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Wisconsin

Gems of the Northwoods: Hike & Canoe Michigan & Wisconsin

Program No. 24634RJ

Hike and canoe through northern Wisconsin and Michigan as you go off the beaten path to learn about the natural wonders and wildlife of the Northwoods.

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Protecting the Environment

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7 days

6 nights

16 meals

6B 5L 5D

Check-in, Registration, Social, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Eagle River, WI

Hike Fallison Lake, Canoe Instruction, Canoe Baker, Tamarack

Eagle River, WI

Sylvania Wilderness, Bond Falls, Northwoods Flora & Fauna

Eagle River, WI

Canoe the Wisconsin River, Cranberry Farm, River History

Eagle River, WI

Porcupine Mountains State Park

Eagle River, WI

Canoeing the Manitowish River, Slideshow, Bird Demo

Eagle River, WI

Program Concludes

Eagle River, WI

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At a Glance

Breathtaking waterfalls. Stately and quiet forests. Flowing waterways that are home to rich plant and animal life. Northern Wisconsin and Michigan are home to many natural gems, and they are ready to be explored on this active learning adventure! Hike and canoe through untouched wilderness, all while identifying the wildlife that call these regions home. In the evenings, you’ll learn more about the flora and fauna of the Northwoods through discussions led by local experts.

Activity Level

Outdoor: Spirited

Paddling a canoe 1-3 hours at a time. No paddling experience necessary. Hikes range 1.5-3 miles over varied terrain. Getting in/out of 15-passenger vans multiple times daily; Total daily travel times vary 1-3 hours.

Best of all, you’ll…

Learn the basics of canoeing while hearing about the plants and animals that live in the rivers and lakes of the Northwoods.
Discover why cranberries are the official state fruit of Wisconsin as you explore a local cranberry farm.
Hike on trails that introduce you to the Sylvania Wilderness, Bond Falls and Porcupine Mountains State Park.

General Notes

Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Todd Starling

Todd joined Trees For Tomorrow in January 2018. From Delisle, Saskatchewan, he studied natural resource technologies in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories and worked as a park interpreter in Wood Buffalo National Park. He later studied environmental science at The University of Lethbridge, then was a naturalist intern at the Audubon Center of the North Woods in Sandstone, Minnesota. He then spent six years at Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Todd and his family moved to Northern Wisconsin in 2017.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Jenny Sadak View biography

Jenny Sadak has worked as an educator at Trees For Tomorrow for more than 8 years and loves to share her knowledge of environmental sciences with learners of all ages. Her past professional experience includes assisting with climate change research in Alaska, surveying wildlife for the Helena National Forest, working with water rights for the state of Montana, and leading naturalist programs in Jackson, Wyoming. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys spending time with family, hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, travelling, and baking.

Kim Feller View biography

Kim Feller joined Trees for Tomorrow in October 2014. She is from Columbus, Ohio, has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in coastal, marine and wetland studies. Her fieldwork experience includes conducting wetland surveys in Ohio, working at a national wildlife refuge in Michigan and studying marsh bird populations in South Carolina. Kim began her job as Road Scholar programs coordinator in 2015. When she is not at work, she enjoys many "Road Scholar-like" activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking and photography!

Todd Starling View biography

Bethany Heft View biography

Bethany Heft joined Trees For Tomorrow in September of 2019. She developed her love for both teaching and the great Northwoods when she worked at TFT for a 12-month position in 2011. Beth holds a BS in wildlife and fisheries science from Pennsylvania State University. Outside of work, her hobbies include crafting, hiking, canoeing and spending time with her horse.

Jane Feely View biography

Jane Feely joined Trees for Tomorrow in September of 2022. Prior to becoming an environmental educator, Jane lived in Minnesota, where she earned both her bachelor’s degree in biology and her master’s degree in conservation sciences. Jane worked in research while obtaining her degrees, studying NSAIDs in wastewater treatment plants' effluents, pesticide effectiveness on invasive milfoil, and using sound and air to block the spread of invasive carp. When she isn’t working, Jane enjoys running, writing, and playing board games.

Shelly Rudnick-Peterson View biography

Shelly Rudnick-Peterson joined Trees for Tomorrow in December of 2021 after teaching high school science for almost 20 years. Prior to teaching, she worked as a chemical engineer in the paper industry. Along with teaching at TFT, Shelly coordinates group schedules and helps to plan the annual Wisconsin Master Naturalist program. Outside of work she enjoys anything outside – hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing, and snowshoeing.

Suggested Reading List (4 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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Gems of the Northwoods: Hike & Canoe Michigan & Wisconsin

Program Number: 24634

River Life

by John Bates and Terry Daulton (Illustrated)

Rivers are sacred places that resonate with sounds, smells, sensations, mysteries and beauty. River Life takes you on a guided exploration of the Manitowish River, a small river in northern Wisconsin. Packed with information, River Life examines current ecological studies, probes fur trader journals and archaeological surveys, and explores the author's personal observations to vividly describe the life of a northern river. Richly designed with 125 illustrations, diagrams, maps and tables, River Life introduces the science of stream ecology and brings it into the language and vision of the layperson. Canoeists, kayakers, birders, plant enthusiasts and all nature lovers will find this book thoroughly pleasurable and educational.

Graced by the Seasons: Fall and Winter in the Northwoods

by John Bates and Terry Daulton (Illustrated)

This book acts as a personal guide to the natural events of the Northwoods as the seasons change from the burst of autumn color into the white and silence of winter. While nature in winter may appear to have little going on, there's a great deal to see and think about if you have a guide to show you.

Graced by the Seasons: Spring and Summer in the Northwoods

by John Bates and Terry Daulton (Illustrated)

Graced by the Seasons: Spring and Summer serves as a "Volume 2" to A Northwoods Companion: Spring and Summer, and offers a detailed and fascinating picture of the orderly timing and progression of natural events written for people who want a deeper understanding of all of nature. The book is chock full of phenological highlights and is organized so the reader who wants to study nature's coming attractions or plan a northern vacation can anticipate what will be blooming, crawling, singing, migrating, or croaking in any particular month.

Trailside Botany

by John Bates and April Lehman (Illustrated)

In Trailside Botany, you will find clear descriptions and detailed drawings of the 101 wildflowers, trees, and other plants that you are most likely to see along your favorite North Woods trail. Take your exploration a step further by trying the intriguing activities naturalist John Bates suggests throughout the book. This carry-along guide is a must for families, hikers, teachers, students and naturalists of all ages.

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Gems of the Northwoods: Hike & Canoe Michigan & Wisconsin

Enroll with Confidence

Protecting the Environment

At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

General Notes

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