The Team
Composed of six seasoned canoeists, this team crossed paths while working at one of the most premier wilderness tripping camps in North America and has since amassed over 1,500 days of canoe tripping during their 15 years as expedition leaders. Their passion for new wilderness challenges is surpassed only by a shared determination to instill that same excitement in others. Each member brings wilderness know-how, leadership skills, and above all, a devotion to share the magic of discovery and adventure with others in the same expeditionary manner that it was with them.
Roger Miller
Roger's connection with the outdoors began in 2008 on Deer Island at Camp Kooch-i-ching, where challenging canoe trips shaped his character. Transitioning from camper to staff, he rose to become the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Unit Leader. Since 2014, Roger has dedicated summers to ensuring campers on Deer Island have fulfilling experiences, encouraging them to discover and push their limits on wilderness trips. Beyond Kooch-i-ching, he served as a wilderness therapy field guide at Summit Achievement in New England, leading therapeutic wilderness trips, and later worked as an arborist tree climber in Minnesota. Currently residing in Salt Lake City, Utah, Roger appreciates the easy access to the outdoors and is pursuing a career with the SLC Fire Department.
Zak Armacost
In 2012, Zak's first summer at Camp Kooch-i-ching was transformative and fueled a profound connection with the outdoors, sparking a passion for exploration and hard work. His experience that summer, and the following summers through 2019, motivated him to relocate westward, embracing opportunities to backcountry ski and backpack across the American Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, and Utah. After graduating from Colorado College with a degree in Geology and a focus on environmental issues, Zak's love for the environment merged with his scientific interests and he engaged in environmental work in Peru with EcoSwell, contributing to sustainable energy projects, and then signed on as a Geologist with Stantec, leading field expeditions across the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and remote regions like Alaska's interior and peninsula. He is currently based in Seattle.
Trace Dunning
Trace was first introduced to the Northwoods via Camp Kooch-i-ching at the age of 10. In the following 16 years at the camp, he has led numerous canoe trips throughout Canada, eventually becoming a trip head in 2019. Certified in white-water training, wilderness first responder, lifeguarding, and CPR, Trace's experiences at Kooch-i-ching inspired him to work for the Urban Wilderness Program in Cincinnati, Ohio. Trace quickly worked up the ranks and now serves as the director of the Urban Wilderness Program and has overseen its substantial growth, reflecting his enduring respect for the outdoors and commitment to wilderness exploration. In the summers, Trace continues guiding canoe trips.
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Matt Collins
In 2011, Matt began his 11-year journey at Camp Kooch-i-ching, starting in the Intermediate age unit and immediately developed a deep connection to remote wilderness. Camp Kooch-i-ching instilled values of compassion, resilience, self-belief, and hard work. Matt evolved through various camp roles, ultimately excelling as the Evening Program leader. A Purdue University Film program graduate, he explored the impact of media on cognition and development, applying the ethos of volunteerism from Deer Island to assist communities in Massachusetts, Indiana, and Ohio. Currently in logistics, Matt oversees a significant budget and has forged partnerships with 30 American companies, showcasing problem-solving skills cultivated at Camp Kooch-i-ching, but still has a passion for film and is excited to document this expedition.
Kier Malloy
Kier's journey at Camp Kooch-i-ching began in 2009, and over the past 15 years, he has immersed himself in the beauty of the Northwoods, particularly Deer Island and the remote Canadian wilderness. The island profoundly influenced Malloy, instilling values of caring for others, resilience, self-belief, and the importance of hard work. Graduating with highest honors in journalism and business from the University of Missouri, Malloy is currently pursuing his MBA. He has translated the lessons of volunteerism and community from Deer Island to Missouri, engaging in numerous community service projects and environmental restoration trips.
Harry Shook
​Introduced to Camp Kooch-i-ching in 2010 as a ten-year-old camper, Harry developed a lasting connection to the outdoors and a passion for remote tripping. His summers on staff included leading canoeing and climbing trips, culminating in his role as a leader and trip guide of the Senior age unit in 2021. These experiences instilled in him the values of teamwork, perseverance, routine, and joy, guiding him beyond his time at Camp Kooch-i-ching. While pursuing cross country and track at Colgate University, he shifted his focus to becoming a student leader for Colgate’s Outdoor Education organization, leading outdoor classes and trips. Graduating with honors in English and German, Harry continued his passion for community and wilderness adventures as the Wilderness Adventure Curriculum Coordinator at Colgate, organizing pre-orientation trips for freshmen.