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The BWCA Wilderness Kit
A learning journey through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
WHAT IS THE BWCA WILDERNESS KIT?
The BWCA Wilderness Kit is an engaging, hands-on curriculum designed for middle school-aged youth. It introduces them to Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and helps them explore and discover the wonders of this million-acre wilderness area. This energizing curriculum utilizes interactive and small group activities, exciting games, colorful maps and photos, and real artifacts.
This clear, easy to follow kit was developed with educator involvement and teacher review, and includes instructor background materials and reference sheets. Use of this kit varies from 50 minutes to five hours or more depending on how many of the five units and extension ideas are used. The BWCA Wilderness Kit was created by the Boundary Waters Wilderness Foundation and Superior National Forest.
Click Here to View the Curriculum and Kit Components
WHO CAN USE THE BWCAW WILDERNESS KIT?
Teachers, educators, facilitators, youth group leaders, church group leaders, and others are the intended users. You do not need to be a wilderness "expert" to teach these units effectively. The BWCA Kit is created for both formal and non-formal educators. The units and activities are aimed at middle school grade levels (5-8) for approximately 5-30 participants. However, each lesson is flexible enough to tailor the content to a younger or older audience.
HOW DO I RESERVE THE BWCAW WILDERNESS KIT?
If you live in NE Minnesota the Kit may be reserved by calling the Forest Service at (218) 626-4300. The Kit may be checked out for up to two weeks per instructor. If the Kit will be used by several classrooms in one school, this period may be extended. Superior National Forest has three Kits available for use. The Kits must be reserved in advance and picked up and returned to one of the Superior National Forest Offices located in Duluth, Grand Marais, Tofte, Ely, Cook and Aurora.
If you do not live close enough to pick up a kit at one of the Superior National Forest Service offices the Friends of the Boundary Waters also have two BWCA Wilderness Kits available for use. They are managed through the Bell Museum and may be reserved by phone at (612) 624-9050 or by e-mail at bellreg@umn.edu.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
If you are able to pick it up at a Superior National Forest Office it's FREE!!! There is no charge for use of the Kits offered by the Forest Service, but you will be required to sign a form indicating you will be responsible for charges to replace lost or damaged components.
Kit borrowed from the Bell Museum of Natural History in Minneapolis require a $55 rental fee plus an optional $20 shipping fee. The shipping fee is not necessary if the Kit is picked up at the Bell Museum. Kits may be picked up at and returned to the museum seven days a week. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to help cover the costs of Kits rented from the Bell Museum.