Camp Kooch-i-ching is a boys camp that is located 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 available there. The camp was started in 1925 by Pop Vance that felt strongly about the idea of boys finding constructive activities to particpate in over the summer when they were out of school. This camp began as a place to remain 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 as well as backpacking expeditions.

In 1948, “The law of the Woods” was brought to the camp by Dr. Mason which were writings and observations of Native American customs by Ernest Thompson Seton. The basic message of the Law of The Woods are still taught to campers now and are a large part of the Camp Kooch-i-ching experience. A lot of the activities are based on the Ojibwa customs from that rgion such as Indian dancing classes and competitions and Indian arts and crafts as well. At the end of the two 4 weeks sessions, the campers hold a Grand Council that celebrates their summer with drumming and Indian dancing as well as other traditions that have continued over time.

One of the favorite things that is a part of going to camp here are the trips that campers get to take. Campers as young as 8 years old go on week long canoe trips in the boundary waters of Minnesota and Canada. They learn many things on these adventures from having to prepare a campsite 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 increase in length 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 look forward to the change after going on canoe trips for their first couiple of years at Camp Kooch-i-ching. It is not uncommon for senior age campers to take a canoe or backpacking trip that lasts for 3 -4 weeks. A lot of boys that particpate in Fall sports in their high schools say that those trips got them in better physical condition than any type of fitness regimines could have for their season.

A lot of campers return to camp to be part of the staff and some have even said that they chose to go into the teaching professions so they could work at Camp Kooch-i-ching over their summers off. There is a strong loyalty to the camp and a lot of former campers say they learned more about themselves by attending this camp than anything else in their lives.