KAMP KIMCHEE HISTORY
Founder - Mary Steffenson - 2005

Kamp Kimchee history

In some ways, Kamp Kimchee got its start with the arrival of several "older children" to the Brainerd area in 1978. There were a dozen or so children who all joined families about the same time, and these kids were taken under the wing of Esther Kim, who with her MD husband were Korean natives.  She not only prepared food they were accustomed to, taught them (again) their folk songs common to Korean children, and by the end of the first year, had also introduced them to some folk dances.  The group was known as Saet Byul (Morning star) and met at least once a month, and was joined by several children that lived a distance from Brainerd.  Three of these families, Otterstad, Reagan and Steffenson, enrolled their children in the Minneapolis Korean Culture camp in 1979.  The children enjoyed the time there, but as parents, we were frustrated as there were absolutely no materials to take home in reference to what they had learned during the week.  However, we again enrolled them in 1980, only to be eliminated as the staff in MPS had everyone send in registration the same day, and being out-state, we were not able to get in.  This did not sit well with any of us!!!  And we decided to react!  We would have our own camp, and do it the way we felt was important to our children.

A second happening that summer made a great impression on our family.  While camping at Cass Lake, we met a family from International Falls with 2 young Korean adoptee.  We discovered, as we got to know the family, that this was the first time their girls had had contact with another Korean born person.  Our girls spent part of the week teaching them songs, etc. and we learned that there was a great need for not only a accessible Korean Culture camp, but one that would address the needs of children from rural Minnesota, kids who had no other Korean person to identify with, as well as children who were often the only "person of color" in their community.

As this group of rebellious parents planned and discussed what they wanted from their camp experience, we knew it had to be geared to the rural child who does not have the resources that are available in the twin cities for cultural enrichment.  That winter, we contacted the Korean Institute of MN for guidance, and they were enthusiastic and very helpful.  YoonJu Park had just become director, and acted as a resource, and supporter.  With her help, that of Esther Kim and the combined efforts of the Saet Byul parents ( Otterstads, Reagans, Petersons, and several others) we planned a long weekend camp here in Brainerd.  Park United Methodist Church offered their facilities (free) for the camp,  YoonJu Park secured staff from KIM and the New Brighten Korean Methodist Church, we had rummage sales (and held our breathe that we would break even financially); and advertised mostly thru the OURS magazine (organization for adoptive families) and at their annual campout.  To make the funds available go further, several families housed the staff.  Esther Kim and YoonJu Park helped us have some printed materials of language, customs and music for the children to take home.  Franklin Jr High provided the printing facility for that first year, and the family from International Falls, Hauges provided paper for the camp for at least a dozen years.  Mary Steffenson was director.  Most of the families camped at Crow Wing Lake Campground that year.

As we planned the program for the camp, we felt there was a great need for the campers, as well as their families, to become familiar with the culture, language (oral and written), music and art forms of Korea, and in learning of this proud heritage, the kids (and family members) would be better equipped to deal with feelings of inadequacy, inferiority and dealing with being the only Asian in their community.  We wanted them to feel proud of the heritage, so the emphasis was there.  (In later years, this has been downplayed.)  We also wanted a forum for the parents to be able to discuss their frustrations, joys, problems and hopes as they raised a multicultural family.  We also wanted non-Korean siblings to understand better their siblings feelings and frustrations----and the fact they were suddenly in the minority was a good object lesson.

We wanted our camp to be a family affair, with the parents, and non-Korean siblings involved.  Many of our Kimchee parents were classroom teachers, and they were "in charge" of an age-graded classroom, and to best use of our staff, we had them go to the kids, sometimes combining classrooms for some classes.  Other parents took charge of the kitchen, janitorial services and recreation.  The last day, a Sunday, the children sang for the congregation of PUMC, before taking part in a "Holiday meal" and a demonstration of their accomplishments of the week.  This was done at Crow Wing State Park, as the church was tied up for the afternoon.  The  appox. 60 campers, and their families, that were at the first camp were enthusiastic about doing it again the following year.  We elected a governing board, who agreed to meet in Alexandria in January, (it was a central location for board members.)

As the governing board planned for coming years, we decided to extend the days of the camp; going to a Tuesday-Saturday format, then as resort "weeks" changed, we went to Monday-Friday to make it easier to find accommodations.  As the years passed, the staff grew as did the number of families, with new families joining the core group from the first year.  Outstate families who were among the first campers, and returned until their children were out of high school included:  Hauge (International Falls), Hellies (Sauk Center), McNamaar (Elbow Lake), Dahlman (Onamia, later Anoka), Maday (Fairmont), Milo (Baxter-Pequot Lakes), nelson (Ashby), Schellito (Alexandria), Swenson (Wadena now Wisc.)......these, with local families, were the founding families.

The second (or possibly third year) it was decided to have a store.  The first store had some OURS merchandise, and a few Korean trinkets.  Larry and Evonne Shellito took it over, and the store grew by leaps and bounds, and took in a good amount of money!  When they added Korean snack foods, it became even more profitable and popular.  Another great addition to the camp was the year that John Faith took over the kitchen and food preparation.  He was both unphased by quantity foods, but also willing and eager to learn to "cook Korean style", and at this time the food became much better and more authentic.

After about 5-6 years, the camp had grown to the point that PUMC was bursting at the seams;  the classes spilled out into Gregory Park for TaeKwanDo, and the teen class ended up at the Congregational church for a couple years.  (The church could accommodate about 120 kids and families)  By the time that the Steffenson kids were out of school, and Kathi Hefti took over the leadership, we were at a point where we needed a bigger facility and Baxter Elem. School became the site of the Kamp most years.

(This is a history of the first about 12 years.....who would have thought in 1981, that it would be still going in a new century. For the later years, visit with Kathi Hefti  (hefti3@charter.net ).

If there are further questions, or something needs clarifying, e-mail me.  It would be fun to have a "silver anniversary" of Kamp.  This is something that the "first families" have talked about.