On our second year of offering YMCA Camp Menogyn Bold and Gold Program, we received an enthusiastic response from our young Chinese American youths.  With funding from the Stanley and Marvel Chong Foundation, we sent another 18 students to the BWCA this year.

Here is the report from one of our participants, TingTing Wang.

I want to share my incredible experience from this past summer at Camp Menogyn’s one-week wilderness canoe trip in the Boundary Waters. First and foremost, I’d like to express my gratitude to the Chinese Heritage Foundation for providing us with this amazing opportunity. It was the most unforgettable summer camp experience I’ve ever had.

My week at Camp Menogyn was really fun and adventurous. I learned the art of canoeing, essential navigation skills, and even learned how to interpret the weather. For example, I learned how to determine if a thunderstorm is approaching by counting the seconds between each thunder and lightning. Our trip was guided by two amazing leaders who made every moment exciting and educational.

When we arrived at the base camp, the group guides entertained us with skits and called out their groups in the process. We set up our things in the cabins and began packing for the trip. The following day, we set out on our canoes, taking a short van ride to Ham Lake. I learned how to carry a canoe on my shoulders, something I never thought I could do. We canoed across Ham Lake, and did a portage, which is where we carry all our gear and canoes across a stretch of land. Then we return everything to the water before canoeing to the next portage. After several portages and canoeing, we settled in a campsite for the day.

The remainder of the week followed a similar pattern, including swimming in the lakes. The friendship I built with the six girls who were in my group was truly special, and I wish the trip had lasted longer. Being away from technology and just enjoying the beauty of nature was something I didn’t know I needed. We even did something called trail time where we do everything based on our natural body rhythm. No one had watches, and we slept when we felt like it was time. It showed us how our instinctive wake up and bedtime is just based on sunrise and sunset. Camp Menogyn is an experience that words can’t do justice, and I encourage everyone to try it out.