Ezme attends Camp Menogyn
Story by WTIP youth volunteer Ezme Mundell
I went on a one-week canoeing trip at Camp Menogyn.
When I first got to Camp Menogyn I was scared, I didn’t know anyone. I had never been to Menogyn before as this was the first year I could go. (Must be 12 and up) When I first met my counselors they were so warm and welcoming and made it easy to meet the other 5 campers and warm up to them quickly!
We had fun work to do right as we got there. We had to do what the camp calls the shuffle. We first checked in with the medical officer to make sure we were all good to go on the trail. (We all were!) Then we did what is called swim and swap. It is where one canoe tips and the other has to help get it out of the water and drain then get the people back in. Super fun! We did this crazy swim test where you treaded water for 4 minutes! When that was done we got our food ready to go, picked out meals, and packed them up! Then we picked out three boats. We chose a pretty wooden boat with loons on it, we got one that was super light and fast, and we got one that was aluminum and quite heavy! Then we double-checked and packed our gear in dry bags!
The next morning we paddled out to Bearskin Lake to make our journey to Rose Lake where camped for the night! We had to take one long portage that was steep, downhill, rocky, and long! I was impressed with Cait and Nina some of the campers and now good friends, they carried the canoe down those hills! We were so relieved that night when we got to jump in the lake, we made up a funny synchronized swimming routine with our counselor Annika. I would say she is the funny one! For dinner that night we had potato madness which was just mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, onions, and yummy spices! (This was my favorite meal!) That night while sitting around the fire and map we decided the next day we could paddle 15 miles to Gunflint Lake and camp there then get picked up the next morning and brought back to camp! It would be a lot of paddling but we were all up for it! While we were eating our spice cake that night we found the cutest baby bunny family ever! They were so tiny and fluffy!
Bright and early the next morning we packed up camp and headed off Rose Lake with high spirits! Paddling was going great and we were cruising lake after lake but the problems came when we were on our last long lake and halfway through we noticed we forgot a paddle at our last portage!! My brain was screaming OH NO! My arms were tired! That is how our 15-mile trip turned into a 17-mile day of canoeing! We headed back our counselors cheering us on! Nansi is a super kind British counselor and to lighten the mood she suggested we fly down some swift water right next to the portage where the paddle was! I thought it was a wonderful Idea! It was scary but also really fun!
When we got to camp we had mac ‘n’ cheese for dinner and brownies for dessert! I swam again! Such a relief to go into the water after a hot, sunny day of paddling! We fell into a heavy sleep that night!
The next morning we got up and took off to finish paddling! We got picked up! I fell into the van seat I was so tired! When we got back we were welcomed by a little skit, popcorn, and lemonade! Thank goodness I had not drunk good water in forever! After that, we unpacked all our stuff. Then the fun part was taking a sauna and jumped into Gunflint Lake. So fun! Everyone in our group got close, Harper is a funny and powerful canoer, Nina is a cheery person who always keeps that energy high and silly, Kate is kind and makes everyone laugh, Adie is calm and chill keeping the group together but being wild when the time comes, Amelia never complains and is a strong canoe carrier, and finally our counselors are Annilka and Nansi. They were supportive and did so much for our group! I am so thankful for their kindness!
We had a delicious banquet dinner and then headed over for the campfire. Campfire is where all the groups and staff get together and share a little skit from their trip! All the skits were funny and amazing! Ours was about the baby bunny! We named the bunny Dirt because Cait thought it was moving dirt with its eye. Then we headed to our cabin where we wormed wrestled and fell fast asleep. Worm wrestling is all of us in our sleeping bags standing up and then we try to knock each other down! It’s super fun! That night we also wrote letters to ourselves saying highlights from the trip and then the camp would send them to us in 6 months.
The next morning sadly the last day! We went down to Breakfast with all our stuff packed and ready to go! We ate yummy banana bread for breakfast and said our last goodbyes! We rode a boat over to where our parents picked us up! Overall Menogyn was really fun! I can’t wait to go again!
Kalli Hawkins August 6, 2024
