WSR Wilderness Trip

 The W-SR Wilderness Trip is a summer program in which the students attend a hiking and camping wilderness trip at one of three locations. The dates of the trip are typically the second to third week in June. Students will receive one science credit on their transcript for this experience and the grade will be figured into the GPA of the student. Pre-trip activities include some camping instructional meetings and an overnight camping experience. While on the wilderness trip, students will enhance camping skills, work cooperatively with other students, keep a trip journal, and learn about the unique ecosystem of the location. The purpose of this summer program is to promote student awareness and compatibility with the natural resources. The course will provide experience which cannot be achieved in the traditional classroom setting. It will also give students an introduction to the geological and biological processes that take place in other ecosystems.

Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness:  Students will spend their time canoeing, fishing, camping, and portaging.  The BWCA is located along the Minnesota/Ontario border and is one of the largest units in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Trips planned for the summers of: 2008, 2011, 2014.  Click here for the informational powerpoint show. Click here for the history of the Boundary Water Area.  Click here for a copy of the student journal for this trip.  Click here for the 2005 Trip and Photos.  Click here for an application for this trip.

 

Rocky Mountain (Crested Butte) Area:  Students will spend their days hiking and studying the alpine region.  Students will experience living and working as a team at higher elevations than they can experience in Iowa. Trips planned for the summers of: 2009, 2012, 2015.  Click here for an example of the student journal for this trip.  Click here for a map from past trips.

 

Isle Royale National Park: Located in Lake Superior, just southeast of Grand Portage, Minnesota, Isle Royale has the longest running wolf/moose population study.  Isle Royale is also an International Biosphere Reserve and students will hike across the 45 mile island on some of the 165 miles of trails. Trips planned for the summers of: 2007, 2010, 2013.  Click here for the powerpoint show.  Background of Isle Royale.   Click here for the pictures from the 2007 trip

2008 Boundary Waters Trip Info:

Isle Royale Trip Info:

Application process: Students will typically be given information in October with an application deadline in December. The cost of the trip is $450, with the school supplying the tents, food, transportation, backpacks, and water filters. The application requires a school physical be on file, a $50 returnable deposit, an adult recommendation, and a brief written paragraph from the student. Any questions can be directed to Jim Gates, Darrin Siefken, Mandie Sanderman,  or Jason Reyerson.  Click here for an application.

Donation:  Because the cost of the trip is waived for students who qualify for free and reduced lunches, if you would like to donate money to the WSR Wilderness Fund to help make this trip affordable to all students, please click here and fill out the donation form and send it in.  Thank you!!

Past Photos:  Click here for past trip photos