Eight 7th grade students, Emma Brasure, Mary Walenski, Annika Sweig, Gavin Haldaway, Oren Loukus, Zach Schroeder, Aengus Patterson, and Christian Hedmark, along with their teacher Miss Nicole Anderson and parent chaperone Mr. Dan Schroeder participated in the Isle Royale Education Program (IREP) from August 31st thru September 5th, 2018. This program is a rare opportunity to be immersed in the majesty of a unique and wondrous natural area.
The Renewable World Foundation (RWF) jointly with the National Park Service (NPS), offer this rare opportunity. It is through this partnership that RWF is able to enrich energy and environmental conservation education. The standard group size allowed to travel together on the island is 10. The NPS has allowed RWF to partner with schools and bring a standard classroom sized group of students across Lake Superior from Grand Portage, MN to Isle Royale.
Students participate in classes focused on renewable energy, environmental stewardship, earth science, and history through hands on activities. They learn to live with a group of peers and experience an outdoor adventure unlike any other. RWF staff teach the basics of water filtering, camping, outdoor cooking, and leave no trace ethics. Students also learn about the inter-connectedness of natural and human systems through on site programs provided by the NPS and Isle Royale Institute Staff.
Living lightly is an essential part of the IREP experience. Everything that is brought to the island needs to be removed from the island. Being self-sufficient is a requirement. If you are unprepared there is no convenience store around the corner.
Isle Royale is a one-of-a kind natural wonder. Animal and plant populations participate in unique, stainable inter-relationships like nowhere else. Around every corner is an opportunity to learn and be awe-inspired.
We all go in together and we all come out together. This is the motto on the hiking trips. Everyone supports everyone else...we are a team!
