The Wanigan – Storage for Canoeing and Camping

June 16, 2013 By Clarke Green

Wanigan is borrowed from Ojibwa word for “storage pit” as a name for a storage box like the ones shown here. In some regions a houseboat, temporary hut on a log raft, a small house, bunkhouse, or shed mounted on skids may all be called a wanigan. P1000159 Rob built the wanigans shown above and decorated them with woodburned illustrations from the book Cache Lake Country; here’s a few more shots of Rob’s work:

This page of the July 1953 edition of Boy’s Life describing how to build a wanigan and a tumpline was posted at Paddle Making.

Tags: Canoeing

About Clarke Green

Clarke has worked with thousands of Scouts and Scouters as a director at his local Scout Camp (Camp Horseshoe), and as a Scoutmaster for 30 years. He is the recipient of a number of awards recognizing his service to Scouting, including the B.S.A.’s Silver Beaver, District Award of Merit, and is a Vigil Honor member of Octoraro Lodge 22. He is author of the blog and podcast at Scoutmastercg.com, The Scouting Journey, and Thoughts on Scouting. An avid outdoorsman and amateur actor, he lives in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania with his wife Teddi.