trail leader and trip enthusiast. But he also learned to embrace the quieter, easier times at Camp—and the special trail moments that are so hard to explain with words. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Caffeine …

1
Crossing Paddles 11:52

1+ y ago11:52

11:52

An audio exploration of one of Camp's most meaningful traditions. -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Phill_Dillow, 21039285, and Olexy) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They share trail stories, interview Voyageur alumni, & reflect on the lore of the Grea…

1
Need for Nature 7:06

2y ago7:06

7:06

Why are we drawn to the Boundary Waters? See also: Nature's Effect on our Brains and Well-being by Alex Kvanli How Wilderness Adventures Foster Lifelong Success by Alex Kvanli Beyond the Tower by John Erdmann Bring Nature Indoors by Alex Kvanli -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay–Lesfm, betheart789, and Coma-Media) -- "Text us feedback." Co-ho…

1
Ned Yonkers on Shared Experiences, The Upside of Homesickness, & The Key to Feeling a Sense of Belonging 43:54

2y ago43:54

43:54

Ned started coming to Camp when he was 9 years old back in 2004. He made the long journey from New Hampshire to Ely every summer until 2018. From overnight trips to long expeditions in remote wilderness, Ned fell in love with the outdoors while at Camp, and forged some of his tightest bonds while on the trail. He now works as a university space pla…

1
Loot 10:16

2y ago10:16

10:16

Sometimes finding something really small on the trail can have a really big impact on the overall experience. See also: 7 Cool Treasures Found on the Trail by Alex Kvanli -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay—SoundGalleryBy, Magiksolo, and ohhgeeeznotagain) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to …

1
Dylan Jackson on Type 2 Fun, Outdoor Crafts, Untying Knots, Packing Small, & Portaging & Cooking Efficiently 47:45

2y ago47:45

47:45

Dylan is Camp Voyageur's Trip Director and has spent over 200 days paddling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Hailing from the Twin Cities, he is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Stout studying computer and electrical engineering. In his free time he loves to tinker, design, and make everything from canoe paddles to cus…

1
Great Campsites 14:29

2y ago14:29

14:29

What makes a campsite great? That’s actually a pretty loaded question! See also: Top 10 Mistakes Made at the Campsite by John Erdmann -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay—QubeSounds, Coma-Media, lesfm, and Playsound) -- "Text us feedback." Co-hosts Alex Kvanli & John Burgman discuss all-things related to Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. They sh…

1
Doug Merriman on Exploring New Places, Canoeing Expeditions, Living with the Ojibway, Building & Racing Canoes, & Inspiring Others 1:02:49

2y ago1:02:49

1:02:49

Doug's love of canoeing began when he was a camper and counselor in the early 1970s. Following a 51-day canoe trip to Hudson Bay, in 1979, he went on a 68-day Alaska canoe expedition through the Brooks Range. He spent 1981 to 1982 living off the grid with the Ojibway First Nations people of the Winisk River in Northern Ontario. Doug’s love of canoe…

1
First Portage 9:19

2y ago9:19

9:19

Do you remember crossing your first portage? For any outdoors enthusiast, it’s a rite of passage unlike any other. See also: What It's Like: Cross Your First Portage by John Burgman 8 Golden Rules of Efficient Portaging by Ned Yonkers Camper Insights: How Grand Portage Changes You by Alex Kvanli -- (Sound effects and music from Pixabay—Lesfm, 21039…

1
TGR: Episode 37, Lars Jacob 1:17:15

2+ y ago1:17:15

1:17:15

In Episode 37 of TGR we sit down with Lars Jacob of Wild Surroundings. We speak on hunting out of layout boats, shotgun fitting, bird hunting, and at length about the unique underhammer rifle, which Lars built a number of in his early career.

1
TGR: Episode 36, Diggory Hadoke 1:21:56

2+ y ago1:21:56

1:21:56

Joel has the opportunity to catch up with Diggory Hadoke, author, shooter, and firearms and hunting advocate. Diggory has written several notable titles focused on vintage British sporting arms including hammer guns, vintage guns, and the British boxlock. Diggory works at vintageguns.co.uk and is an absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to the…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 35 1:20:52

2+ y ago1:20:52

1:20:52

In this episode of The Gun Room, Joel talks with Brian Dudley of BMD Gunstocks. They talk about Brian's fine art background and how he transitioned into firearms full-time. The conversation covers a variety of topics related to stock making including original finishes, shaping, and finishing stocks including a good conversation about stock checkeri…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 34 1:06:37

2+ y ago1:06:37

1:06:37

Part 2 of a discussion with Nick Larson of The Birdshot Podcast. Nick and Joel talk about Nick's turkey gun project and the jitters surrounding drilling into your gunstock. The discussion moves into progress and updates from the Upland Gun Company where we talk about their new offerings and the process of creating your own upland shotgun.…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 33 15:17

2+ y ago15:17

15:17

To me, the Savage 24 represents youth and the carefree existence that places a child in the woods, free to roam as they see fit. It harkens to an older time when this child's feral existence was the norm rather than the exception. Going out the backdoor of a white farmhouse with a few .22LR rounds and a few .410 shells in his coat pockets, looking …

1
The Gun Room: Episode 32 58:41

2+ y ago58:41

58:41

Welcome Back to The Gun Room! We have the opportunity to go to Brays Island in South Carolina where we visit the home of Eric Klein, the keeper of a very fine collection of early American side-by-side shotguns. Both originally from New Jersey, Eric and Joel cover a variety of topics including the philosophy of collecting vs accumulating as well as …

1
The Gun Room: Episode 31 1:21:37

3y ago1:21:37

1:21:37

Joel and Gregg have the opportunity to catch up in the midst of the bird hunting season on Episode 31 of The Gun Room. Gregg keeps up the Dogs and Doubles webpage as well as keeping the upland world abreast of some of the better deals in the sporting shotgun market. His posts about 5 guns you shouldn't miss are surely a hit for anyone in the market…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 30 1:06:21

3y ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Join us for a conversation with Amanda Rutherford of Zeb gunmaking. Amanda attended gunsmithing school in Colorado where a fortuitous trip to the Dallas Safari Club show led to an apprenticeship with Chuck Grace as a stockmaker. Amanda and I discuss some of the finer points of the master/apprentice relationship, the value of gunsmithing school, and…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 29 12:28

3y ago12:28

12:28

Barrel Proofing Dad and I were browsing the used gun rack at a big box store on a trip through Pennsylvania a few years back when we happened upon a double gun that caught our eye. The gun was a 12ga with light color walnut stock and forend. On closer inspection, we saw a moderate amount of hand-cut engraving, as well as hand-cut checkering on the …

1
The Gun Room: Episode 28 10:52

3y ago10:52

10:52

One of the most common things folks do when inspecting a potential shotgun purchase is shoulder the gun. It seems an interesting thing that ‘gun mount’ is such a crucial part of the gun purchase, but so many folks simply shoulder a gun and assign a non-quantitative value to it: “oh this shoulders nice” or “feels right”. So many of those folks reali…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 27 1:34:01

3y ago1:34:01

1:34:01

Josh Loewensteiner is a lifelong firearms enthusiast who began studying, collecting, and shooting guns with his father and brother when he was just eight years old- he has been studying firearms for nearly 30 years. He particularly enjoys the classic American sporting guns. Josh is a Life Member of the Parker Gun Collectors Association, a Life Memb…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 26 9:17

3y ago9:17

9:17

It is, at times, easy to take for granted the complexity of manufacturing involved in creating a fine sporting rifle or shotgun. As hunters or shooters, finding a gun that fits, breaks clays or hits birds is foremost in our mind. As we dive into and explore the construction of modern guns, we quickly begin to see a great diversity of techniques dev…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 25 1:22:56

3y ago1:22:56

1:22:56

Ron and Joel talk about the summer's events and the upcoming season. We recap some fun times at the Southern Side by Side shotgun event and cover topics ranging from NAVHDA to drilling combination guns, and the status of game birds in New Jersey. Ron Boehme has had a passion for bird hunting since 1973, when he bought his first license to chase phe…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 24 11:06

3y ago11:06

11:06

It’s got awful nice wood for a Fox B I said to my dad. There is always a gun that he has, or one that I have, that the other wants. In this case we were hashing out the finer details of a swap that involved a Winchester 101 and a Savage Fox B(16ga, single trigger) with awful nice wood to boot. I wont get into the nitty-gritty of who came out on top…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 23 1:09:15

3y ago1:09:15

1:09:15

CPA Rifles of Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania specializes in creating some of the finest single-shot rifles in the world. Founded by Paul Shuttleworth in 1986, CPA rifles offers reproductions of the Stevens 44 ½ action single shot falling block rifles, as well as customizations of other similar guns. Paul established the business but Gail, the third o…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 22 12:01

3y ago12:01

12:01

I have always been fascinated by the depth of knowledge required to be a proficient gunsmith. Skilled individuals possess a working knowledge of mechanics, engineering, chemistry, and economics(if they are still employed), and can pull from any of those topics at will. Today’s topic in question, heat treating metal, requires one to don the hat of c…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 21 1:26:29

3y ago1:26:29

1:26:29

1
The Gun Room: Episode 20 13:58

3+ y ago13:58

13:58

The 2021 Barret Jackson Auto Auction in Las Vegas was one to remember. With a record-breaking $48 million in sales, it would seem that there is quite a market for unique automobiles. It has always intrigued me that in the auto world it seems that the items of the highest auction block value can be relatively new production cars or just as easily cl…

1
The Gun Room: Episode 19 1:11:15

3+ y ago1:11:15

1:11:15

Coming to you from Dauphin, Pennsylvania, I have the opportunity to sit and talk with Sean and Liz Delaney of Delaney and Sons. Delaney and Sons is a family-operated travel business with a focus on hunting destinations. Their offerings focus on driven shooting in the classic locations where the sport was developed. In addition to a few Stateside sh…

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Northwoods Collective Podcasts

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