Cook County News Herald

Learn how to explore the BWCA at 2nd annual Expo




The second annual Boundary Waters Expo will be held at Seagull Lake boat landing on the Gunflint Trail on Saturday, June 11 – Sunday, June 12. The Boundary Waters Expo is family-friendly, and will feature speakers, activities, hands-on demonstrations, a silent auction, campfire storytelling, a shrimp boil, bake sale and more.

The Boundary Waters is said to be the truest of wilderness experiences. It is America’s largest wilderness east of the Mississippi, sprawling over Cook County and Quetico Provincial Park in Canada’s multi-million-acre wildland where visitors can unplug, recharge and reconnect. The Boundary Waters offers 15 hiking trails, 2,000 designated campsites, and over 1,000 lakes.

“For those with a little and even those with a lot of camping experience, planning a trip into the Boundary Waters can seem somewhat overwhelming,” said Linda Kratt, executive director of Visit Cook County. “We want prospective Boundary Waters visitors to save the Expo dates, because we know they’ll be able to get all the information they need to plan a fun, cost-conscious, and safe trip to one of the most beautiful places in the world.”

There will be over 10 presentations during the Boundary Waters Expo weekend, including one on Boundary Waters photography.

Husband and wife duo Gary Fiedler and Dawn LaPointe are outdoor enthusiasts and inspired photographers with Radiant Spirit Gallery based near Duluth. They will talk about “Photography in Canoe Country” with a photo hike near the expo grounds. They’ll share tips for using and protecting camera gear while wilderness tripping, and will lead an informal instructional photo shoot. All cameras and levels of experience are welcome.

Another presentation will focus on wilderness first aid. Presenter Kelly Dahl has explored the far reaches of the Boundary Waters and Quetico for the past 20 years as a canoe and backpacking guide. She is a Registered Nurse (RN) in the Twin Cities, a volunteer EMT-B on the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Firefighter Department and has worked in the Grand Marais emergency room. Dahl also is an instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates International, teaching wilderness first aid, wilderness first responder, and wilderness EMT courses.

For more information on the expo, or for a full schedule of events, contact Visit Cook County at (218) 387-2788.



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