Submitted by Luke Miller

When I was young boy each summer my father would disappear for a week to the north woods with a group of youth from his church.  It was always one of the longest weeks of the summer for me as I eagerly awaited his return to hear tales of adventure I could only dream about.   As soon as he got home he would pick me up, set me on his lap, and transport me to the place from which he had just returned.  Chiseled by thousands of paddle strokes, he would flex his powerful arms that felt as solid as the granite and gneiss he was traversing over.   The moment I had been waiting for all week was finally here, my dad had returned and with him he had brought tales of modern day voyageurs that filled me with more wonder and excitement than Disney’s recently released Aladdin.  There were waves so big they crested over the front of the canoe.  Fierce encounters with animals such as wolves, bears, and moose; animals I had only seen in Ranger Rick Magazine.  His stomach, he would tell me, was filled all week with northern pike; fish so big they could consume my arm in one big gulp.  To a young kid it sounded like the world’s greatest water park and playground combined into one amazing destination.  When I grow older, I discovered it truly was.

Eventually when I reach my pre-teen years my dad began to bring me along on his adventures.  Each summer would pass by looking forward to more than just hearing tales of adventures in canoe country, but experiencing them.   Trudging over long rain soaked portages with a pack heavier than anything I had ever carried taught me the meaning of hard work.  Fishing, picking berries and gathering firewood I learned lessons in stewardship that I still carry with me today.  By living off of only what could fit into a canoe, I learned that life can best be enjoyed when lived simply. Of all the lessons I learned, most importantly I discovered the interconnectedness between Man, God, and the natural world.

This is a lesson that seems to be lost or forgotten amongst much of today’s youth.  No longer do young boys spend their time causing mischief down on the river banks like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.  Play forts consisting of windfall and large branches seem to be disappearing from local wood plots.  Video games in which kids can place themselves in reality worlds have replaced their interest in the natural world.  Text messaging, ipods and a vast array of other technologies allow people to seemingly be two places at one time, physically in one, but emotionally in another, disconnected from their surroundings.  The Boundary Waters is a place where we are able to reconnect with that interaction between man and nature that sustained us a race for much of our existence. 

Spending the last two summers living at Ko-Wa-Kan I witnessed how powerful that reconnection can be.   In a week’s time I have seen youth struggle to let go of their cell phone on day one, to struggling to let go of their paddle by day five.  They lament that they’ll no longer be able pump water or build a fire on a daily basis.   They wonder how they’ll sleep without the calling of the loons and the rustling of leaves in wind, providing them with a nightly lullaby.  As the landing approaches, stories of conquering rough water and watching otters play in the rapids are often recalled.   When the front of the canoe hits the landing, they can’t wait to be facing the opposite direction someday.  In the mean time though there are stories to be told.

At home there are ears eager to listen, younger brothers and sisters whose worldviews are just beginning to take form and friends who excel at being Master Chief on Halo, but have never captained a canoe.   As they hear the stories being recounted by the freshly minted voyageur, hopefully their interest will be piqued just as mine was, whether they are as young as 3 or as old as 93. So while video games, TV, and the rest of the technological age may dominant our culture,  it is places like Ko-Wa-Kan that allow us to connect with our true nature and experience all the Lord has blessed this planet with, untainted by the distractions of our creation.

Submitted by Rocky

I got into my pickup this morning which was outside of the garage, twenty something below zero. The seat was very hard and cold, it was frozen! The engine did not want to even turn over, but it did…. and eventually it started. I went back inside to sit close to our wood heater, have another cup of hot coffee, and wait.

 

While I waited and looked out the window, my mind went to last summer; to the excitement I had in going up north to open up Camp Ko-Wa-Kan. This has always been a fun weekend of work and fellowship. It is a time to revisit some of the same spots and to enjoy the views that had been held close in my memory over the long winter break. In my mind, I look out over the lake and see the loons, welcoming them back for another summer. I can hear their calls clearly.  I also see the gulls and hope that they will find another home somewhere else. On the ground I remember the numerous scat piles from the deer that make their home over the winter. I also see the wolf scat. I wonder now how things are going, even this day when it’s so cold outside.  

 

There is a mental list of familiar spots to check out; to see if they have wintered well. I note the small islands in the middle of the lake, the point on the south side where we have a new BWCAW style campsite, the cliff with the beautiful overlook, and more. I have pictures of these spots, both on the shelf at home and in my mind. It’s great to see them in person again. While gazing, I remember howling with the wolves. They seemed to be right on the point where our new campsite was and there was a good deal of excitement that followed in getting a response.  

 

When working, we all seem to enjoy watching the camp come alive again and what new thing we would work on. We share stories from the past seasons, our hopes for the coming season, and how we think it should work.  Each piece of equipment we touch, each sleeping cot we put together, each tent that goes up, all create a memory and even a prayer. They are prayers for a safe and wonderful experience by our staff and by all the campers that come to this place. I pray for the many trips into the BWCAW and that they will come back with memories that will impact them for years, if not for a lifetime.    

 

I go back to the campfires and the enjoyment we all shared around a good day’s work, a good meal, and a warm fire shared with both new and old friends. It’s a wonderful memory……  And now it’s time to go; to get to work! 

Submitted By Rocky

I just returned from a recent visit to Ko-Wa-Kan as a part of a whirlwind tour of all 6 Minnesota United Methodist sites (over 940 miles in 2.5 days). Ko-Wa-Kan a buzzing with energy with 2 groups base-camping on site making their plans for a variety of area options. There was a BWCAW (Boundary Waters) group that had just returned and staying in Ely - and another group from Pennsylvania was preparing to head out into their BWCAW adventure. Plans were also being made to welcome a large group (3 permits worth) arriving the next day to spend the night, gather equipment, pack and head off on their adventures as well!

It was amazing to me to see how folks were working together, allowing space, and having a positive attitude around making this busy time work for all. It was also amazing to think on how Ko-Wa-Kan, so "sleepy" or quiet and under utilized just 6 years ago, was now providing for multiple ministries at an "edge-of-wilderness" space for so many! The group mentioned earlier amounted to over 65 people within one week!

And yet, there was a real sense the wilderness among these groups. Ko-Wa-Kan and its flexible scheduling was seemingly absorbing these people and sharing it's very best with them.

I need to share that another primary aspect of all this working was the efforts of our NSCA staff! A wonderfully skilled and motivated group of young adults sharing their love of this place and the area with others. Without them, almost none of the above happens!

Welcome to the North Star Christian Adventures blog! I know it's not much yet, but we will be in touch with our staff and other leaders involved and will post more very soon! You can expect great Northwoods stories here in just a little while.