“It all began by happenstance…The trail was overgrown, littered with fallen boles, when I noticed a glimmering iridescence unlike anything I had seen before. I had stumbled upon on one of Minnesota’s most common orchid species, the stemless (pink) lady’s slipper, glimmering with rain drops…”
The sun casts its auburn spell on the red osier dogwood of a sedge meadow…we head to a bog that attracts many boreal winter birds to the area, particularly in Cook, Minnesota. Why do they come to the bog? How do they live here? What attracts birds to this habitat in northern Minnesota?
Rustic residency program provides time and support to find inspiration in the Ontario wilderness.
Photojournalist Ben Olson is fascinated by the owls of northern Minnesota. “While having spent countless hours in the company of these birds of prey, I am always impressed by their ability of silent flight and mastery of camouflage. Boreal forests host an array of different owl species, some relatively common, others rare, and a single transient species that is highly coveted…”
This bright and brilliant winter finch is a familiar sight to many in the northwoods of Minnesota, sometimes arriving in unexpected flocks of dozens or hundreds. But are they disappearing?
Photojournalist Ben Olson shares his trek to find Minnesota’s elusive lynx. “My obsession with Canada lynx stems from a series of unexpected events and chance encounters…”
A fall hike along the edge of the Boundary Waters. Ada Igoe shares one of her favorite trails, easily accessible from the Gunflint, on marked ski trails through aspen and jackpine to incredible vistas…
Chik-Wauk Museum invites visitors to learn about regional history and enjoy the natural surroundings.
“Some of my most unforgettable moments are sitting on the shores of a boreal forest lake on a calm night with no wind, watching the northern lights dance overhead while the haunting calls of loons echo across the water.”
Ely residents and visitors enjoy learning traditional crafts in a wilderness setting. Build a birch bark canoe, bake a traditional dish, sew a beaver hat, or explore night sky photography, classes connect to the past and to each other…
Deadline is March 31 to apply to live and work in the Ontario wilderness park at a rustic studio or travel by canoe.
The hardy souls that winter camp in the Boundary Waters and Quetico need to be as conscious of wilderness rules as their summer counterparts. Their reward: the freedom to explore corners of the wilderness that are inaccessible in any other season…
An essay contest for high school students seeks to encourage outdoor experiences and promote paddling to a new generation.
A collaboration between Wilderness Inquiry and youth advocacy group Ka Joog takes kids into the Boundary Waters to share new experiences…
Photographer reveals the role of people in wilderness, from cliff-rimmed lakes in Quetico to ancient trees in the Boundary Waters…
Minnesota author and printmaker create a children’s book with the northern forest as backdrop. Seriously beautiful, reflecting their deep connection to the northwoods and inspiring …
“By examining annual growth rings in increment cores taken from tree trunks, we found that many pines at this site were more than 250 years old. Distinct injuries recorded within their rings denoted the passage of multiple low-severity surface fires that damaged but did not kill many of these trees…”
Minneapolis entrepreneurship program takes group of women from immigrant community to the wilderness in search of canoe country’s unique challenges and rewards.
“Painting that blackened landscape really taught me how to find beauty in an otherwise not so beautiful environment. The shiny silver patterns on a charred tree or stump against a green back ground were fascinating to me….”
In July, five veterans of our US armed forces gathered to celebrate Independence Day in the BWCAW. The group had never met and most had never paddled before, but they were all ready to leave civilization behind to enjoy peace and serenity, and hopefully some good fishing.