Camp Kooch-i-ching is a boys camp that is situated on Deer Island in International Falls, Minnesota directly on the Canadian border. The location on Rainy Lake is a gorgeous one and the perfect setting for boys to be involved in many outdoor activities that are offered there. The camp was started in 1925 by Pop Vance that liked the idea of boys finding constructive activities to do in the summer while off from school. This camp began as a place to stay physically fit through different athletics and canoe trips but became much more when many Native American customs were implemented there as well. Today, the highlight of the camp are the trips that usekayak outriggers, canoe outriggers in addition to backpacking trips.
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In 1948, “The law of the Woods” was brought to the camp by Dr. Mason which was a book about the observations of Native American customs by Ernest Thompson Seton. The overall message of the Law of The Woods are still taught to campers now and are an integral part of the Camp Kooch-i-ching atmosphere. A lot of the activities are based on the Ojibwa traditions from that rgion such as Indian dancing classes and competitions and Indian crafts and woodmanship as well. At the close of the two 4 weeks sessions, the campers hold a Grand Council that commemorates their summer with drumming and Indian dancing in addition to other traditions that have continued over time.
One of the best parts about going to camp here are the trips that campers go on. Boys as little as 8 years old head out on a 7-10 day long canoe trips in the boundary waters of Minnesota and Canada. They learn many things on these trips from having to get a campsite ready and food to being able to paddle day after day and portage through land with heavy loads on their backs. As the campers get older, canoe trips get longer and other types of trips are offered as well.
Backpacking trips are also offered to campers and they go to the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana for those longer excursions. A lot of the campers are excited for the change after experiencing canoe trips for their first couiple of years at Camp Kooch-i-ching. It is not unusual for the high school age campers to take a canoe or backpacking trip that may go for 3 weeks straight. Many boys that do Fall sports for their high schools claim that those adventures got them in better shape than any kind of workouts could have for their sport.
Many campers go back to camp to become counselors and some have even said that they chose to go into the teaching professions so they could work at Camp Kooch-i-ching in the summertime. There is a deep loyalty to the camp and many men say they discovered more about themselves by attending this camp than anything else in their lives.