FAQs

Question

What is the dress code?

Answer

Feel free to wear anything that you feel comfortable in. As long as you bring your dancing shoes!

Question

Are kids allowed?

Answer

Of course, bring the kids. You can take them canoeing, hiking or just play at the camp!

Question

What is the food for the weekend?

Answer

We will be having a taco bar for the dinner on Friday. We will have meat and fresh veggies in buffet style for our dinner on Saturday. Snacks and desserts will be served throughout the night and do not forget to save room for cake - made lovingly by the brides brother! We will also host a small brunch Sunday morning.

Question

What about gifts?

Answer

No pressure to bring a gift! But if you would like to we have picked out a few favorites and updated on our registry page.

Question

Where do we sleep?

Answer

We will have the entire camp rented and cabins will be available. If you are interested in staying at a cabin, please respond in the invitation portion by April 10. We will reach out for payment closer to the wedding. Adventurous souls can also camp if they would like to! If neither of those options suit your needs - people can also find a hotel in Ely, about 20 minutes from the camp.

Question

Do I need to bring my own bedding?

Answer

Bedding, pillows, and towels are not provided at Camp du Nord. For bedding, sleeping bags are convenient, or you can bring sheets and blankets. Bring hand, bath, dish, and beach towels.

Question

Do I need to bring my own food?

Answer

We will be hosting a taco dinner Friday night, and will have a buffet Saturday evening at the reception. We will also have a small brunch Sunday morning before people hit the road. Downtown Ely is 20 minutes away, with plenty of dining options. If you are preparing meals in your cabin, pack all food. There are cooking utensils, pots, pans, a microwave, toaster, coffee pot, and dishes in all cabins.

Question

What should I pack?

Answer

The weather can change quickly at du Nord and it is best to be prepared for anything. Be sure to pack multiple warm layers, extra socks, warm jackets, hats, and mittens. In the fall, it is always a good idea to pack raincoats, rain pants, and shoes or boots that can get wet. Be sure to pack enough clothes for your entire stay, as there are no public laundry facilities at camp. Water bottle and backpack for hiking adventures, flashlight, swimsuit, personal toiletries, and a camera.

Question

How do I get there?

Answer

If you have never been to camp, please take a look at these directions! Navigation apps do not always give the best route to camp. To Ely from the Twin Cities: ➢ I-35 north to the Cloquet exit ➢ Highway 33 north through Cloquet to Highway 53 ➢ Highway 53 north past Virginia to Highway 169 ➢ Highway 169 north to Ely To Camp from Ely: ➢ Drive through town and turn left on 88 (or Grant McMahan Blvd.) which is just past the International Wolf Center. ➢ Go 2.3 miles and turn right onto 116 (or Echo Trail). ➢ Go 9.1 miles and turn left on North Arm Road, which is less than 1 mile past Fenske Lake Campground. ➢ Drive 3.0 miles (you will pass YMCA Camp Widjiwagan) to the entrance to Pine Pointe Village (check in here at Gateway House), the entrance the du Nord village is an additional .5 miles and the entrance to the Northland Village is an additional .8 miles. All entrances are on the left. Please fill up your gas tank in Ely and drive carefully!

Question

Whose land is this?

Answer

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT We at YMCA Camp du Nord respectfully acknowledge that we are on the homelands of the Lake Superior Bands of Ojibwe people, and within the ceded lands of the Treaty of 1854, where they retained rights to hunt, fish, and gather. We also recognize other indigenous peoples that lived here, before the Ojibwe people. These include Dakota, Cree, and other tribes that have occupied and utilized this land. We recognize the perseverance and survival of our indigenous neighbors, who continue to live throughout this region. As part of our outreach and inclusion, we are creating relationships with our Ojibwe neighbors, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, and will seek to act appropriately on their homelands. We at YMCA Camp du Nord are committed to care for and preserve the land, wildlife, air and waters here. This Land Acknowledgement Statement comes from a collaboration with members of our Family Camp Outreach and Inclusion Committee, the Bois Forte Executive Director and elders, and Native American Studies educators. We recognize that this is a living document and will evolve as we continue to learn and grow.