Church youth camp in bush Alaska
#7641445
08/03/22 03:49 PM
08/03/22 03:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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A man that comes to church offered to let the youth that attend use his native allotment land for a camp 3 years ago. It is 45 miles downriver by boat. After accumulating some wall tents, modifying the church boat (Replaces the Lower 48 church bus out here in the bush.) To keep the youger kids and women folk out of the elements, among other preparations the last two years, and getting enough camping gear together, we made a test run this year. Some friends of mine from Texas helped clear land. They were like having a manually powered bulldozer, their labor was much appreciated. Once you walked in from the river about 30 yards, it went from a tangle of young willows to an older willow grove, with the older trees about 10 feet or so apart, and mostly tall grass and plants between them. I was told by an elder it was some of the first willows to grow in that part of the river about 30 to 40 years ago. Pretty easy clearing for Alaska.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641463
08/03/22 04:07 PM
08/03/22 04:07 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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After clearing enough land for some tents and a small feild for games (No cell phones allowed for the kids, no reception anyway, and we didn't go there to play downloaded games or videos!), we set up a 14x16 Alaska Tent and Tarp wall tent a family in the village of Bethel purchased for the girls and ladies to use, we named it the Taj Mahal, had two ladies and 10 girls in there, could easily have fit a few more, it was very spacious. Set up my six man Cabelas Guide tent and my trapping partner's and my 10×12 old Alaska Tent and Tarp wall tent we use on our marten line for the men and boys, had 2 men and 4 boys in each one. A 79 year old sourdough, who's lived in various and sundry villages around Alaska, and can still outwork men 1/4 his age, set up his own pup tent a ways off, due to snoring like a grizzly, which was appreciated.
Last edited by FL cracker in AK; 08/03/22 04:11 PM.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641465
08/03/22 04:09 PM
08/03/22 04:09 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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Yes, I kept telling the fellers from Texas they weren't getting the real Alaskan experience, I never saw a noseeum or whitesox the whole week we were there, worked in a t shirt half the time, and never put bug dope or headnets on once.
Last edited by FL cracker in AK; 08/03/22 05:02 PM.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641474
08/03/22 04:17 PM
08/03/22 04:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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We did one 90 mile round trip to clear land, came back to the village and washed and rested up over the weekend, and then did two trips downriver to get everyone there. After camp was over, took two trips to get everyone back, and another trip to get the camp gear. My Garmin Inreach said 540 miles total on the river. No boat trouble, thank God.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641479
08/03/22 04:22 PM
08/03/22 04:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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The 26 foot SeaArk with flotation pods welded on the stern did a good job hauling kids and supplies, with the removable cabin bolted on, it sure did go slower than normal, glad I don't have it on there all the time, but it served it's purpose. If I had had more time, I could have taken 32 kids, but just didn't have the time to haul them, will have to get another church boat before next year.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641490
08/03/22 04:31 PM
08/03/22 04:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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Used an old 55 gallon drum we found washed up on shore for a pulpit. Notice the old 12 Gauge leaned up against the tree beside it... have to be ready for bears. Had a paramedic friend of mine from a church in Bethel fly over in case of accidents, thankfully no one got seriously hurt during all of the feild games we played. He is preaching one of the devotions here.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641495
08/03/22 04:39 PM
08/03/22 04:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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We had a good camp, 7 kids received Christ as Saviour, all took a break from electronics, played a ton of old fashioned feild games, the old sour dough was a walking library to show the kids edible and medicinal plants, how to use plants for soap, toothbrushes, seasoning, etc. Berry picking was phenomenal on the way back from camp. Praise God.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641505
08/03/22 04:50 PM
08/03/22 04:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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All meals were cooked over the fire but one, that one was BBQ burgers on a grill.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641574
08/03/22 07:02 PM
08/03/22 07:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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We made a wall of brush between the camp and each latrine, just can't see it in the picture.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641621
08/03/22 08:53 PM
08/03/22 08:53 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117 AK
FL cracker in AK
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When I was a kid, I didn't have much encouragement from adults to have good clean fun till I was 15, want to make sure the kids God puts in my life have a different experience than I did. I take a lot of the boys out fishing, hunting, and trapping with my son. My wife does a lot with the girls, like berry picking and different arts.
Psalm 34:6
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Re: Church youth camp in bush Alaska
[Re: FL cracker in AK]
#7641697
08/03/22 10:41 PM
08/03/22 10:41 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,652 ND
MJM
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When I was at Galena I hauled a 55 gal drum of gas, to youth Bible Camp at the Kokrine Hills. It was an all day run. It seems like it was 110 miles. Ruby was not quite half way. I was in a 16 foot V hull with a 30 hp motor. I didn't break any speed records. It was just after ice out and there was a thick stream of wood headed down stream. Crossing it was hard at time to stay in the main channel. We spent one night and headed back to Galena. Looks like you had a great trip to me.
"Not Really, Not Really" Mark J Monti "MJM you're a jerk."
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