Nick Kourajian took his first trip to the Boundary Waters when he was in seventh grade, traveling with his father and some family friends, all of whom had been visiting the area regularly for more than two decades. The group paddled and portaged through strong headwinds, heavy rain and whitecaps to finally reach their first campsite, and the dinner they prepared upon reaching the shore still remains one of the most delicious meals Kourajian has ever had.

“I think challenging yourself to live with the bare necessities is a humbling experience that all young people should have, especially as smartphones and social media take over our everyday lives,” Kourajian said.  “Everything happens so quickly, with electronics and being plugged in 24/7, so it feels especially great to be outside in nature and to slow down.”

Kourajian’s love of the Boundary Waters has only grown since that day. An English and music major with minors in philosophy and nonprofit management, Kourajian wanted to seek out an internship that reflected his passion for nature and environmental conservation, and the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters seemed like the perfect fit.

The Campaign is an organization founded in 2013 by local residents of the Ely, Minnesota area with the goal of keeping sulfide-ore copper mining out of the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The Campaign has grown into a national coalition of nonprofit organizations and allies sharing the commitment of protecting this national treasure.

Kourajian’s role in the Campaign focuses on media and communications, like writing press releases, social media posts and editing blog posts, which do a lot to bring other people into the conversation and connect new supporters with sustaining supporters.

Kourajian mentioned his personal connection to the Boundary Waters, and said “I love the outdoors and am passionate about preserving wild places both for future generations and for their own sake.The opportunities for outdoor adventure that we have in Minnesota are one of my favorite things about living here!”

Kourajian has had the opportunity to help out on many projects through the Campaign and also do a lot of work on his own, which has allowed him to focus his skills and learn more about what he wants to do and where he wants to be after graduation.

Kourajian shared three main takeaway lessons that he’s learned so far with the Campaign: First, he was able to get informed and become more knowledgeable about the issue in question.

“I’ve learned a lot about mining and the economy of Ely, MN, where the copper-ore sulfide mines are being proposed. These mines are not a good move for Minnesota, and will interfere with the sustainable tourism economy of Ely and permanently destroy the Boundary Waters ecosystem.”

Second, Kourajian spoke about the importance of giving your all. “It sounds cheesy, but going beyond expectations really pays off!”

And third, “Take ownership of your work no matter what stage it’s at. I do a lot of first drafts that get criticized by others, but I’ve gotten more comfortable accepting criticism, working with different personalities, and explaining my intention behind what I’ve written. Criticism is never a bad thing if it’s given with the intention of helping someone make something better.”