Adam Baxter's Summer
Northern Tier National High Adventure
Pictures
Pictures - 2009
First Summer
Returning years
Atikokan
In June 2006, my brother, Mark Baxter and I arrived in Atikokan Ontario for the first time. We were blown away by how remote the town was, and by the fact that there were less than 4000 people who lived here. Atikokan is a small town based around the tourism of canoe trips, camping, and the forestry industry. Both my brother and I had been hired by the Boy Scouts of America to serve in the kitchen in one of their National High Adventure bases, Northern Tier. Here, boy scouts from around the United States would travel north to test their camping and leadership skills. They would go on canoe trips where they aimed to travel 50 to even 100 miles in a trip lasting 5 to 10 days and nights.
The Atikokan base was one of three bases or starting locations for the boy scouts to begin their camping experiences. Every day, troops of boy scouts would arrive for their first day, prepare for their wilderness trip, and leave the next. Also Troops would return to the base from the trips into the wilderness. It was our job to help prepare the meals for the hungry boys. We would usually serve close to 100 people each meal.
Northern Tier
Souris River Canoes
Local Canoe Manufacturer
Both my brother and I returned to Atikokan for the next two summers. In 2007 I returned to the same job as a kitchen assistant. In 2008 I was interested in the more demanding job of an interpreter. The interpreter was an important part of the boy scouts trip. They were a guide to the advisors and boy scouts and were trained to read the weather, the landscape, understand maps, prepare food, and keep the campers safe while out in the wilderness. This job was very physically demanding. An interpreter was likely to go on five to six camping trips during the summer. Each trip was a mix of canoeing, portaging, lifting heavy packs, and constantly looking out for the safety of the boy scouts. The weather was always changing from summer lightning storms, to warm sunny days, to very chilly and overcast. In the end though, I was able to meet many new people, boy scouts, and advisors, from all over the country. I have witnessed one of the most pristine preserves of North American wilderness, and was able to live in it for over a month.
The land to the north of Atikokan is considered "Crown Land". This land is open to public use, to fish and for recreation. Motor boats are allowed in this area and regular lake fishing laws are enforced. To the south there is one of the most pristine preserves of land in all of North America. The Quetico Provincial Park is a gem of preserved Canadian and American wilderness. Its lakes and waterways once gave way to the North American fur trade. Now it is primarily a tourist hot spot for canoe enthusiasts and wilderness lovers alike.
Any Questions?
Click the above link to email me.
Thank you!
Adam Baxter
Click the above link to email me.
Thank you!
Adam Baxter
Graphic by:
www.gif-bilder.de
