Compiled by Adam Fornear
The Brule looks familiar!
What a winter this has been for getting outside. The thing is, it really hasn’t been that different from the past couple of winters. The biggest difference really for me is that my brother isn’t able to take advantage of free babysitting… which for me, is a big loss. While I’m learning less about Pokémon from my nephews indoors, I’m still able to enjoy the outdoors with them. We’ve had a great cross-country ski and a very cool snowshoe adventure up a frozen river that included cooking hotdogs over a fire, tree climbing way too high off the ground and about four pounds of marshmallows.
The region that camp’s 77 acres is located in is just packed with things to do. On the last day of 2020 a couple of friends and I were able to paddle the Bois Brule river from the Winnieboujou Landing down to the Ranger Station Campground. It was a beautiful float with some snow flurries, blue sky and a high temperature of 7 degrees. Nearly all of our campers will be familiar with this stretch of river right near camp, and while the conditions were a bit colder, the experience was almost identical. There were lots of laughs, smooth rapids and a great cookout over a fire at the end. I believe this is our seventh year getting out on this paddle and I look forward to it every year.
Now to take a moment to brag about the city I call home (Duluth) during the winter. As long as you embrace the cold and snow there are some great activities to take advantage of to fight off COVID fatigue. Driving 10 minutes in any direction from my house, I can be pedaling amazing snow-covered mountain bike trails on my fat bike (four-inch-wide tires), go ice climbing (this has been really fun and challenging) and cross-country ski on well groomed trails. Aside from the health benefits of getting out on local trails, and of course the adrenaline rush of winter mountain biking or ice climbing, there is a greater reward: the friendships that I’ve formed through these activities. Now more than ever, I cherish these great friendships, as we all feel we can safely get together (outside in the cold) and laugh to stay positive during the past year of COVID. How lucky am I that I get to ice climb with a couple of friends who’ve climbed the Eiger, paddle the Brule with old professors, and bike with college friends from way back in the 90’s! I’m loving it and more important, I am thankful for these friendships.
That’s what is great about our camp family and I share this with all staff applicants during the application process. You will get a chance at new adventures in these beautiful Northwoods, but more importantly, you will make friends that will last a lifetime at camp. Just last week during a zoom call with the classes of 1999-2004, I was able to catch up with old camp friends. We hardly see each other anymore, but as soon as we see each other via the interweb, we are all smiles and I’m instantly traveling down memory lane, laughing, smiling and thankful for all of these alumni that I can call friends.
As you can see, the news is a bit skinny. I could really use your help with bragging about yourself or your friends and allowing me to make them famous in next month’s Arrowhead! Shoot me some news via email at fornear@campnebagamon.com. Get out there and explore those hidden treasures in your city!
IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW that Micah Rosenbloom (Nashville) has been taking ice skating lessons and has recently begun hockey lessons.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Sarah Kerr (St. Paul/NYC ’08-’09,’11) is a video journalist at The New York Times, where she has worked since 2017. She covers politics and national news. You can follow her on Twitter @sskerrr. Chelsea Tom (Hawaii/Los Angeles ‘13) is a pediatric oncology nurse at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RECENT ENGAGEMENTS go to Chelsea Tom (Hawaii/Los Angeles ‘13) and David Kosareff (Los Angeles) and to Ben Cronin (New York, ’01-’04, ’06-’12) and Julia Livick (New York).
WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS go to Trenton Flegel (Duluth ’18-‘19) and Tenille Jacobson (Duluth).