The Arrow — August 2026

When the crew arrived in northern Minnesota on July 13, they received the news they had feared. The U.S. Forest Service had closed the Boundary Waters, and the only road leading to Northern Tier’s base in Ely was also being shut down. The entire camp had to be evacuated.

The disappointment hit hard, but the adult leaders immediately stepped into action, determined to give the Scouts the best experience possible. On July 14, the crew traveled to Lake Superior—where they quickly learned just how cold the lake remains, even in the middle of summer—and explored several local sites.

Then, that evening, Northern Tier called with an unexpected opportunity.

Staff had been developing plans for a Mississippi River trek, but until that moment, the route had existed only on paper. With the evacuation underway, they quickly completed the plans and began redirecting crews that could not travel to Canada.

Suddenly, the Scouts had a new mission: help pioneer a brand-new trek.

Local residents assisted the crew for the night before they traveled to the Northern Lights Council’s Wilderness Base on Tuesday. While Northern Tier staff shifted resources and equipment, the crew prepared for the unknown. They geared up and completed their briefings on Wednesday, then launched the new Mississippi River trek on Thursday.

They were among the first crews ever to test the route.

The first afternoon, they paddled four miles. The next day, they covered 14. On the third day, they paddled another 16 miles. After passing the first crew on the route, they became the lead crew on the pilot trek—literally helping chart the course for those who would follow.

Being first also meant discovering the challenges no one could have anticipated.

The campsites worked well for the first two nights, but on the third night, the sign marking their campsite had fallen. The crew paddled back and forth for nearly two hours trying to locate it.

That was when they met Patrick.

Patrick was working in his yard when he encountered the crew and invited them to camp on his property. As it turned out, he was also an Eagle Scout. The Scouts represented themselves so well that, by the end of their stay, Patrick was talking with Northern Tier about allowing his property to become an official campsite along the new route.

The adventure delivered one final surprise on the last day. The campsite shown on the preliminary plans was located in town—and was only large enough for one tent. Once again, the crew adapted, pressed forward, and paddled an incredible 20 miles that day.

By the time they returned to camp on Sunday, they had paddled 54 miles, overcome unexpected obstacles, helped test a brand-new trek, and left a lasting impression on the people they met along the way.

The Scouts ended up loving the experience. Many even said they enjoyed it more than the Northern Tier trek they had originally planned. They felt like true explorers—forging a path that had not yet been fully mapped or traveled by other crews.

What began with disappointment became an unforgettable adventure and a piece of Scouting history.

A huge thank-you goes to the adult leaders who stepped up and made the experience possible, to Northern Tier for adapting so quickly, and to the local residents who helped the crew along the way. Most of all, congratulations to the Scouts whose resilience, attitude, and outstanding representation of Scouting helped pave the way for future crews.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone affected by the wildfires.