Growing Up Kooch

By: Eli Fulton

My first experience in Northern Minnesota was a late night in June of 2008. My flight from CVG airport in Cincinnati had been delayed which consequently resulted in my missing the Minneapolis-Shuttle, the classic commute on the camp bus between Minneapolis to Deer Island. Fortunately for me Jay Hunsche, a prep counselor and Indian Crafts department head, was able to save me. We arrived to Rainy lake after sunset that night.

I can remember my first time on Deer Island. I was a prep in Cabin 9 with Chris Sledzik, Chris Martella, and Tony Cooling as my counselors. My cabin mates were Nathan Haglin, Kevin Wadsworth, and George Rogers. My memories of these people are so vivid, and I believe it’s because it was the best summer I’d ever had. As matter of fact, I’m pretty sure I could recite most of the people that I have been cabinmates with or camped with on wilderness trips. My bond with the Camping and Education Foundation has continued to grow ever since. My hope is that this relationship will continue to grow as I am a valued member of the Camping and Education community for life.

Anyone who has been in prep camp since the early 2000’s knows that Cabin 9 has “The View” of Rainy Lake compared to the other cabins in the Prep Unit. However, I wouldn’t limit it to just the best view in prep camp but holds first place for the ultimate view on Deer Island. There is no better cabin to watch the sunrise over the lake’s horizon on chilly mornings where the water is smooth as glass and the foggy haze which overlays the lake.

Let me not forget to mention the notorious Kooch Polar Plunge. One of my favorite ways to begin the morning. I’d hear the first bell ring around sunrise. While the “Hoppers” would make their way to the dining hall to prepare the table, I’d slip on my crocs and walk down to the only diving board on the island in Prep Camp. The walk down to the water was always a mystery. The lake’s unpredictable temperature can leave one breathless on impact or in a state of satisfaction after resurfacing from the depths of the rejuvenating water. Either way, I’d still throw a gainer. Until this day, after

being a camper and now proud staff member, I have had the same feeling every morning when I wake in the North Woods.

Camp Koochiching has been an integral part of my life since the day I stepped on the island. I feel I’m one of the lucky few campers who did not get homesick over the duration of the summer. After becoming a counselor, I realized this is a rare oddity. Through reflection, I believe I never felt homesick because I felt Camp Koochiching is home. I love every bit of camp, from tackle-games, the token card race, and having a sense of independence. The idea that we trust 8-year-olds to walk to their classes in the morning is a such a cool idea to me. The culture at camp is something you won’t find anywhere else in the United States. Camp promotes individual freedom at such a young age. From selecting your classes to choosing how to spend your free time with others, it gives one a choice of interest. I can attest to this because it gave me the opportunity to become more independent compared to my peers back at home. For instance, single-filed lines are virtually non-existent at camp like many others out there. The only exception I can think of is when we’d line up at Poplar Park on the Big Ball Field to divide teams for tackle-games. We were either assigned a “Paddle” or an “Axe”.

My journey at camp would not have come to fruition if it wasn’t for Steve Heinle and JR Verkamp. JR and Steve were recruiting kids in 2007 from local schools around the Cincinnati area. Luckily, one of those schools was Cardinal Pacelli, a catholic school I had been attending between 3rd through 8th grade.

As legend has it, JR and Steve gave a presentation to the school faculty about Camp Koochiching’s mission and wilderness excursions. At the conclusion of their presentation, JR and Steve asked the question, “Out of all the kids in your school, who do you think would fit the mold of Camp Koochiching best?” By this point you should probably have an idea who was nominated… Eli Fulton.

It was probably an easy answer for my teachers to select me because many saw me exploring the woods around the school grounds after school hours. My mom was a teacher at the school and I was a student, and she’d have work such as papers to grade or lesson plans to prepare once all of my classmates went home. This meant I had to hang around the school for a bit. The first thing I’d typically do was complete my

homework in my mother’s classroom. Following homework, I’d wander outside to see what interesting things I could find next. Whether it be a puzzling tree I’d figure out how to climb, foraging for interesting looking fungi, or digging for shiny rocks with a make-shift shovel. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are still some miniature forts that stand strong in those woods to this day that I built from limbs and clay.

The teachers at school must have caught sight of some of my behavior. They probably thought I was a wild child who needed a place like Kooch. No wonder I was selected to spend time on the island. It gave me a place to explore the outdoors in a new environment- the boundary waters of Minnesota and Canada.

A lot of my outdoor interests most likely stemmed from my dad. He’s been an arborist, landscaper, and Cincinnati fireman as long as I can remember. I would sometimes ask if I could go to work with him to help drag limbs into piles while he was up in the trees cutting away with his chainsaw. I’d watch the way he’d navigate his way up a tree with all his heavy equipment dangling from his waist and think, “Man, this guy is an absolute beast!” I think watching him at such a young age sparked my interest not only in climbing but pushed my limits to explore difficult places to reach. I feel that many people in the world today are too comfortable in their daily life that they sometimes forget about the vast majestic world we live in. I take pride in exploration. Paddling a new route on a canoe trip is a challenge I am always willing to approach.

During my years at camp. I have been both a camper and staff member. I’ve known camp for most of my life. Since that first summer in 2008 I have been a camper as a Prep from 2008-2009, Junior 2010-2011, and a senior/ CIT in 2016. My staff years include 2017 and 2021-2024. The roles I’ve held at Camp have been a 4-year trip head, Climbing Department Head, Basketball Department Head, Jr. Medic, Sr. Medic in the Infirmary, and assistant positions in Sailing, Indian Crafts, and Riflery departments.

It has been a true treasure to spend time with my three younger brothers Silas, Gus, and Mo Fulton at Camp Koochiching. I have a sister as well who has been a camper and CIT at Ogichi Da Kwe. Silas is currently working for the Urban Wilderness Program in Cincinnati, Ohio. Gus and Mo are both campers in the Intermediate and prep camp respectively and they both aspire to work for Camp Koochiching when the

time comes. I have had the privilege to go on canoe trips with both Silas and Mo down the Ignace Turtle and Eagle Rock routes, respectively. Observing how my siblings experience trip is something most people at camp don’t have the opportunity to experience. I’ve noticed that we have some similarities in our tripping techniques but also our own styles and outlook being out in the North Woods.

One thing I really love about camp is that you have fun as both a camper and staff guy. They are very different types of fun. As a camper, I always looked forward to games such as American Eagle, Capture the Mattress, and War. These classics gave me an adrenaline rush. I would sprint across the Big Ball Field trying to complete my objective- avoiding tackles and delivering an occasional stiff arm. Mentally, I would tell myself, “If I’m capable of completing a 10-day canoe trip as a 12 year old in the wilderness, a tackle game is the least of my worries.” Camp canoe trips taught me both toughness and grit. As a staff guy I tell my campers there is no other way out of a trip besides completing the task at hand. When you’re potentially hundreds of miles from civilization you must work as a team to complete the tasks and figure out any problems that may arise; meanwhile enjoy the beauty of the natural earth.

My favorite childhood memory at Camp was being one of the few in Camp Koochiching history to win the “Red Lantern” evening activity game held exclusively during first session. It’s a game where the senior hide out in the woods with the Senior camp’s Red Lantern and forming a ring with the Lantern in the Center. The objective is to capture the Lantern without getting touched by any seniors. I remember I was a junior in Cabin 5 the summer of 2011. Will Bahlman, Henry Cordeal, and Paul Beach helped find some sturdy deadfall trees we propped up against the cliff where the only 3-foot gap was established. One could successfully squeeze their way through into the ring where the Red Lantern awaited. I hooked my arms and legs around the two trees that were meticulously propped onto the cliff and began my 15-foot accent up to the cliff’s edge where I found my opening to the inner ring. I remember sprinting to the Red Lantern in the center of the ring while seniors dove towards me with their last chance of eliminating me. I grabbed the lantern. I wasn’t sure if I had won yet because I had never witnessed anyone actually beating this game. Time froze. A burly man approached me.

Jimmy Lee, the Senior Unit Head. He raised up my arm which held the Red Lantern and honored my victory.

I tell this story because camp provided a challenging game which took wit, strength, and patience to accomplish. The feeling I held that evening is one I want to give other campers. It may not be in a game such as Red Lantern but something such as showing a camper confidence and giving him the tools or knowledge to shoot a tough rapid or push through a difficult miserable day of portaging through cold wet weather. There is much I wouldn't have accomplished as a camper nor young adult if it weren’t for some of the people I have interacted with within the camp community. There are many, but I’ll tell you about three that come to mind at moment.

Quinn Pinaire- I was his trip assistant with Nathan Haglin as the CIT the summer of 2017 second session. Quinn’s essence was nothing I’ve ever felt before. The smoothest trip I have ever taken as a staff member. He kept everyone calm and under control. One important thing I learned early from Quinn is that as a staff guy, the trip isn’t just about YOU, it’s about the kids’ experience. For many of them this is their first major hardcore backcountry camping experience. Quinn taught me how to cook over the fire even if the weather wasn’t quite the best. Looking back, I didn’t realize how wise he was. He’d talk about his Arctic trip which lasted over 100 days! I’d asked him how does one push so long and he told me that “Once you’re out there for so long, there’s a switch that goes off in the brain. The canoe trip lifestyle becomes routine. It becomes your life.” There was no easy way for him to describe this phenomenon. It is something I must discover on my own journey.

Bobby Ecker- The year we won the Token Card race in 2009. Bobby gave me a bear tooth for friendship dance. It resembled “The Beast” … Me! I had racked up about 15 token cards in that session which resulted in winning the Token Card Race. I remember Bobby taught me confidence. Not only was he my prep counselor but he was my trip head senior year on the exploratory Attawapiskat trip to James Bay. It was truly an eye-opening trip and opened my door to manhood. Being out there in the wilderness for 21 days changed the way I appreciate and perceive life. The most memorable part of that trip was on day 20. We were about 15 kilometers from our destination on the

Attawapiskat River approaching the bay. Bobby had us all pull aside on the bank and his face got serious which was unusual for Bobby. Out of his dry sack he pulled out a bag of ashes. It was Dexter Davidson. He explained to us that Dexter was an integral part of camp’s foundation and that he wanted his ashes to be released on a Kooch Canoe trip. The feeling was surreal. Dexter had been traveling with us the whole time and only Bobby knew. It was a sacred moment for us all.

Kyle Ronemus- Ronemus decided he was going to be the prep Unit head one summer in 2009. Many know the name because he and his brother continue to hold the record for the fastest time in the canoe race around the island. Ronemus took the time to get to know his campers and staff. My fondest memory of Ronemus was sitting around the campfire in the prep unit ring. We were roasting marshmallows, and he complimented me on my patience perfecting a golden-brown coat. It may sound small, but it meant a lot to me that someone noticed my patience. Another occasion with Ronemus was at the Prep diving board. He encouraged me to perform a 1 ½ flip dive into the lake. I had no confidence in myself. Ronemus somehow convinced me to give it a shot. I went ahead and took a huge bounce off the board as high as I could and tucked as tight as I could. Holding my tuck until the very last moment, I sprawled out just in time for my fingertips to break the water’s surface. When I resurfaced Ronemus didn’t seem too surprised as one may have anticipated. He knew what I was capable of and he understood I just needed someone I could trust to nudge me in the right direction. I tell this story because there are some people within this community whom possess these unique leadership traits that have shaped me to the person I have become today. The guidance and leadership is unmatched compared to anywhere else I have worked or studied; not even remotely close in comparison to the medical program I’m enrolled in at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. It appears to be part of the camp's DNA. It is a legacy. I aspire to become as influential as Ronemus to future campers at Camp Koochiching.

As the years have passed, my appreciation for canoe trips has grown significantly. Canoe trips entail much more than just getting from “point A to B”. What matters is all which lies in between. Shooting rapids, maintaining a strong fire,

mentoring the next generation of campers, and being so far away from technology and civilization are some of my favorite aspects of canoe trips. For example, cooking a hot meal over the rolling flames of a fire is a satisfying feeling after a day of paddling and portaging. Sometimes catching a voluptuous Walleye to be filleted and prepared with seasoning then slapped on a sizzling skillet can turn the worst day into a solid 10. Or when a storm approaches and we must take shelter on a small island, rigging up a quick tarp while the others collect firewood so we can take refuge is such a neat experience. Just sitting around a fire may sound simple but I notice that people have their preference of position. Be it sitting an old log, leaning against the bedrock, lying on a cushion of pine needles, or crouching in front of the fire with palms faced open to receive the warm of the hot coals while someone takes the extra time to cook our meal for the evening. Regardless of the conditions, enjoy the company of all who sit around the fire and peer into the billowing flames while conversing on any subject imaginable. It’s life in its simplest form for me.

At these moments is where I feel whole. Although, at times I may be dirty, smelly, or sore, from a long day of voyaging, I somehow feel a sense of tranquility. Guys like Noah Imm, Drew Schrage, and Mick Geehan, Ryan Boudinot, and Sam Moulton are all people I’ve learned from whether it be on Deer Island, canoe trips, or outside of camp. Without a doubt this is a solid crew for exploring the Yukon River Expedition.