Wendy Werner

CherryRoad Media

Youth from Luther Memorial Church ELCA in Syracuse camped and canoed the Boundary Waters.

Thirteen youth, sophomores through seniors, departed July 5 for an eight-day and seven-night trip that took them from Syracuse to Wilderness Canoe Base, a Lutheran Camping Ministry in Grand Marais, MN. The youth along with Luther Memorial Senior Pastor Sarah Cordray and Deacon Nick Cordray and two guides, Mara and Benji, canoed the Boundary Waters for five days. The Boundary Waters is an area of lakes and islands that cover a region of wilderness straddling the Canada-United States border.

The decision to go to the Boundary Waters was the result of a Luther League planning retreat in August 2024. Brother Nick who is the youth minister coordinated the trip.

Pastor Sarah said there were two goals for the trip “to get closer to God and to get closer to each other.”

The youth were divided into two groups. Pastor Sarah’s group crossed 12 lakes and 11 portages while Brother Nick’s group crossed 18 lakes and 17 portages, including camping on Paulsen Lake and crossing Paulsen Portage. Portages are the carrying of canoes and supplies from one navigable water to another. As able, the nine girls and four boys carried canoes, supplies and their food across the portages. Brother Nick explained that no matter the distance traveled, the youth had to carry canoes, gear, and food from lake to lake and paddle across smooth or choppy water to reach their destinations each day.

Brother Nick said, “We all found the week in God’s Creation a nice reprieve from technology and discovered a deeper resolve in each of us.”

The group saw a variety of wildlife from loons, Beavers, Snow Shoe hare, chipmunks, bald eagle, Hooded Merganser, and a variety of other birds as well as waterfalls, tall cliffs, and pristine lakes.

One youth’s mantra became “Unplugged. Unbothered. Unforgettable.”

Youth attending the trip included Kelsay Engelbrecht, Olivia Foley, Kylie Gaston, Taylor Griepenstroh, Brody Hitzemann, Brandy Johnson, Kaita Kreifels, Brianna Magwire, Kamryn Manley, Drew Paulsen, Seth Paulsen, Deitric Pfeiffer, and Aubree Tuxhorn.

“They started the week not sure what they were getting into while ended the week sad that they will only get to do this trip once in their high school tenure,” Brother Nick concluded.

Luther Memorial members and the church supported the youth with fundraisers and a grant. A date has not been set yet, but the youth will be sharing about their trip on an upcoming Sunday.

Photos contributed