Current Events: Winter Camping Symposium October 24-26, 2008

Winter Camping Symposium Returns to Ely This Fall!
Mark your calendars for Oct 24-26, 2008, and make plans to visit Ely, Minnesota this fall. Now in its 10th year, the annual Winter Camping Symposium is coming back to the gateway to the BWCA wilderness (which we affectionately refer to as the B est W inter C amping A rea!) Hosted on the beautiful woodland campus of Vermilion Community College (VCC), the symposium will feature workshops, field trips, & seminars all focused on enhancing your winter camping & ice fishing experiences. In addition, you'll enjoy vendor exhibits, a gear swap, trip forum and a special campfire cookery tasting event and bake-off.

The Ely Winter Campers Rendezvous will be the largest winter camping event in North America in 2008. It will feature world-class speakers, workshops, a vast display of different winter tent options, company reps to display and discuss equipment, local experts to answer questions and help plan trips, and the friendly city of Ely showcasing itself as the winter gateway to the BWCAW and Quetico Park. This is your chance to learn more about the resources that make this such a rewarding recreation opportunity.

Among the many topics in the works for this year's agenda:

Little-known sights of natural, scenic & historic interest in the BWCA & Quetico Park, winter fishing tips, dog-pulking trips (who needs a team? just harness Fido & enjoy a great trip together!), hands-on first aid, winter photography tips, GPS use, pros & cons of various back-country ski, snowshoe & toboggan designs, winter ecology & wildlife signs, useful winter knots, solo camping & short trips, & much more! Check-in and set-up is anytime Friday afternoon/evening Oct 24 with a formal welcome at 7 pm. Wrap-up is late Sunday morning with an optional midday field trip.

Saturday evening will feature U of M forest ecologist Lee Frelich's highly acclaimed presentation "Our Future Forests: The Impacts of Climate Change on Northwoods Winters & the Boreal Forest." Preceding his keynote address will be an update on top regional conservation issues: the status of the proposed Lake Vermilion State Park, plans for metal sulfide mining in the Lake Superior and BWCA watersheds and the prospects for passage of the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment on the November 2 ballot.

Since VCC has generously donated the facility use, we're pleased to offer a registration fee that's substantially reduced from previous years.

This years it's only $40/adult, $25/student; free for youth under 12. As in the past, fees will be used to help defray presenters travel expenses - this non-profit event is being organized entirely by volunteers. Camping sites (with showers/toilets nearby) are available in the VCC forest preserve (no charge) or hotel lodging is available within walking distance. Meals can be purchased at the VCC cafeteria or from a variety of restaurants just a few blocks away (or enjoy your own campfire cookery!)

Mingle with the experts at a fun fall weekend that will enhance your year-round outdoor skills and your safe enjoyment of winter adventuring. For more info email: info@dogsledding.com. This year's event in sponsored in part by Dick Pula of Power Electric & Paul Schurke of Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge with help from VCC's Mark Carlson and Kevin Kinney with Empire Canvas Works. We extend a huge THANK YOU to Duane & Margot Lottig with Snowtrekker Tents and Jon Farchman for all they've done in years past to make this the premier winter camping event in the country and to Vermilion Community College for providing facilities for this year's event.