Outdoor Skills Expo will share strategies for successful St. Croix adventures

A National Parks Week and NEA Big Read in the St. Croix Valley Event

Whether you are preparing for the next global pandemic, planning an epic National Park adventure or just trying to survive your next family car or river camping trip, this event is for you!

St. Croix River Association, the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (National Park Service), ArtReach St. Croix, and Wisconsin Interstate Park will offer hands-on demonstrations and presentations that will help you to survive all of your spring and summer adventures on the Ice Age Trail and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.  

Kids, we will also have some fun activities just for you, such as compass 101, geocaching, knot tying and learning to rig a mini zip line in your backyard!

Featured Presenters:

• Jerry Dorff, owner of Wild River Outfitters in Grantsburg, WI
• Gary Noren, board member of the St. Croix Valley Camera Club
• Phil Peterson, author of Six Knots for Everyday Life
• St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, National Park Service Park Rangers
• Tanna Worrell, author and Foraging Guide; The Friendly Forager

Schedule:

Ice Age Visitor Center Auditorium Presentations

• Noon – 1:00pm: Planning Your St. Croix and Namekagon River Trips with the National Park Service
• 1:00 – 1:30pm: St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Film
• 1:30 – 2:00pm: River and Fire Safety with the National Park Service
• 2:00 – 2:30pm: What to Pack – First Aid Kits with the St. Croix River Association
• 2:30 – 3:00pm: Ice Age Trail Film

Outdoor Activities and Workshops

• Noon – 1:00pm and 1:00 – 2:00pm: Rig a Mini Zip Line; outside the Ice Age Visitor Center
• Noon – 4:00pm: Art & Nature: Summer Art Outside Itinerary and St. Croix Haiku Writing Workshop: ArtReach St. Croix, Deck of Ice Age Visitor Center (or classroom if it’s raining)
• Tree Cookie lanyard art project and tree rings activity with Osceola Girl Scout Troop 57474, Skyline Shelter (or classroom if it’s raining)
• Noon – 4:00pm: The Art of Campfire Building, Behind Ice Age Visitor Center (Drop-in program)
• 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (Drop-in program): Canoeing Basics at the Lake of the Dalles Beach (Snow alternative: Snowshoeing Basics, Ice Age Visitor Center)
• Noon – 4:00pm (every half hour starting at noon): Compass Basics, on front lawn in front of Ice Age Visitor Center
• Noon – 4:00pm: Fishing, Lake of the Dalles Beach (Drop-in program)
• Noon – 4:00pm: Geo Nature Hunt (self-guided; check in at the Ice Age Visitor Center)
• Noon – 4:00pm: Geocaching (self-guided; check in at the Ice Age Visitor Center)
• 2:00 – 3:00pm: Foraging hike with Tanna Worrell of the Friendly Forager; check in at the Ice Age Visitor Center
• 2:00 – 4:00pm: Knot Tying – Skyline Shelter; with Phil Peterson, the author of Six Knots for Everyday Life
• 3:00 – 4:00pm: Nature Photography Hike, with Gary Noren, board member of the St. Croix Valley Camera Club (please bring your cameras and tripods optional)