A Legacy of Leadership- Camp Menogyn

Meghan Cosgrove

Camp Titles & Tenures

YMCA Camp Christmas Tree

• Camper, early 1980’s

YMCA Camp Warren

• Camper, 1987-1995
• Counselor, 1996-2001
• Director, 2005-2014

YMCA Camp Ihduhapi

• Team Building Instructor, 2001-2002 & 2014

YMCA Camps

• Philanthropy Director, 2015-2017

YMCA Camp Menogyn

BOLD & GOLD Program

• Executive Director, 2017-2024

What initially sparked your interest in Camp Menogyn?
In college, when I was a camp counselor at Camp Warren, we partnered with Menogyn to lead a Long Border Canoe trip. I never forgot how warm and welcoming the Menogyn staff were that summer. Once I became the director at Warren, I met even more amazing Menogyn community members because we all shared an office during the school year. When the Menogyn director position opened up in 2017, I jumped at the opportunity.

What’s one unique thing about your time at camp that not many people will know?
Outside of Menogyn, folks may not know that we had to cancel the final week of summer in 2021 because the Boundary Waters Canoe Area had multiple forest fires burning and closed for only the second time in its history (the other being 1976). We had campers out west on a backpacking trip that had to return to Ihduhapi because no one was left at Menogyn! It was heartbreaking to know so many campers lost out on the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Northwoods but, fortunately, many of them joined us in 2022.

What is one of your all-time favorite Menogyn memories?
There are too many to count! On a community level, I would say Thursday afternoons when groups paddled back into camp and the energy was palpable. On a personal note, I was alone at camp in December of 2023 when the ice was forming and it was such an incredibly unique experience to hear the belching of the ice as it expanded and contracted. I'm not skilled on ice skates but I jumped at the opportunity to experience the "wild ice" a few days later.

What is your hope for the future of Camp Menogyn and how do you plan to stay involved?
The future of Menogyn is so bright. The role of wilderness experiences is more important than ever, and I hope that Menogyn can continue to evolve to meet the needs of participants and staff but stay true to the core programs that offer such a needed respite for youth and families as they navigate this complicated world. And I'm not planning to stray too far. I think I'm still sore from helping haul building materials earlier this fall.

Forrest Ahrens

Camp Titles & Tenures

YMCA Camp St. Croix:

• Summer Camper, 2007
• Student Camper, 2010

YMCA Camp Menogyn:

• Summer Camper, 2012-2016
• Trail Guide, 2019-2022, culminating in a 41-day canoeing trip in the Canadian Arctic
• Program Director, 2022-2024
• Interim Executive Director, Summer 2024
• Executive Director, November 2024-present

What initially sparked your interest in Camp Menogyn?
I was initially drawn to Camp Menogyn because of its beautiful remote setting and the welcoming and joyful community.

Although my first eight-day trip with Menogyn was not an easy one, I completely fell in love with the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) during that trip. Even though I came home with plenty of bug bites and smelling like I hadn’t showered in a week (which I hadn’t), the dark skies illuminated by the Milky Way and long calls of loons at night echoed in my ears once I returned home and kept me coming back year after year.

The other thing that stood out to me as a young person at camp was the inclusive and empowering culture that radiated from the staff and more experienced campers. Every summer I returned to Menogyn, I was greeted with smiling faces and immediately invited to be part of whatever was going on at camp.

How did you end up in your current role? What was your journey getting there?
I really discovered my love of outdoor education and wilderness risk management while studying at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. During my undergraduate years, I was a volunteer trip leader and eventually the president of the Hoofer Outing Club which served to help students and community members of the Madison area get outside. Running the Outing Club while working as a Trail Guide at Menogyn in the summers was a natural progression for me to consider how I could further engage and support the operations of Camp Menogyn.

After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, I reflected on my passion for youth work and connecting people with the outdoors and changed my career path to focus on that mission driven work. That transition happened to align with the Program Director position at Menogyn opening up, and I began that role shortly after. In that work, I found an even deeper dedication to the mission of Menogyn and am excited to continue that work with a new lens of leadership as the Executive Director.

What’s one unique thing about your time at camp that not many people will know?
One of the most unique things I have experienced while working at Menogyn, was guiding groups in the summer of 2021 when the Canadian border was still closed to travel, and we could not go to our typical destinations. That summer, I got to lead a 30-day Nor’wester canoeing trip that would have normally travelled to Ontario or Manitoba. However, with the restrictions that were in place, our group got to spend almost an entire month paddling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and connect with the lakes that are in Menogyn’s backyard. It was an incredible opportunity to appreciate the beauty and history of Minnesota while adapting to the world around us.

What is one of your all-time favorite camp memories?
Every time I watch groups paddle back into the Menogyn bay after their trips it reminds me of the first summer I led at camp. The best memories I have are watching campers grow from the timid arrival at Menogyn to a confident return from their trips. Although I no longer directly get to be part of that transformation, I love to see the impact our seasonal staff have as groups return. 

What is your hope for the future of Menogyn and what are you most looking forward to in your role as ED?
My hope for the future of Menogyn is that we can continue to provide high-quality wilderness experiences to the families and campers who engage in our programs while adapting to the changing world and evolving needs of those we serve. I also hope to continue our efforts to make Menogyn an inclusive and welcoming environment where all young people—regardless of their background—can experience the transformative power of the wilderness.

I look forward to working alongside a passionate team of staff, volunteers, and partners to continue expanding the reach and impact of our programs while engaging in camp life and being part of many more campfire skits!