Due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak and guidelines from Wisconsin Department of Health Services and UW-Madison, the programs listed in this website have been postponed until further notice. We will update these program offerings as the situation evolves. Thank you for your understanding.

 

Environmental Education, or “EE”, isn’t just kids stuff!

EE teaches us to investigate our environment and take leadership in making informed decisions about taking care of it now and for future generations.

It’s compelling education–delivered in fun, experiential settings.

We offer a variety of educator-led EE programs and resources for kids of all ages that investigate critical issues affecting the Lake Superior region and beyond.

EE Programs at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center

Discover the ecology of the Lake Superior region while learning about the importance of stewardship of the resources we share.  We offer a variety of both indoor and outdoor environmental educational programs for school classes, homeschoolers, and youth groups through the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center (NGLVC) in Ashland WI.

NGLVC EE programs are taught by environmental education specialists from UW-Extension, the US Forest Service, and qualified volunteer educators. Programs focus on stewardship issues and integrate culture, history, ecology to promote youth engagement through grade-appropriate K-12 educational activities. Both indoor and outdoor programs are available, some featuring costumed “characters” that make the past and present come alive. All are fun learning experiences that engage learners! Check out our 2020 NGLVC Environmental Ed Program Catalog. Our most popular programs include:

• Habitat Hunting… exploring the importance of habitats to plant and animal diversity.
• Rooted In Resources…the role of natural resources in Anishanaabe culture and European immigration.
• New:  “Climate Detectives”… Students become detectives to investigate the clues that our climate is changing.
• G-WOW! Climate “Camps”…indoor and outdoor interactive investigations on how a changing climate affects us all.
• Paddle the Pearls Estuary Ed-Ventures…. on the water guided ed-ventures on the Fish Creek and Whittlesey Creek Estuaries for students and adults.

 Programs are available by advance reservation only, on a first-come first-serve basis. For reservations or information, please contact Susan Nelson at 715-685-2644 or e-mail sbnelson@fs.fed.us.

 Bus “scholarships” are available to help defray transportation costs for schools coming to the Center for EE programs. 

 

Other Specialty EE Programs

Contact cathy.techtmann@wisc.edu for more information about these programs:

“Paddle Through Time” Re-Enactment (indoor guided group program)

Using slides, narration, and costumed interpretation; we re-create the experience of traveling through time to learn about Lake Superior’s freshwater estuaries and the role they have played from the fur trade days to today. Your guide will be a “real” voyager who will reveal an important choice facing each of us if we are to improve the sustainability of our natural resources!  Duration 1-hour. Advanced reservations are needed.

“Leadership Secrets of the Voyageurs” Leadership Ed-Venture (indoor guided group program)

Learn the leadership secrets of the voyageurs without getting your feet wet. This indoor program features the same interactive games, leadership challenges, and fun as the outdoor version of “Leadership Secrets of the Voyageurs”—all designed to improve communication and team building skills. You’ll discover your personal leadership style and learn how to work more effectively with people of different styles. Cathy Techtmann, a Real Colors Certified Trainer, will be your program guide.  Advanced reservations are needed. Call for program costs and details.

NEED RESOURCES?

Use our EE TOOLKIT

We offer a wide variety of time tested EE curriculum and resources in our EE Toolkit.