We have an incredible Waterfront here at Camp Nebagamon. Our beautiful sandy beach is home to the Fishing, Sailing, Windsurfing, Waterskiing, Rowing, Swimming and, of course, Canoeing projects. Many campers try to maximize the amount of time they spend by the water – and as someone who spends almost all of my time down there as the head of the Canoeing project, I can confirm it is a magical place to spend a summer.
I may be biased, but to me, Canoeing is one of the most iconic and important aspects of a camper’s summer. Most campers have almost no experience in a canoe before they arrive at camp, but by the end, most have spent several days canoeing from campsite to campsite in the Boundary Waters or the many rivers in the area surrounding camp. Of course, the skills that are required to complete those wilderness trips don’t develop overnight. They are the product of the campers’ intentional, sometimes difficult, work. Our whole staff is ready to aid the kids in this endeavor, whether it be in our Campcraft project, where the campers learn to build a fire, pitch a tent, and other necessary camping skills, or in Orienteering, where campers learn to read a map and back a hiking backpack. Our campers are ready to jump in, put their heads down, and end the day with improved knowledge or skills.
In Canoeing, campers must achieve the third rank (called “Tripper”) to go on most trips and the fourth rank (called “Voyageur”) to go on our Quetico Big Trip. Recently, dozens of campers have been arriving at Canoeing in the hopes of building their skills and earning their ranks. Over a dozen 9th grade campers have already achieved their Voyageur (and, in fact, are in the Quetico as I write this!), with many more on the way. To attempt their Tripper rank, dozens more have come down to the waterfront to learn their stern strokes, which allow them to steer the boat, navigate our rigorous Camp Nebagamon buoy course, and complete their five-mile paddle, which brings them to the far side of the lake and back. The campers practice a rescue procedure called “Canoe-Over-Canoe,” which involves the lifting and draining of a capsized vessel by bringing it – you guessed it – on top of another canoe. This procedure is very handy if you ever find yourself swamped in the middle of a lake. If you’re on that lake with a camper from Nebagamon, your rescue team is on the way!
One of the most daunting challenges that campers must overcome to achieve these ranks is portaging (carrying a canoe on one’s shoulders). We use sturdy metal canoes at Camp Nebagamon that can feel quite heavy to many, but, once the campers are old enough (and actually weigh significantly more than the boat itself), they are tasked with portaging from the Waterfront to the Herb Hollinger Museum, and back – about 90 rods or a third of a mile. To be frank, this is hard to do, and I say as much to every camper who attempts portaging for the first time. It is not, however, unachievable. In fact, with work and a little practice, it is entirely doable! Just yesterday I was working with a camper who was about to portage for the first time. Before he even touched the canoe, he expressed to me how nervous he was. He was nervous to do something he had never done before. He was nervous it was going to be too heavy for him. He was nervous he would fail. Despite his nerves, he gave it a shot… and he completed his 90 rod portage on the first try! Now, don’t get me wrong. It was not easy. It was heavy. But I guarantee you that an easier portage with a lighter canoe would not have resulted in the sense of triumph that that camper felt having completed such a difficult task. Since this event, that camper has already come up to me several times to express his desire to continue practicing his portaging, including a session today and another planned tomorrow.
This is just one example of the countless campers who have come to Canoeing and, facing a genuine threat of failure, tried something new and excelled at it. And, of course, while Canoeing is the best activity at Camp Nebagamon (again, I may be biased), it is not the only activity with stories like this. Campers who at one time were too nervous to attempt scaling our 50 ft. climbing wall are now reaching the top with ease. Campers who at one time had no knowledge of campcraft are now prepared to spend days or weeks at a time on trail. Even campers who at one time felt too self-conscious to make art have produced countless creations. Now, some of the credit here goes to our incredible, encouraging, gracious crop of staff. However, most of the credit belongs to the campers, for having the courage, the fortitude, the sheer mettle to try. About two weeks into our first session, camp is already replete with stories like the ones above, with many more to come.
This morning, our weekly Sunday Service was about just these kinds of stories. Campers were asked to reflect on their memories of camp – how they felt on the first day of the summer, the friends they had made thus far, and more. They were challenged to make more memories in the coming weeks, because, as our speaker put it, “You can’t take your cabins with you. You can’t take the lake or the fields. But you can take your memories.” The challenges campers face in projects, be it in a canoe or anywhere else in camp, teach them skills that they’ll bring home and into the offseason, and hopefully be able to use for years to come.
With a Council Fire tonight about “Finding Enjoyment in Everything,” the campers are primed to continue to reflect on both the hard work they have put in and the fun times that have resulted from it. They will also recognize, however, that there is a lot of camp left. The boys will create more memories… at Canoeing, hopefully. But I’m sure any other activity will do.
All is well in the Northwoods