A Hike Around the World s Greatest Great lake Bringing Attention to Fresh Water Caring for the Health of: The Great Lakes The Planet People

Transcription

1 A Hike Around the World s Greatest Great lake Bringing Attention to Fresh Water Caring for the Health of: The Great Lakes The Planet People

2 Two naturalists in their sixties + The largest great lake = Research + Books + Talks + Adventure + Education programs+ Partnerships around the lake

3 Who are we?

4 Heading in to the unknowns of adventure research Discovery Making Tracks for the Future

5 Two grandparents who care! Mike directed the Audubon Center for 38 ½ years. Kate worked at the Audubon Center and the Minnesota Zoo. Mike teaches for Hamline University graduate program and Northland College undergraduate. Kate writes regular newspaper and magazine articles. Mike and Kate have a combined 22 books published Mike has worked on a variety of research projects. Both care about the future of the world and fresh water.

6 The lake represents the future.

7 Nothing is more basic than air and freshwater to the survival of all life

8 RESEARCH We are willing to be the feet on the ground We have a camera We possess the basic knowledge of rocks, plants, animals and human history. We are seeking partners who will help shape and use the research elements that we can contribute and to help fund some of the trip through grants. We have partners in SeaGrant, Michigan Tech, NRRI and Algoma University.

9 Baseline data Every three miles: GPS point Photo in each cardinal direction Basal Area tree data Record of plants observed Record of animal signs or observations Record of human disturbance This needs to be archived for future reference.

10 Invasive Species Working with Algoma University we will be making observations of invasive species: particularly on the Canadian Shore with emphasis on aquatic vegetation. Photo GPS Sample

11 Human attitudes What do people actually know about the lake? What are their concerns? Do attitudes change around the lake? A questionnaire will be designed with help from Michigan Tech, Lakehead, and SeaGrant. Our interviews will be random as we walk.

12 Human Health In our sixties, with a list of our own physical problems we are willing to be living test tubes to explore what changes happen to our own bodies. How do we measure our own health and what does that mean to other seniors and the baby boomers (78 million) who are following us in to this aging experience.

13 Books and publications We cannot tell our story without the media. Sam Cook will cover our story for Duluth Herald. Lake Superior Magazine is one of our sponsors and we will have a series of articles and a books from this adventure. Lake Country Journal, will have a feature article.

14 Talks Our SAG wagon will be in campgrounds around the lake and our coordinator will present information and stories to the campers and visitors. We will coordinate with the parks that we will be visiting. North House folk school will present three programs for us to share. Our coordinator will contact local papers and media for interviews along the way so our concern can be passed on to the local citizens. We have talks in Eagan, Richfield, Sandstone, Duluth, Hastings, and Rochester, MN pre trip. We are presenting to the Minnesota Science Teashers Association pre trip. We will book talks after our hike concludes.

15 Media coverage Magazines Lake Superior Magazine column and book!!! Lake Country Journal essay Radio and Television Cities 97 radio monthly interviews WTIP News weekly morning interview throughout trip ThunderBay television news WI public radio, Superior

16 Confirmed Media Coverage Feature coverage by Sam Cook, Duluth Herald MinnPost state enewspaper Conservation MN web article Minneapolis Star Tribune Kim Ode Marquette Gazette, MI

17 Even more media. Thanks Askov American, MN Hinckley News, MN Algoma News, Sault Ste Marie, CA Ironwood, MI HWY 61 and Northern Wilds regional papers Lake County News- Chronicle Moose Lake Gazette, MN

18 Adventure is everywhere

19 Education Partnerships with schools and non-profits bring the grandparent s hike to the schools. Great Lakes Aquarium D.E.M.O education materials that extend beyond the hike year. North House Folk School Audubon Center Schools connecting on the web through our coordinator Presentations at the parks along the hike Presentations after the hike

20 What can a child learn? The importance of fresh water The size and volume of Lake Superior The issues that threaten and affect the lake Why can t we drink the water in some places as we hike around? Who wants the water? What will climate change do? Where have the fish gone? How can people make a living and maintain the resources? Why do we see buildings made with different materials as we travel? Who lives there? What are invasive species? Why is it important for all countries to work together for the environment?

21 Colleges Hamline University on-line course on field research will follow course postings and provide insights on Lake Superior, the hike, and research techniques that can be used in the classroom. Jan Wellik will incorporate hike in her Environmental Studies at UW-La Crosse and Viterbo.

22 Connections Northland College, UMD, Lakehead University, Algoma University, Michigan Tech, SeaGrant, NRRI, Sigurd Olson Institute, and the Center for Water and Society have a connection with us. We hope all of them will connect with each other. North House, the Audubon Center, and the Great Lakes Aquarium are working with us on education. We would love to see a network develop. People from all over who share a love of Superior will be connected through our journey. We hope that they will be a force for the future.

23 Our sponsors Piragis North Woods Outfitter, Ely Lake Superior Trading Post, Grand Marais Granite Gear, Two Harbors North House Folk School, Grand Marais Great Lakes Aquarium Audubon Center of the North Woods Hamline University And numerous individuals and donors

24 Our advisors Beth and Bill Blank, Lutsen, MN Lonnie and Kelly Dupre, Grand Marais Steve Hoecker, Ashland, WI Jerry Phillips, Bayfield, WI Bill Rose, MI Tech, Houghton, MI Alex Mayer, Center for Society and the Lake, Houghton, MI Rolf Peterson, MI Tech, Houghton, MI Dawn Elmore, Algoma University, Sault Ste Marie, CA Gary Mondale, Tucson, AZ Alex Johnston, D.E.M.O, Minneapolis

25 It is the lake we were married on. It is the place we always return to.

26 Our motivation

27 The challenges! Raising money in a bad economy to cover the basic costs of food, campgrounds, communications. Finding a Class C RV we need for a SAG wagon and the education program. Finding the money to sustain two sixty year old hikers and pay basic insurance and living expenses since we have no outside income or retirement plan.

28 Getting people to listen. Finding the paths where there seems to be none. Refining and defining the research to maximize the trip results. More challenges Getting around the lake and staying as close to shore as possible when there is no single or continuous trail systems and often there are a hundred or more miles between trails. Keeping our bodies going day after day for six months.

29 The Rewards

30 REWARDS Satisfaction of following our dream. Doing something about our values and concerns. Contributing to the future that our grandchildren will inherit. Experiencing Lake Superior daily for six months.

31 And all your grandchildren too. A future of clear, clean, and pure fresh water