Northern Tier 2024

Update: 3/27/23

• Paying trip fees via PayPal? Info is below on how to do that. 

• Interested in going to Northern Tier, but haven't let us know yet? 

  • Click on the "Register your Interest Here" button above, complete the info

  • Pay the deposit as intsructed below. March 28 is the deadline to get the deposit (non-refundable) made

About Northern Tier High Adventure

Northern Tier is the premier BSA experience for canoeing. Paddling in North America's Canoe Country is a time like no other. With lakes stretching as far as the eye can see, all connected through a large web of waterways, we will paddle across them in specially designed tripping canoes. Completing short portages between waterways will get us from lake to lake as we explore the biodiversity of the Northern Boreal Forest unique to Northern Minnesota and Canada. 

Wildlife, remoteness, beautiful camping, fishing, and maybe even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights! Join us! 

Each of our crews can have up to 8 people, with 2-3 of those being adults. We will also have a guide with us the entire time we are paddling and camping. Each canoe has three people in it. The person in the back steers, the person in the front provides paddling power, and the person in the middle navigates with the map and takes a break. Those positions rotate within the canoe and people can switch between canoes during the trip. 

Who is eligible to participate? 

• Those who are 14 or 13 years old AND have completed 8th grade by the time of arrival at Northern Tier. 

• Weight between 100 - 295 pounds. If a participant weighs less than 100 or more than 295 that person cannot participate. 

• Adults

  • We are glad you want to go and we need adults to particpate (2-3 per crew)! Know that for this trip and others where there could be limited space, those who have given the most time and effort to T77, T177 or Venture Crew 77 are prioritized to participate. If you want to learn more ways you can volunteer, please contact the Committee Chair,  Scoutmaster, or Advisor for T77, T177, or Crew. 

  • When you sign up recognize that you are expressing your interest in participating, but are not guaranteed to participate. When registration ends, the Crew Leadership will review the signup list to finalize who will participate. 

• If you do not meet the criteria you will not be able to go. There will be more trips in the future!

Next steps

1. If there are other people you want to invite to join us, they have until around 3/28 to sign up for our remaining slots. If we don't have enough for a 4th crew, I will cancel it. Remember that we have crews of 8 (5 youth and 3 adults).

2. Payment Schedule

   • 3/28 - Initial Deposit $150 due (check made out to Andrew Kraft or PayPal account).

   • July 1 - Hotel and flight payment is due (~$560)

   • September 1 - $500 is due

   • March 1, 2024 - Remaining balance is due

3. Crew formation (April, 2023)

   • Some of the crews may form naturally due to existing patrols or the age of youth. However, it likely will not work out perfectly for some or all crews. When you commit to signing up and paying a deposit, know that the mix of your crew may end up being different than what you may have initially wanted. Give it a chance. Be flexible. Know that you are going to have an awesome adventure no matter who is on your crew . . . maybe even a better experience. 

4. Cancellation and refunds

   • Once each payment is made to Northern Tier there is no refund for that money

   • For flights and hotel, there may be some options. 

5. Check out the Northern Tier website and the last video from our Venture Crew (below). 

6. To help offset some of the trip cost, selling Camp Cards and doing some work between now and the trip to earn some money are all great strategies to help lessen the cost! In addition, if you are in need of a scholarship, submit a written request to your Scoutmaster or Crew Advisor. 

7. During the fall of 2023 and spring of 2024 we will do our shakedown paddles and practices. 

Paypal 

Participants can pay trip costs via this PayPal account.  (be warned that if you choose to pay any expenses to the Northern Tier account via Pay Pal you must send the money as a friend. Per IRS guidelines, if you pay the money as if you are paying a business, the money ends up being taxed at 24%. You will be responsible for covering any fees and the 24% tax.)

When paying via PayPal 

• Log in to your PayPal account.

• Choose “Send & Request.”

• Enter PayPal username (@northerntier) or email (ajkraft25@hotmail.com). Choose “Next.”

• Enter the amount, choose the currency, and add a note (identify who the participants are). Select “Continue.”

• Choose  “Sending to a friend.”

• Select how you want to pay and choose “Next.”

  • Ensure the way you pay doesn’t add cost (pay from your bank account or PayPal account). I am not figuring in 3.1% to cover credit cards. If you want to pay that way, you need to add that amount to your payment . . . .or pay by check. 

• Review the information and select “Send Payment Now.

For reference, this is the info PayPal has for our account

Andrew Kraft

@northerntier

ajkraft25@hotmail.com

Northern Lights Shuttle, activities, and Lodging options

When we fly into Minnesota on our first day, Northern Lights Shuttle will pick us up, take us to an experience or two on the way to our hotel in Ely Minnesota. Check out the International Wolf Center as an option. 

Key contacts

• Northern Tier 2024 Coordinator: Andrew Kraft, 678-778-5824, akrafty@me.com

• High Adventure Coordinator for Venture Crew: Clinton Cole, ‭(678) 595-3332‬, ctcole0308@gmail.com

• Northern Tier and Venture Crew Advisor: Mitch Leff, ‭(404) 861-4769‬, mitch@leffassociates.com

Videos