From the Great Central Fire, hosted by alum Jeff Coleman, is a series of conversations about what makes Camp Kooch-i-ching and its sister camp, Ogichi Daa Kwe, such special places to spend the summer.
Jeff Patterson and his daughter, Tory, join Jeff on From the Great Central Fire to reflect on their family’s camp legacy and the traditions that endure as camp evolves.
Jeff shares how he found Koochiching in 1960, memories of camp’s early transformations, and stories from demanding canoe trips, including the 1965 Albany River expedition. Tory recalls paddling on Ogichi’s inaugural girls trip, wrapping a canoe, and watching the program grow from a small group into a thriving camp, with her former campers Grace and Meredith eventually becoming directors!
Along the way, they discuss George Simmons’s lasting influence, the purchase and (crazy) cleanup of Rainy Lake Lodge, and the family connections that span generations. At the heart of their conversation is a shared belief in what canoe trips offer: a chance to unplug, build lasting relationships, and discover resilience by working through challenges together.
Presented by the Camping & Education Foundation
Music by Alice Peacock. Produced by Unbridled Media.
2 Oct 2026
Jack & Susie Wadsworth
In this episode Jack and Susie Wadsworth reflect on a life shaped in part by Camp Kooch-i-ching. They share their roots in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, where they met in seventh grade, and recall marrying after Jack’s graduation from Williams College before spending their honeymoon at Koochiching in 1961, where Susie worked in the camp office.
Jack talks about first discovering Kooch in 1953 and the lasting influence camp had on how he approached challenges, teamwork, and leadership throughout his career. Susie describes arriving with little outdoor experience of her own and gradually developing a deep appreciation for wilderness and adventure.
Together, they look back on an extraordinary series of far-north canoe expeditions. They discuss the importance of group chemistry, the demands of extended wilderness travel, and memorable trip companions including Tad and Nancy Schroeder.
Their conversation ranges well beyond camp, touching on raising their children, later years living in Japan and Hong Kong, and their passion for collecting Japanese prints, Chinese ink paintings, and Inuit carvings. They also reflect on Koochiching’s philosophy and traditions, the evolution toward coeducation, and influential camp figures including John Holden and Ernest Oberholtzer.
Presented by the Camping & Education Foundation.
Music by Alice Peacock. Produced by Unbridled Media.
18 Sept 2026
Kate Downey
On a perfect summer afternoon on Rainy Lake, Jeff sits down with longtime camp mom and staffer Kate Downey to talk about what happens when camp becomes part of your family’s DNA.
Kate and her husband, Tim, have spent years at camp, and Kate has done a little bit of everything along the way, from the food room and laundry to nearly a decade behind the camera as camp photographer.
Now with three campers, Kate has seen camp from just about every angle. She and Jeff talk about the hard trips, homesickness, friendships back home, emotional returns to the dock, and the strange experience of sending your kids into the wilderness and then hearing…nothing.
It’s a conversation about letting go, growing up, getting uncomfortable, and why sometimes the best update a camp parent can get is no update at all.
Presented by the Camping & Education Foundation.
Music by Alice Peacock. Produced by Unbridled Media.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
16 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
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