Getting to Camp using Widjiwagan Transportation
A coach style chartered bus and/or van(s) leave the White Bear Area YMCA located at 2100 Orchard Lane in White Bear Lake on the opening day of each camp session according to the schedule below. The bus returns campers to the White Bear Area YMCA on closing day of the session. The bus stops in Cloquet and Virginia for the convenience of campers living in these areas.
Directions to the White Bear Area YMCA
From I-694 go North onto White Bear Avenue. Continue down White Bear Avenue for ¼ mile. Turn Right onto Orchard Lane. The YMCA is on your right. The Bus Coordinator will be at each arriving and departing bus and can be reached at: (651) 245-2332.
The bus will stop at Subway on the way up to camp. Bring money to buy lunch or pack a bag lunch. Campers riding the bus home should also bring money for lunch.
Please make reservations to ride the bus or van. If you did not reserve a bus or van seat on the registration card and you plan to use our transportation, please call the camp office immediately and let us know. There are no refunds on bus fees.
St. Paul – Round Trip $126 To or From Camp $63
Cloquet – Round Trip $84 To or From Camp $42
Virginia – Round Trip $56 To or From Camp $28
Bus Drop-Off and Pick up
At the drop-off location, campers are greeted by Widji staff. Each camper is checked in by a staff member as they get on the bus or van. This same process occurs at any stop that is made on the way up to camp. Campers returning from camp at the end of their session are met at the bus or van by their parents/guardians. A Widjiwagan staff member will remain at the pick up location until all campers have been picked up. It is imperative that parents/guardians arrive at the pick up location on time, as the Widjiwagan staff needs to proceed to the airport to drop off out-of-state campers. Safety procedures for both bus and van travel are reviewed by the driver, staff, and campers prior to departure on all trips.
To Widji:
Departure Times
Northeast YMCA, White Bear Lake: Load 7:45 a.m. Depart 8:00 a.m.
Arby’s Restaurant, Cloquet: 10:15 a.m.
Subway Restaurant, off Hwy. 53, Virginia: 11:30 a.m.
Arrive at Camp: 1:30 p.m.
From Widji:
Arrival Times
Leave Camp: 9:00 a.m.
Subway Restaurant, off Hwy. 53, Virginia: 10:15 a.m.
Arby’s Restaurant, Cloquet: 11:15 a.m.
Northeast YMCA, White Bear Lake: 2:00 p.m.
Hotels Near the Northeast YMCA
- Holiday Inn Express - Vadnais Heights (651) 484-2400
- Best Western – Maplewood Inn (651) 770-2811
- Best Western – White Bear Country Inn (651) 429-5393
- Emerald Inn of Maplewood (651) 777-8131
Getting to Camp by Automobile
If you prefer, you may drop off and/or pick up your camper. We’d be delighted to have you visit Camp Widjiwagan. If you are bringing your child to Camp, please plan to arrive by 1:00 p.m. If you are picking up your camper, please arrive at camp between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. on the morning their session ends. Staff will not be available to supervise campers after 9:00 a.m. Dogs are not allowed at camp. Due to limited parking availability at Camp, campers are prohibited from driving their own vehicles to Widji.
Directions to Ely from Twin Cities:
Take I-35 north to Cloquet exit. Take Highway 33 north through Cloquet to Highway 53. Take Highway 53 north past Virginia to Highway 169. Go east on Highway 169 to Ely.
Directions from Ely to Camp Widjiwagan:
Travel east out of Ely 1.5 miles. Just past the entrance to the International Wolf Center, turn left onto 88. Go 2.3 miles to 116, which is the Echo Trail. Turn right on the Echo Trail and go 9.1 miles to the North Arm Road (less than 1 mile past Fenske Lake Campground). Turn left onto 644, which is the North Arm Road. Follow North Arm Road for 1.5 miles to the camp entrance, which will be on your left. Turn left into camp and proceed to the office in the Sigurd Olson Center.
From St. Paul to Camp Widjiwagan: approximately 260 miles, 5 hours driving time.
Out-of-State Transportation and Housing
Many campers come to Widji from outside of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area. Most are able to arrange their own housing in the Twin Cities and transportation to the Widji bus. When this is not possible, Widji will for an additional fee, provide transportation and housing for campers en route to or from camp.
To request this service, please complete the enclosed “Out-of-State Transportation and Housing” from and send to the Widji office by April 1.
Fees for this service are as follows:
- Transportation to and from airport, before and after session, one night housing and meals: $102
- Transportation to airport, after session only: $40
We ask that campers arriving from out of state who plan to be transported by Widji staff arrive between 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. the day before their session begins.
- Please make return trip reservations for no earlier than 5:30 p.m. on the last day of the camp session. In the rare event that you are unable to schedule your return trip for that day, we will provide an extra night of housing and meals for an additional $102.
- If there is a last minute change in travel plans, PLEASE call the Widji Administrative Office (612) 822-2267, Monday – Friday. If you do not reach
anyone at the Administrative Office, then contact camp directly at (218) 365-2117 or the Bus Coordinator at (651) 245-2332.
