There is a longstanding tradition at Ogichi Daa Kwe that the final morning of the trip includes a silent paddle. I couldn’t help but smile when Kay Glaccum, my co-lead, suggested this for the final six kilometers on the Hayes River as we headed to Hudson Bay's York Factory. This silent paddle gave me a direct opportunity to reflect on the building blocks of Ogichi’s trips program, and appreciate the magnitude of reaching a destination such as Hudson Bay.

Joann Tweedale, a camper mom, works in the Ogichi Daa Kwe kitchen and rediscovers the importance of joy—the joy of working hard with supportive people and common goals, of watching others try something new every day, and the joy of laughter, music and silliness.

The direct translation of ogichi daa kwe is often given as warrior woman, but maybe the better word is fighter, someone who is fighting to find the elevated being we have the potential to become, fighting to find our own strong spirit.

We are very excited to be planning our staff’s first expeditionary Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training at Ogichi Daa Kwe, completing all the practical training on a seven-day staff canoe trip. The online portion will be completed prior to arriving at Ogichi.

For many Ogichi Daa Kwe LDACs and CITs, the near future involves a four-year college. They’ve most likely been prepping their whole high school careers to apply for their dream school, which usually involves SAT or ACT preparation, a comprehensive list of extracurricular activities and a captivating college admissions essay.

Without screens, social media or mandatory social engagements, Ogichi Daa Kwe becomes a playground of games. You name it, we’re playing it. One night, we might be cheering on our pack members during Little Council, which is an evening of small, carnival-like competitions and athleticism has absolutely nothing to do with it.

With a few months under my belt as assistant director and my page-a-day calendar getting closer and closer to May 25th (the start of preseason), most of my to-do list is related to finalizing Ogichi’s staff team. In almost every interview, eager candidates ask me something to the effect of “What qualities make a good camp counselor?” and I smile knowingly. There is no simple answer; the reality is that at Ogichi, everyone has something to contribute.

Ogichi Daa Kwe will begin a new chapter full of hope, excitement and grace. Grace Gardner, a name that evokes many memories, energy, and familiarity within our community, will officially start a full-time position as the assistant director of Ogichi Daa Kwe, effective February 21, 2023.

The kitchen at Ogichi has a heartbeat, full of energy from 5:45 every morning until the last dishes are put away at 7:30 at night. The love and care from the kitchen crew are felt in each meal.

Many of us are taught from a young age that we should always spread positivity, but at Ogichi you get the rare opportunity to see the tangible effects of this practice. It’s a community that runs purely on collective passion, and the absolute willingness to make every day the best possible day it can be.

I truly believe that being a counselor has made me a better teacher, being a teacher has made me a better counselor, and both have made me a better person.

Over this past summer, the women of Ogichi collectively paddled and portaged over 24,000 miles. From Chickadee to CIT, our campers are constantly striving to learn and grow in their wilderness tripping skills. While our youngest campers start out with trips that are a bit shorter in length, they are learning essential skills that will eventually help them complete trips such as our 19-day trip to James Bay that was sent out this summer.

We persevered through hikes that felt like they would never end. We popped blisters, sweat through our packs, and cried about life. We made new friends, learned new tricks, and laughed harder than we had ever laughed before.

We dug into what it really means to be strong spirited, and with every new protocol, pivot and reroute, the magic grew. This issue of Songs of the Paddle seeks to capture the struggles and successes that were experienced this summer, individually and as a community.

The send-off went fine, but I’m not going to sugar coat it: It was really hard for me. Early in Marin’s session, I contacted the camp nurse on a few occasions to “check-in.” It was my way of grabbing onto a buoy, grasping for any information that would ease my mind.

With Voyageurs National Park next door, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness a mere 50 miles away, and Lake Superior and the Mississippi River not far beyond, there are well over a million acres of Minnesota land and water to explore, just in our corner of the state.

As parents, we are keenly aware that this past year has taken its toll on our daughters’ mental health. While camp cannot undo this stress, we can learn more about the value of being present and connecting with one another, and when to seek help on behalf of a camper.

Every summer, there is some species that turns out in droves. Let the summer of 2021 be the return of the girls. And when they do return, the campus will look a little different, thanks to the projects completed this summer.

Twelve turkeys. Forty-four blueberry pies. One-hundred and fifty pounds of mashed potatoes. That’s what it takes to feed a full house of hungry campers at Ogichi.

Whether it’s your first time to camp or your last, both are filled with tears because you’re leaving a place you love. You have butterflies as you leave home, or as you leave camp to start a new adventure. This year, I have a lot in common with the little Chickadees.