Hazel Oberholtzer and Malin Anderson traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of a group called “Kids for the Boundary Waters.” After spending a couple of days meeting with legislators and imploring them to stop sulfide mining on the skirts of the BWCA, the two visited several monuments before returning home. Photo courtesy of Hazel Oberholtzer
Two Cook County High School students, Hazel Oberholtzer and Malin Anderson, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in Kids for The Boundary Waters, a group of 75 youth from 16 states who met with legislators to ask them to, “help protect the Boundary Waters by using their voice and power on the hill to make a change,” said Hazel.
“We were at the capital having meetings with senators and representatives from many different states,” Hazel said. “We paid for the trip ourselves, but it was through the organization. We were there having meetings for three days, but Malin and I stayed another two days to see the sights.
“In the meetings, there were about 5-9 kids, and each of us would share our personal connection to the BWCA and why it’s important for us to protect it!”
Minnesota politicians that Malin and Hazel met with included Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Pete Stauber, Betty McCollum, Dean Philips, Angie Craig, and Collin Peterson.
“I found most of the responses from the legislators satisfying,” said Malin. “They all seemed to hear what we were saying, and many were very interactive and understanding of our cause and passion towards the BWCA.”
When asked if she will remain vigilant in her protection of the BWCA, Malin replied, “I will never stop fighting for the protection of our beautiful Boundary Waters wilderness! It is the most visited wilderness place in the United States, and it is absolutely baffling and saddening to see this place put at such a big risk!”
Malin said she goes to the BWCA, “All of the time! Almost every single summer my family plans a trip! And just recently within the past few years, I have been going on a trip with my friend, a high school classmate.
“I have a few favorite lakes. The first is Lac La Crouix, which is located both in the Boundary Waters and in the Quetico, which is the Canada side of the Boundary Waters. My ultimate favorite lake, is Lake Argo. It has beautiful, deep, pristine waters—almost like the ocean.”
While the prospective Cook County High School juniors were in Washington, they took some time to visit a few of the Smithsonians: Holocaust Museum, National Museum of Natural History, American Art Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery.
“We also went to Arlington National Cemetery, where we saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and JFK’s gravesite. We also went to the National Botanical Garden, which is filled with beautiful plants and flowers. Lastly, we got to tour the Capitol,” she added.
What is Kids for the Boundary Waters?
At age 13, Joseph Goldstein was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The Springfield, Illinois boy was ill enough to be granted one wish by the Make A Wish Foundation. Instead of asking for a trip to Disney Land or some other fun place, he made his wish to save the Boundary Waters from the possible effects of a proposed copper mine planned to open on the outskirts of the park. Goldstein first traveled to the BWCA at age 6 with his parents, both doctors, and he fell in love with the 1 million-plus-acre woods and water non-motorized park. Make A Wish couldn’t grant his request, so he started Kids for the Boundary Waters. Today, at age 18, he is in remission and forging ahead with his organization after visiting three times with David and Amy Freeman of Lutsen the year they spent living in the BWCA as a way to showcase the pristine environment and to help get the message out that mining for copper could have drastic effects on the watershed.
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