Sweet Cincinnati!

 

The whole Canoemobile Crew has decided that this past week in Cincinnati can only be described as sweet. Sweet people, sweet city, sweet river and sweet Busken’s cookies. 

This week the Wilderness Inquiry Canoemobile Crew spent five days on the mighty Ohio River partnering with the Camping and Education Foundation and Camp Kooch-i-ching and Ogichi Daa Kwe, our Minnesota neighbors.  Our first contact in the city was Melynda, who was our main go-to-gal for the week. During our first meeting at the Schmidt Field Boat Ramp in Cincinnati, we talked all about our six mile route which stopped in Kentucky for lunch and ended just a stones throw away from the Red’s stadium in downtown Cinci. We decided on timing plans for the next day and made our way to Terrace Park where we were scheduled to camp out in the backyard of Hank and Linda Brightwell.  We owe a huge, HUGE, thank you to both Hank and Linda for being so wonderfully generous and welcoming and letting us not only stay at their home, but for including us in Hank’s birthday celebration, feeding us delicious (and gluten free!) food and for making us feel a part of their family. We are so grateful!

Hank, Linda and the crew.

All of our days were spent on the Ohio River with 7^th-11^th graders from Gamble Montessori Middle and High School in Cincinnati. We were fortunate enough to start off each day with a hands-on demonstration from several great people from the Army Corps of Engineers who taught the kids about the importance of always wearing your lifejacket and how to rescue someone who has fallen in the water without theirs. “Reach, throw, row, don’t go!"

After landing for lunch in Kentucky, we began our programming for the afternoon provided by the generous and high quality volunteers from both Kooch-i-ching and Ogichi daa kwe. They shared with us their knowledge, skills and traditions around fire building, cooking and campsite set-up.  Campbell Jolly was our fire guru for the week, wowing us with her ability to effortlessly start a fire with a bow-drill in front of over forty 7^th graders! We also learned about Kooch-i-ching’s Wannigan and how to bake a Bannock in a reflector oven.

Bow-drill lessons with Campbell Jolly

Making dream catchers.

The giant bow-drill!

Gamble Montessori on the Ohio River.

Waiting for our ride to the country club in beautiful Kentucky.

Our final day on the Ohio was an eventful one. We had been having trouble with our van, Scarlet, for a few weeks and we had decided to take her into the shop on Wednesday afternoon to get her looked at. Well, thank goodness that Jimmy, Melynda's husband and Koochi-ching alum drives a truck because it turns out that Scarlet was in need of some serious TLC and was kept at the repair shop till much later than expected on Thursday night. As it turns out, Thursday night was also that night that Hank and all of our friends from Kooch-i-ching and Ogichi daa kwe were throwing a big fundraiser and party at Hank’s country club. The Canoe Crew, unfortunately had to miss almost all of the fun because of some silly transportation issues and GPS malfunctions. We got off the water at three in the afternoon and didn’t make it to the party until almost eight thirty!  However, we didn’t loose our spirits and are so grateful to Hank and the gang for allowing us to be part of your benefit and celebration.

 Camp people always make you feel right at home with them and our situation was no exception. From Melynda, to Libby, Hank, Steve and Campbell, we feel like we have a second family in all of you. The energy and heart you put into this event and the effort you put into recruiting kids into your program is inspiring. We are all moved by your commitment to your cause and how much spirit you all have.

A big thank you and salute to all the teachers and volunteers and students from Gamble Montessori, it was a joy to paddle your river with you.

A view of Cincinnati from Kentucky.

A paddle was given to each class from Gamble as a gift from the Camping and Education Foundation.

Thanks to Beth and Bob for an amazing chili dinner!

“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do no inherit the Earth from out ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
                                          –Ancient Indian Proverb