The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is located on the Minnesota/Canadian Border. Over 1,000,000 acres of land, over 1,100 lakes, and countless ancient native America trade routes were preserved via the 1964 Wilderness Act. The BWCAW provides a unique wilderness experience by giving the contemporary visitor the opportunity to traverse and explore the region using methods that would be recognizable to the generations of people who have used this area in the past.
Baldwin School partnered with the Makalakula Summer Leadership Program, which utilizes the experience of traveling in the wilderness area to practice leadership. Participants learned to communicate effectively, problem solve, and creatively handle the challenges of an outdoor environment. Along the way, our crew was also instructed in the historic and natural history of the region, incorporating hands on activities with the flora and fauna into their experience.
Students received training in canoe and oarsmanship, portage, hiking and camping in a rigorous wilderness environment. Additionally, we covered leadership concepts and more traditional native knowledge. There is no initial skill requirement for this experience. However, students were expected to attend a number of training days in advance of our departure. Throughout the spring we practiced swimming, basic weight training, and hiking to prepare ourselves for the experience.
This experience was led by John Kedrowski. He is an accomplished wilderness guide with extensive experience in the BWCAW. Mr. Kedrowski has been creating and leading wilderness experiences for groups since 1993. These experiences have included backpacking trips in Minnesota, Michigan, Montana, and Alaska, wilderness fishing trips in Minnesota and Canada, and canoe trips on lakes and rivers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada. Mr. Kedrowski is a trained science instructor who specializes in the flora and fauna of the Midwest. He is especially informed regarding the geology and natural history of the areas in which he guides. He has co-lead a trip in the past with Mr. Nelligan.
Mr. Nelligan is a former Marine and an avid outdoorsman, diver, and hunter. He has led numerous trips to Volcanoes National Monument on the Big Island of Hawai'i, and to the paleontological sites of Central Oregon. He has also conducted multiple College Road Trips with students throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.