For more than forty years, J P Endres directed a camp in northern Minnesota. There, he taught generations of youngsters the value of nature, the importance of working together, and the joys that can come from a life lead with purpose and meaning. Here are reflections from his life as a camp director, a father, a son, a husband, an educator, and a man for whom love of wilderness shaped a career. Portage from the Past is part adventure story, part exploration of the importance of nature in our lives, and part reflection on helping young people grow into adults.