Alumni News

Or… “Why Langskib is like Mongolia”, by alumni Dave Roberts.

It has been over thirty years since I lead my last trip from the dock at Langskib canoe camp for boys.  I was a camper on the first Temagami Trip the year Dave Knudsen bought Camp Windshift which became Langskib. I was one of the first leaders, I co-lead the first Dumoines River Trip. I lead CG on his very first canoe trip; he later became the best assistant I had the pleasure of working with.

A lot has happened since I left Langskib;  some good, some not as good. I moved to the West, I worked as a cowboy on several cattle ranches in Colorado, I lead elk and deer hunters on horse pack trips into the Rocky Mountains for 11 years, did many other jobs, lived in several places. I married, raised kids, divorced and ended up with a desk job shuffling paper. I soon plan on changing that desk job to something more exciting.

Last year, life was getting a little too slow and too domesticated, I was missing the adventures I had leading canoe trips, the traveling into the unknown, not knowing where camp will be until evening comes. I missed the nomadic life I lived as a cowboy. So I packed some belongings and traveled to Mongolia for three weeks. The people there still live the same as they did 800 years ago when Genghis Khaan ruled. They live in tents called Gers, they move their livestock with the season, packing all their worldly belongings onto ox drawn carts and live off the land. Mongolia is great, just what I was looking for, people with a nomadic spirit. The entire time I was in Mongolia I never felt alone, everywhere I went people treated me as a friend. I spent days galloping a horseback across the Mongolian Steepe with nomadic horseman, I stayed in their Gers, I learned their culture and shared experiences with them. I am learning their language and plan to return to Mongolia next year to visit with Mongol friends and other friends I have yet to meet.

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We are having a great winter here at Northwaters and Langskib off season  headquarters. Everyone is healthy, summer camp enrollment is at record levels and a steady stream of visitors has made cheerful the dark days of November and December.

Summer Camp in the Winter!

New to the mill (and NWL) this winter is Jen Zahorchak.  Jen comes to us with many years of experience working with children and their families in camp settings throughout the US.  She and her husband Gregg moved back East from Oregon to work for Adirondack Camp in Lake George.  Recently, they purchased a home just a mile down the road from the mill.  Jen and Gregg come to us with much experience in outdoor adventure.  Each of their girls, Wren and Luna, have been on canoe trips in-utero and out, but Otis (4 months) is waiting for the spring thaw for his first out of belly adventure.  In addition to helping out with general administrative work, Jen is focusing her expertise on managing our website and online presence.  She’s the person to contact if you would like to contribute news, photos or stories to the blog or website – jen@northwaters.com

Once summer camp programs are finished and base camp is closed, (October 2 last year) our focus turns to planning for the coming season. In November, directors and senior staff spent 3 days with Rod Napier and Chris Cavalieri of The Napier Group. (more…)

January 1st 2010. My friend Bill Perkins wants to be the first one to paddle the Crystal River this year and this decade. So here we are at Fishers Landing with winter boots and many layers of wool and polypropylene clothing. His little ford station wagon is not quite stuck in the snowbank. We unload his old aluminum canoe and immediately appreciate the first difference of winter canoeing. Instead of carrying the canoe and gear to the river we just pull it across the snow like a big sled.
The Crystal River is the only river in our county. It is a twisty, four miles from Big Glen Lake to Lake Michigan and most of that is through (more…)

Well, it’s finally happened.  Winter is here, and my thoughts now begin to shift from rivers and giant pine trees to cross country skiing and hot chocolate.  I live in Toronto where winter really never completely sets in.  While there are people running around in minus 40 celsius rated down jackets and there is talk of storms of the century, its really not much compared with the rest of the county.  Even though here in Toronto we don’t really “do” winter, the same sentiments arise once the weather turns colder.  People slow down a little bit, nest a little and eat a little more.

One of my winter traditions is to thumb through my pictures of the past summer.  I look at them fondly and think about the long days and warm nights in Temagami.  This picture in particular brings back memories of this past summer. In June 2009 I stepped into a new role as Program Director at our Northwaters Basecamp.  Along with this amazing new challenge I was also planning a wedding, my wedding for the end of August.  (more…)

Brad Sablosky married the lovely Sara in a fun filled Durango wedding last Spring—complete with bonfires, a rafting trip and mountains of Colorado fun.

Blake Shester married Katie Logan in Nashville, TN (where they also have a home) last August. Fellow NWL alumni staff Geoff Shester was best man, and Blake’s blue grass band, Off the Wagon, played the rehearsal dinner at The Station Inn.

John Booth was wed to Hanna MacNaughton in August as well; their ceremony took place on beautiful Manitoulin Island.

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Here is a sampling of Alumni news between March 2008 and March 2009.

Stephen Kress Ashgrove, QLD: Moved to Australia (Brisbane). Trying to reach anyone who was at Langskib in 1974 or 75

Jason Farber Tenafly, NJ: 3 Children; 15, 4 and 2. Bought a new house in Tenafly, NJ in May of 2007. Just finishing up a MS in Accountancy & an MBA in management. Will be sitting for the CPA exam this summer. Hope all is well with everyone

Paul Park Brooklyn, NY: A poor cog in the wheel

Celine Lamb Oakland, CA: Masters in Mayan Archaeology at Universite Paris, playing volleyball for my school. Spending my summers excavating, wishing I had a bit more time to go back to NW!!

Nick Fournier Fair Oaks, CA: I was training for my first marathon when I broke my hip playing volleyball in 09/07. My hip is mostly healed and I hope to run a half marathon in 2009 and a marathon in 2010. I’ve gone back to school to major in dietetics/nutrition and would like to eventually work in sports nutrition.

Rick de Pena McAllen, TX: Registered Nurse, working at Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA in the Pediatric Cardiovascular ICU. Traveling the world one trip at a time, hooked on traveling and adventure since my trip to Langskib when I was 11 yrs old (Viking group). I have done many trips since then and always acknowledge that what got me started or gave me the knowledge and attitude to do them was my first long adventure, Camp Langskib. I’ve ridden my Harley motorcycle to the Panama Canal in Central America. I’ve ridden it across the United States and back. I’ve ridden across Europe. I’ve been to Asia, and spent a month there, with a train ride from Singapore to Chiang Mai, Thailand, exploring and running trails throughout Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Any chance I get, I’m out exploring new places and seeking adventure. I love it.

John Wilkinson Rehoboth Beach, DE: Since I left camp, I graduated from high school, went to community college for two years and then finally found my calling as a bartender. I have been a bartender for ten years. I really enjoy what I do, meeting new people, hearing new stories, and sharing my sense of humor (some get it, some don’t, but most laugh along with me anyway). I’m engaged to Michelle and we live at the beach. We are in the process of buying a house. Pretty scare in this day and age. Life is fun and good. I still try and live my life by keeping the red side down. Never would have thought that statement would apply to so much in life but it really does. Unfortunately we lost a very important part of my family in Feb. I did get to see Dave and it felt good to see him.

Paul Park Brooklyn, NY: just another cog in the wheel. If anyone is ever in NYC drop me a line.

Colman Crowther Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Live at the Jersey shore and work in Manhattan. 2 kids Jack (3) and Olivia (6). Very active on the water. Love to fish, surf, and golf. Have a small center console and yes an Old Town Canoes. Remember all the good times. Hope to visit Temagami area in the future. Hope everyone is healthy. Maybe someday my kids can enjoy the wonderful experience of your camp.

Richard Miles Goodview, VA: Playing hockey!

Mark Last Haverford, PA: Living life as an experienced “survivalist” in the big city! I reside in Brooklyn, NY.

Erik Knudsen Wilmington, DE: Husband, father, friend, bungee trampoline tycoon

Devon Carson St. Charles, IL: I graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles in 2006 with a degree in Theatre. I’ve been acting and working various jobs in the entertainment industry, and just moved to Chicago in spring 08. I live with my boyfriend Adam who is a musician in the band Searching for Sunlight. Please contact me on myspace or by email–I would love to hear from you!

Sarah Brown Fort Smith, AR: I am in Drama and it is GREAT!!! I am riding motorcycles now and am getting better and better.

Bruce Blackstone Tucson, AZ: I have been on a path for the last few years of discovering my true gender and true sexuality and have come to identify as two-spirited. I belong to a tribe of people who engage in primitive rites as a means of transformation and self-knowledge. I regularly lead workshops. I speak at Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Pima College. I also play in a transgender rock and roll band as well as a conventional rock and roll band. My experiences at NWL changed my life. I found my first experiences of profound surrender there, and began finding and illuminating my own darkness there.

Harry Wilmer Alexandria, VA: Working in the DC area and missing NWL

Jascha Kehr Mainz, Germany: Residency in Pediatrics at the University of Mainz, Germany

Bitsy Perlman Cos Cob, CT: After graduating from Northfield Mount Hermon School in 2002 and Carleton College in 2006 I moved to Washington DC to work for the Federal Reserve Board. I am currently working there as a research assistant and applying to econ PHD programs. Between work and taking classes I’m trying to connect with my feminist and nonviolent sensibilities. This project is, I think, a bit stalled out.

Guy Coby Quakertown, PA: My wife, two daughters and I live on a horse farm in Quakertown, PA. I have an orthodontic practice in Quakertown and teach part-time at the University of Pennsylvania. I haven’t put a canoe in to the water for a few years but a summer doesn’t go by that I don’t remember and appreciate my Northern experience. I would enjoy getting back in touch with David Knudsen.

Johannes Courtens Kinderhook, NY: I am graduating high school this year and I plan on going on to college next school year. I have also been in a high school based vocational school for becoming a private pilot for which I hope to then carry on to a possible carrier. Besides all that adult and societal stuff I have been quite content with my life recently. I have been thinking a lot about the Canadian North and Temagami which means only one thing, that I have to take a trip up there again, though it may not happen as soon as I would like it to.

Ian Mason Korea: is living in Korea and loves his job teaching kindergarten and elementary school students.