The Highlands Archives Since 1904: Oldest Camp West of the Alleghenies
 
Rangers
 
 The CH Ranger program was started in 1963 by Otis Vaughan. The original purpose was to shape young staff members into great outdoorsmen. Eventually the Rangers evolved into an alternative for the oldest campers. Otis ran the program until mid-season ’68 when he had to hand the baton off to Steve Akre due to knee surgery. Two time Ranger Mike Moen was lined up to take over in 1969, but had injured his back canoe racing, so Kent Overbey stepped in and ran with the program. Kent expanded trips beyond the region, to the American and Canadian Rockies. The program lasted through the summer of 1977, when Kent finally married and started a family with his lovely wife Debbie. Trips were weeks long and oftentimes ultra challenging. The Rangers were in camp typically only for special events, such as the 4th of July Track Meet, Camp Birthday and final Banquet. The rest of the time, the Rangers were off tramping, paddling, climbing, repelling, and generally living the wild life. Kent Overbey, in his eight summers as head of the program, was ‘The Man’; having been in the Peace Corp in Iran, Kent was (and is!) the perfect guy to join on a long adventure! Answering Peter Drucker’s question “What is your purpose?”, Mike Bachmann concluded we ought to keep tripping in the Northwoods/Lake Superior Region, and with Kent on the sidelines raising babies, the program drew to a close. Those lucky few to have been a part of the Rangers will tell you being a Highlands Ranger was an AWESOME time! And with Kent still with us in Cub Row, the stories aren’t far away! Kent is also a member of the Highlands Hall of Fame. Here’s to you Kent - this page is for you. (Experience more of Kent Overbey in the book On Mike - A True Highlands Man.)  This page features the photographs of Otis Vaughan, Mike Moen, and Kent Overbey (and a few of their Rangers taking the camera, as above). Here we see Kent Overbey atop Mount Buck in the Tetons. No, he didn’t take a helecopter. Highlands Trippers can do anything they set their minds to! If you will, you can! http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1503519shapeimage_3_link_0