Our Story

Meet the Johnson Family!

We are a family of four who love the outdoors and anything that will allow us to slow down and spend some time together, away from our crazy day-to-day.

Growing up both my wife and I came from families that love to camp. This carried forward into our adult years, and we are passing that love on to our children. We believe that kids will remember the adventures you went on, not the stuff you bought them. Looking back, for both of us, those family trips and laughter around the fire are what keep coming back. They are our fondest memories year after year.

For years, each time we went camping, it seemed as though our family and those around us would always be rushing to cook our meals, trying to get that out of the way and move on to the next thing. It could be a frustrating experience, trying to cook over an open fire. From grills that were off-kilter or weak, or ruining cast iron cookware by setting it directly on the fire, to the difficulty of getting the fire to burn like we wanted, camping cookouts were never as relaxing and enjoyable as we wanted.

Which brings us to "The Schenk"

We wanted to make it possible to cook comfortably and safely over an open fire, all the while still getting all the flavour we wanted in every part of the meal. We wanted the comfort and convenience of using our favourite cooking tools and pots and pans without worrying about ruining them. We wanted to take our time with cooking and enjoy every last moment of our adventure.

Meet "The Schenk"

At J.A. Schenk Co., we know how hard it is to buy quality time away as a family, either on the open road or on your favourite trail adventure. We've learned from experience that the last thing you want to do with your family time is to spend it fixing an important piece of camping equipment that decides to break or not work at all. Sometimes simpler is better.

Using tools to cook over an open fire is nothing new. What is new is the convenience of the Schenk. First and foremost a cooking tool, it is designed to be as useful and fundamental as the tongs, fork and other utensils in your barbecue set.

All of our steel products are laser-cut and hand-welded to offer a one-of-a-kind, durable kit that lasts for generations. The Wannigan box is made of pine from our local mill, using eco-friendly, sustainable harvesting techniques. We believe that by using our local community to build strong products, the end result is a product that builds strong communities. That is why the Schenk will always be built 100% locally sourced and made in Canada.

If your family is like our family, we invite you to come along with us as we demonstrate what it’s really like to taste the outdoors!