Women Exploring the Northwoods: an Interactive Experience

June 23-30. 2012

Introduction | Details & Tuition | Schedule | Registration | Course Leaders | Recommended Reading

Registration includes
Seven nights lodging, all curriculum costs, all entrance fees, canoe rental fees, local group transportation to course study sites, all meals starting with Saturday’s evening dinner through Saturday’s breakfast on departure day.

• Exception is Tuesday’s dinner, which will be on your own. You will enjoy a free evening of musical groups at a variety of restaurants and stores in Ely.

Tuition

• $1195.00/person with double occupancy
• $1695.00/person with private room
• $ 900.00/person for full curriculum and meals but no lodging

Early sign up offer:

Register and pay $300 confirmation deposit by May15 and receive $100 discount.

Additional expenses
Participants provide their own transportation to and from Ely, Minnesota, as well as Tuesday Night Live evening visit to Ely. Car-sharing with other participants is encouraged.

• Gratuity for lodging and serving staff as well as canoe guides is not included.

Lodging
Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge will be our home base during the week.  Located on a rocky peninsula on 3200-acre White Iron Lake, the serenity here in the towering pines will provide perfect backdrop to this week of learning. 
Most meals, lodging, and gatherings will be in the lodge built by polar explorer, Paul Schurke, and his polar clothing designer wife, Susan. You will also have ample opportunity to meet the resort’s other explorers…over 70 Inuit sled dogs! 

Payment and Cancellation Policy
A $300.00/person deposit is due at time of registration to confirm your participation and if before May 1, 2012. Final payment balance is due May 1, 2012.
Full tuition payment is due if registration is received after May 15.
There is no guarantee of a full refund for cancellation after May 15, unless your space can be filled by another participant.

Nearest airport
Airports  serving  the Ely area include Duluth, MN, approximately 100 miles away , a two hour drive time, from Ely. Also Hibbing/Chisholm, approximately 60 miles, about 75 minute drive time . The nearest large city with non-stop airport service to many destinations is Minneapolis/St Paul, approximately 5 hour drive time to Ely.

Area weather and clothing requirements
June average temperatures are a comfortable 46-73 degrees, but can rise into the 90s on occasion. Evenings cool off rather quickly due to the large number of area lakes.  Come prepared for wide fluctuations by dressing in layers for more comfort.  Mosquitoes and biting flies can be a nuisance, but using bug repellant, long sleeve shirts and a hat will make your experience more comfortable. Rainfall for June averages about 4 inches. So of course a good rain jacket and pants should be part of your gear.  We will make a number of outings that will require you to bring along rain gear, hat, insect repellent and use foot wear that can get wet as you will be using canoes and launching from shore without a dock..

Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters and Outdoor Store, our sponsor, along with other local stores in Ely carry many items catering to wilderness travelers and visitors.  Plan to arrive early in Ely if you plan to shop as there will be little free time during our course and our lodging is located over 10 miles out of town.

Insects and other pesty creatures: 
Late June is toward the end of tick season in the Northwoods. You will want to examine yourself each day for these pesty creatures. There are no venomous snakes in our study area. Black fly season is historically the middle two weeks of June. Over the past 5-8 seasons, flies have not been very noticeable.  However, having a head net readily available during outtings is advised. Better to have one and not use it than to need one and be pestered and uncomfortable.  Mosquito spring hatch should be on the decline by late June.  But be sure to bring along insect repellant just in case.

Physical Condition required:
Participants should be able to hike over uneven ground for up to 3 miles a day without discomfort and be able to be on their feet most of the day. We will be paddling Kevlar canoes and portaging between lakes on our day-long trip in to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). Basic paddling skills are all that is needed. You should be able to lift 45 pounds with assistance.  There will be no white water travel.

What to bring:

• Day pack – for carrying your lunch on the all-day canoe trip as well as personal items for wilderness travel
• Small flashlight with extra batteries
• Water bottle
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Sunglasses with glass band
• Broad rimed hat
• Head net – loosely fits over your hat and covers your face from insects
• Hiking boots or footwear preferred for forest trails.
• Boating or canoe footwear – your feet will get wet so footwear that is comfortable, that drain and dry readily is preferred. No open toe footwear, as you will be stepping into the water with rocky bottom.  Please do not bring “water socks” as they do not hold up to the terrain and activities we will cover.
• Daily change of socks
• Rain jacket and pants -  prefer this versus a poncho for staying dry
• Jacket, vest and/or coat for layering. Wind-block fleece jacket is an excellent choice
• Casual shoes or sandels for free time in the evenings
• Restroom facilities are down the hall from the bedrooms, so you may want to bring a robe and slippers  Bed linen is provided by our lodging host, guests must provide their own towels and soap
• All lodging includes shared use of the kitchen – keep in mind 3 meals are provided each day and is included in your registration fee. Only exception is Tuesday dinner on your own at a local restaurant.
• Comfortable casual clothing for relaxing at the Lodge, mealtime and indoor programming.
• Extra cash for shopping.  All costs for scheduled outings are included in your registration fee. We will be visiting several facilities which host gift shops if you desire to purchase a rememberance of your experience. Field guidebooks of local natural history are also available as well as artwork from several local artists.
• Binoculars for birding
• Hand lens for close-up observations
•  Cellular phones will most likely NOT work at the lodge. There is a land line available for guests to use. So be sure to bring a phone card for long distance calling. 
• Personal first-aid kit
• Camera in a watertight bag

Additional questions?  Contact  Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters at 800-950-2709 or 218-365-3149 or email info@elycanoetripos.com.

Thanks to our photgraphic partners for donating so many fine images. Check out more fine works at:

• http://www.rootriverphotography.com