This Is How We Remember
- Adeline Minett
- 49 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Warm sunlight and a brilliant blue graced the skies of November 23rd, 2025. Over twenty attendees made their march through the woods of Camp Wakonda towards the climbing wall, affectionately known as Howie, who was destined to be put to rest.
Friendly chatter blessed the walk. These were people connected by God and Camp Wakonda, joining together to bid farewell to a beloved camp monument. Twelve previous summer camp staff were present, but as a 26-year-old, Howie was the oldest.
Longest standing Rock Wall Director, Caden Minett, says. “When I was a Junior Camper, I didn’t make it above the doors. When I was a teen camper, I also didn’t make it above the doors. It wasn’t until I worked here at camp that I climbed the whole thing.” His favorite memories as Director are the thrills.
Cameron Krawczyk says, “In the five summers I’ve been working here, I’ve been able to conquer it and help kids conquer it.”
“You might be hot and sweaty, but the air at the top cools you right off. It’s super satisfying,” says Arthur Payne.
Within the wall’s shed are the names of past climbing wall staff, the furthest dating back to 2003. Funny and inspirational quotes are written upon the wood as well, reminding this year’s camp staff that they’re not that different from the young adults of years ago.
(Note: scroll through the thumbnails below for extensive documentation of everything written inside of the shed over the years)
Hymns were sung, prayers were prayed, and many pictures were taken to commemorate this wall’s last stand. A few tears were shed at the celebration of life, but most importantly, the smiles were never ceasing. Although Howie is an inanimate object without a soul, children have enjoyed many years of climbing the wall and I imagine that makes God smile too.
Howie will not be dismantled until this coming spring, and various ideas are being brainstormed for how to best re-purpose the materials that are usable. Stay tuned for more updates on that. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these photos and the memories from Howie's years of service.
