To promote a balance of physical, mental and spiritual health for campers. To encourage campers in the development of lifelong friendships. To instill in campers a sense of the beauty, awe and wonder of nature. To show campers how to live in harmony with the environment. The heart of Laketrails program is a five day canoe trip into the Ontario island wilderness.
Campers develop skills in canoeing, navigation, fire-building, outdoor cooking, safety and survival.
Perhaps more important, teens are accepted unconditionally, they learn to value their own ideas and gifts, and how to relate to other teens in a setting which requires mutual respect and cooperation. Campers Laketrails has served literally thousands of teenagers during its 45 year history. While the Camp's program explicitly develops wilderness skills, the underlying philosophy encourages teens to value themselves and shows them how to relate positively to peers and adults. The Laketrails' program has helped many teens to develop into adult leaders in their communities. In Laketrails early years, most campers came from the northwestern part of Minnesota.