Becoming a Boundary Waters Family

Becoming a Boundary Waters Family ©

Memories, stories and good family fun are what we are all about. Our goal is to take the mystery out of camping in the BWCAW. Not everyone grew up camping and paddling in the Boundary Waters but with a little help, we believe everyone is capable of having a great experience. Spend healthy, quality time with your kids. Leave the distractions behind and enjoy making memories this summer in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota.

The outfitters of the Gunflint Trail Association have put together a program of informational materials, seminars and a bit of extra help so that kids and parents can feel comfortable in the woods.

Find out how you can Become A Boundary Waters Family this summer and start making memories.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is located in northern Minnesota. You will travel the North Shore of Lake Superior to Grand Marais and from there travel up our favorite route to the BWCA - the Gunflint Trail.

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HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Becoming a Boundary Waters family is now a book! Get your woods wisdom from the Gunflint Trail Outfitters.

Table of Contents

Sample Chapter

Click to order your copy

Outfitter Seminar Schedule Map of Gunflint Trail Outfitters - Printable Schedule Dates of Seminars: Tuesdays: June 16, June 23, June 30, July 7, July 14th Please note that the USDA Forest Service Ranger Presentations are available every Tuesday through August 18th. Seminars are offered at no cost and are approximately 1 hour long (unless otherwise noted).
10am	Seagull Outfitters	BWCA Boot Camp Wanna Sleep in a Tent? Join the staff of Seagull Canoe Outfitters as they take you through the basics of camping overnight in the Boundary Waters. Topics include campsite and tent selection, water filtration, in camp hygiene and the insiders guide to additional tricks and tips.
10am	Boundary Country Trekking	Canoe Culture: from Dugout to Kevlar Ted Young, Boundary Country Trekking owner will trace the 10,000 years of evolution of the canoe within the Canadian Shield. Along the way he will demonstrate the connect between the land of the birch tree, the natural waterways of mid North America, the natives that first inhabited this vast region to the development of today’s canoe and many of the Boundary Water’s canoe routes used today.
10am	Way of the Wilderness	Finding Your Way in the Woods Navigating through the BWCA.
11am	Voyageur Canoe Outfitters	Here, Fishy Fishy Family fishing from a canoe
11am	Rockwood Lodge & Outfitters & Norwester Lodge & Outfitters (Meet at Norwester)	Paddle and Lunch Seminar Half day excursion, paddle, set up camp, fix a trail lunch. Please call 800-992-4386 to reserve a seat in a canoe.
11am	Clearwater Lodge & Outfitters	Getting Your Feet Wet Get out and go for a paddle on Clearwater Lake. We will guide up to 8 people on a canoe trip down one mile on Clearwater Lake to the magnificent palisades. Then take a 40 minute hike up the palisades to a wonderful overlook. You can see into Canada from the overlook and in July you can pick some wild blueberries. Due to the limited number we can take on one permit, you should reserve your spot in advance by calling 218-388-2254. Allow 4 hours for the entire trip and the canoe trip will start at 11:00 AM. You might want to pack some snacks to bring along.
2pm	Tuscarora Lodge & Outfitters	Paddling and Portaging Basics Learn about the different kinds of canoes available. Practice portaging and paddling safely from the shores of Round Lake.
4pm	Hungry Jack Outfitters	Woods Wisdom Tips, tricks and, Leave No Trace camping and insider know-how to make your trip better Take your Boundary Waters camping skills to the next level. Learn some tricks to make your trip easier, safer and more fun. We'll look at some basic safety issues and common mistakes. Keep the area beautiful and learn about Leave No Trace camping and how you can have lighter hand on the land. You'll also have a chance to ask questions and learn about other camping skills you want to know more about.
4pm	Rotating Sites Schedule June 16 Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters June 23 Tuscarora Lodge & Outfitters June 30 Seagull Guard Station July 7 Rockwood Lodge & Outfitters July 14 Tuscarora Lodge & Outfitters July 21 Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters July 28 Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters August 4 Voyageur Canoe Outfitters August 11 Tuscarora Lodge & Outfitters August 18 Voyageur Canoe Outfitters	USDA Forest Service Ranger Talk June 16 Stop Look and Listen, before it's too late While the flowers last and before the singing stops, let’s find some spring ephemerals and birds on territory. Join wilderness rangers Brandee Wenzel and Ellen Hawkins. June 23 Hot relationships Steve Robertsen, Forest naturalist, discusses some ways forest fires influence plants and animals. June 30 Becoming a Wilderness Family: An historical perspective of Human Occupation in Northeastern Minnesota Take a journey with Forest Archeologist Lee Johnson through the rich history of human-environmental interaction in the BWCAW over the last 10, 000 years. Topics will include human land-use patterns and the resulting environmental effects of successive Native American, Fur Trade, homesteading, mining, logging, and resort eras. July 7 Wildlife, Adventure, Solitude Wilderness rangers from both sides of the border reminisce about their decades in the wilderness. Cathy Quinn, Janice Matichuk, Rick Brandenburg and Ellen Hawkins. July 14 Happy 100th! As Superior National Forest and Quetico Provincial Park celebrate their centennials, take a look at some place marks on their time lines that are of importance to the Quetico-Superior. Tom Kaffine, BWCAW Logisitcs Coordinator, Steve Robertsen, and others July 21 Weird and Wild Adventures Wilderness rangers share some experiences and answer your questions – Ryan Blaisdell, Dan Disch, Tammy Cefalu, Ellen Hawkins. July 28 Becoming a Wilderness Family: An historical perspective of Human Occupation in Northeastern Minnesota Take a journey with Forest Archeologist Lee Johnson through the rich history of human-environmental interaction in the BWCAW over the last 10, 000 years. Topics will include human land-use patterns and the resulting environmental effects of successive Native American, Fur Trade, homesteading, mining, logging, and resort eras. Aug 4 Boundary Waters Families Like Clean Air and Water! Trent Wickman, Superior National Forest Air Quality Specialist answers some questions: What good is clean air and water? Are Boundary Waters air and waters clean? How does wilderness provide clean air and waters to all of us? What about mercury in fish? How can I help keep wilderness air and waters clean? August 11 Happy 100th! As Superior National Forest and Quetico Provincial Park celebrate their centennials, take a look at some place marks on their time lines that are of importance to the Quetico-Superior. Tom Kaffine, BWCAW Logisitcs Coordinator, Steve Robertsen, and others August 18 Who Lurks Beneath the Surface? Steve Robertsen guides an investigation of aquatic invertebrates, plus otters, beavers, loons and fish.
7pm	Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters	The Life of a Voyageur Did you know that the Voyageurs paddled right through Gunflint Lake, and along much of the U.S./Canadian Border? Learn who these adventurers were, and what their lives were like centuries ago. Join John Silliman the head naturalist at Gunflint Lodge as he plays the role of the Voyageur who has traveled through this area.
7pm	Rotating Sites Schedule June 16 Boundary Country Trekking June 23 Clearwater Lodge & Outfitters June 30 Norwester Lodge & Outfitters July 7 Voyageur Canoe Outfitters July 14 Hungry Jack Outfitters July 21 Boundary Country Trekking July 28 Clearwater Lodge & Outfitters August 4 Hungry Jack Outfitters August 11 Rockwood Lodge & Outfitters August 18 Norwester Lodge & Outfitters	USDA Forest Service Ranger Talk June 16 Stop Look and Listen, before it's too late While the flowers last and before the singing stops, let’s find some spring ephemerals and birds on territory. Join wilderness rangers Brandee Wenzel and Ellen Hawkins. June 23 Hot relationships Steve Robertsen, Forest naturalist, discusses some ways forest fires influence plants and animals. June 30 Becoming a Wilderness Family: An historical perspective of Human Occupation in Northeastern Minnesota Take a journey with Forest Archeologist Lee Johnson through the rich history of human-environmental interaction in the BWCAW over the last 10, 000 years. Topics will include human land-use patterns and the resulting environmental effects of successive Native American, Fur Trade, homesteading, mining, logging, and resort eras. July 7 Wildlife, Adventure, Solitude Wilderness rangers from both sides of the border reminisce about their decades in the wilderness. Cathy Quinn, Janice Matichuk, Rick Brandenburg and Ellen Hawkins. July 14 Happy 100th! As Superior National Forest and Quetico Provincial Park celebrate their centennials, take a look at some place marks on their time lines that are of importance to the Quetico-Superior. Tom Kaffine, BWCAW Logisitcs Coordinator, Steve Robertsen, and others July 21 Weird and Wild Adventures Wilderness rangers share some experiences and answer your questions – Ryan Blaisdell, Dan Disch, Tammy Cefalu, Ellen Hawkins. July 28 Becoming a Wilderness Family: An historical perspective of Human Occupation in Northeastern Minnesota Take a journey with Forest Archeologist Lee Johnson through the rich history of human-environmental interaction in the BWCAW over the last 10, 000 years. Topics will include human land-use patterns and the resulting environmental effects of successive Native American, Fur Trade, homesteading, mining, logging, and resort eras. August 4 Boundary Waters Families Like Clean Air and Water! Trent Wickman, Superior National Forest Air Quality Specialist answers some questions: What good is clean air and water? Are Boundary Waters air and waters clean? How does wilderness provide clean air and waters to all of us? What about mercury in fish? How can I help keep wilderness air and waters clean? August 11 Happy 100th! As Superior National Forest and Quetico Provincial Park celebrate their centennials, take a look at some place marks on their time lines that are of importance to the Quetico-Superior. Tom Kaffine, BWCAW Logisitcs Coordinator, Steve Robertsen, and others August 18 Who Lurks Beneath the Surface? Steve Robertsen guides an investigation of aquatic invertebrates, plus otters, beavers, loons and fish.

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Sponsored by the Gunflint Trail Association and the Cook County Events & Visitors Bureau in partnership with the USDA Forest Service
Kids Links: Smokey Bear's Get Your Smokey On -- Living with Wildlife
Original artwork by Kelly Dupre

Becoming a Boundary Waters Family ©

Outfitter Seminar Schedule