MarkL, Menogyn
I learned it in 1980 or '81 while working at Y Camp Menogyn on the Gunflint Trail NW of Grand Marais, Minnesota. The tune, chorus, and parts of 2 verses stuck with me ever since. I just Googled it recently (thanks Laura!) to learn it completely for an upcoming canoe trip in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ont. The others, all college students, enjoyed it.
Verses can be changed depending on what you experience. Wind from the the north? "..as north wind blows." Calm? ...no north wind blows."
Did you encounter one of those black and white striped cats? ;~) "The skunk's deep rich musky spray, keeping closest friends away..." If you experience something special out there, feel free to try to work it into the song.
One other thing. At Menogyn, after the verse and before the chorus we did four slowly spaced clunks of our paddles on the canoe gunwales(or hands on the table)