Books: Becoming A Boundary Waters Family
30 Mar
“When the kids are old enough, I’d sure like to take them canoeing.” It’s a phrase we have heard often enough. With the new book Becoming a Boundary Waters Family: Woods Wisdom Shared by the Outfitters of the Gunflint Trail, there’s no need to wait, no matter how young your kids might be.
Compiled from Gunflint Trail outfitters outside of Grand Marais, Minnesota and edited by Sue Ahrendt, it aims to take the fear and uncertainty out of family canoeing. Becoming a Boundary Waters Family offers engaging advice on everything from what type of canoe trip to take (base camp or circle route) to trail basics, like getting in and out of a canoe, viewing (and avoiding) wildlife, and how far to travel with kids. Intended to bridge “the gap between families and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness,” the book’s charm stems from its underlying assumption that families will work with outfitters. This leaves the book free to focus on letting families know what to expect from outfitters, what life will be like “on trail,” and perhaps most importantly, how to keep the kids engaged and entertained once they’re there.
Becoming a Boundary Waters Family is sprinkled with whimsical illustrations and activities by Kelly Dupre, and information on identifying trees, wildlife and the fish of the region. Appropriate for any age kid (or adult), this delightful little book contains the blueprint for safely helping your family develop a sense of wonder in the wilderness. It reveals canoeing as the fun and family-friendly tradition that it is – a must-have for any parent looking for the right time to take the kids canoeing. With this book, you can make that day today.
For more information on introducing your family to the Boundary Waters, you can also check out the Becoming a Boundary Waters Family web site HERE.
