Youth Outreach Programs
Connecting kids to nature.
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As we re-organize we are considering ways we can best contribute to youth education in the Chequamegon Bay area and beyond. Stay tuned for program offerings in future.
The Institute and Northland College have a rich history in outdoor and environmental education. The Institute has hosted programs for youth focusing on a sense of place, connecting youth and next generation conservation leaders with the outdoors, and
engendering a sense of adventure, beauty and connection between young people and the natural world. In a time when youth are increasingly absorbed in online media and passive screen time, programming like this is needed more than ever. “Children live in a world not only of their own, but peopled with all they imagine….but the young have a special faculty of listening and understanding and are conscious of the unseen.” Open Horizons |
Upcoming Events No upcoming events. View all current and upcoming programs » Nature Based Reading Program Youth Outreach SocialPast Youth Offerings
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SOEI Past Youth Offerings
Stewards of Tomorrow
Connecting through sailing, kayaking, adventure and art! Stewards for Tomorrow is designed for youth 13-17 years old interested in exploring the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and becoming a steward of the park. Our goal is to provide fifty local youth with the opportunity to experience the Apostle Islands and Lake Superior as part of the 50th anniversary of the park and support them in becoming stewards to protect and preserve the park in the future.
Connecting through sailing, kayaking, adventure and art! Stewards for Tomorrow is designed for youth 13-17 years old interested in exploring the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and becoming a steward of the park. Our goal is to provide fifty local youth with the opportunity to experience the Apostle Islands and Lake Superior as part of the 50th anniversary of the park and support them in becoming stewards to protect and preserve the park in the future.
Girls EmpoweredGirls Empowered is for girls 10-17 years old interested in getting outside, working hard, playing hard and learning what it means to be a confident steward of this Earth. For four days, we will share stories, learn stories of the area and make stories of our own! Each morning we will rise from our tents and head out to volunteer on trails, cutting and maintaining bike, ski and hiking trails for future use. In the afternoons and evenings we will explore, recreate and enjoy land and water trails in the area.
Youth Connect TrailsYouth Connect Trails offers overnight, full day and half day programs. We work with students in grades 5-12, providing peer leadership and support as part of the program. During YCT programs, participants engage service learning projects, gaining outdoor skills and stewardship, while also given opportunities to gain confidence, increase self-esteem, enhance communication skills and reflect on personal and group growth and learning during the day. Service learning projects are all located outdoors, primarily working with partner organizations in maintaining and establishing trails.
SOEI Youth Corps
SOEI Youth Corps provides a facilitated space for youth ages 10-17 interested in preserving, protecting and advocating for the Earth. Students relate to and build synergy with other local youth around shared interests and projects. Weekend retreats are available four times a year for students interested in sustainable practices to support themselves and their community in maintaining the energy and action needed in addressing their concerns. We pay particular attention to providing youth with skills for sustaining themselves as their passion drives them to help and act on behalf of our shared world. We always make sure to spend time outdoors, connecting with the places we love too!
SOEI Youth Corps provides a facilitated space for youth ages 10-17 interested in preserving, protecting and advocating for the Earth. Students relate to and build synergy with other local youth around shared interests and projects. Weekend retreats are available four times a year for students interested in sustainable practices to support themselves and their community in maintaining the energy and action needed in addressing their concerns. We pay particular attention to providing youth with skills for sustaining themselves as their passion drives them to help and act on behalf of our shared world. We always make sure to spend time outdoors, connecting with the places we love too!
Nature-based Reading Program
An online video collection of our SONWA children’s book winners and honorariums. For each book in the collection, we have a video of the author reading their book and a corresponding nature-based lesson. Our curriculum is designed for educators to use with students but is also available for adults and children to use at their leisure. Learn more.
An online video collection of our SONWA children’s book winners and honorariums. For each book in the collection, we have a video of the author reading their book and a corresponding nature-based lesson. Our curriculum is designed for educators to use with students but is also available for adults and children to use at their leisure. Learn more.
Apostle Islands School
Apostle Islands School is an outdoor residential program for middle schools created in 1987 as a partnership between the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. National park rangers and youth outreach staff work with Northland College students to develop a three-day residential camp program implemented in the national park during the month of May.
Apostle Islands School is an outdoor residential program for middle schools created in 1987 as a partnership between the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. National park rangers and youth outreach staff work with Northland College students to develop a three-day residential camp program implemented in the national park during the month of May.
Outdoor Adventure Leadership
OAL is a partnership program with UW 4-H Extension designed for youth in sixth through ninth grades. Participants commit to weekly outdoor leadership focused classes offered during fall and winter. At the end of each session, participants develop a plan for a final adventure weekend with the support of staff, using skills learned throughout the program.
OAL is a partnership program with UW 4-H Extension designed for youth in sixth through ninth grades. Participants commit to weekly outdoor leadership focused classes offered during fall and winter. At the end of each session, participants develop a plan for a final adventure weekend with the support of staff, using skills learned throughout the program.
Custom Youth Adventures
We offer custom conservation and outdoor adventure based programs for youth. We work with local, regional and national organizations interested in unique, professionally facilitated programming for their student groups. Our programs include access to Northland College professors, college student leaders, and experience with federal, local and tribal organizations. We provide specific learning outcomes combined with opportunities for recreation, learning outdoor skills, understanding environmental and social justice, developing leadership skills, increasing confidence and self-esteem, critical thinking and reflection.
We offer custom conservation and outdoor adventure based programs for youth. We work with local, regional and national organizations interested in unique, professionally facilitated programming for their student groups. Our programs include access to Northland College professors, college student leaders, and experience with federal, local and tribal organizations. We provide specific learning outcomes combined with opportunities for recreation, learning outdoor skills, understanding environmental and social justice, developing leadership skills, increasing confidence and self-esteem, critical thinking and reflection.