The BWCA Wilderness Kit
A learning journey through the Boundary Waters Canoe
Areas 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.
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