Friends of the Boundary Waters

We envision a permanently protected Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA), where all people can experience the magic of the wilderness, and support its protection. Our core programs strive to achieve this vision by engaging individuals and building a community of BWCA enthusiasts and protectors.

For nearly 50 years Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness has been a leading voice for the ongoing protection and preservation of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Our organization was instrumental in the passage of the 1978 Boundary Waters Protection Act. Our mission is to protect the Boundary Waters and to connect people of all backgrounds to the wilderness, so that this and future generations benefit from this special place.

The core program highlighted in this application advances our mission by introducing more youth to the Boundary Waters, creating pathways for life changing, positive experiences in the wilderness so that, for years to come, not only will those individuals be more likely to continue to value outdoor recreation, they will also be more likely to protect and preserve it. Other programs outside this application focus on connecting adults to the BWCA and advocating for its protection.

A donation would help fund our No Boundaries to the Boundary Waters program so that we could reach more MN youth to introduce them to the Boundary Waters and offer opportunities for exploring America’s favorite wilderness area. Funding would support our high-quality programming, while also providing students with the support and gear they need for a successful and fun experience in the BWCA - trained chaperones, experienced guides, water bottles, sunscreen, and rain gear, for example.

Last school year, we provided roughly 4,000 experiences, teaching about the BWCA inside and outside the classroom to about 2,500 kids. These included topics such as water quality, ecosystems, and biomes and skill-building activities like paddling, portaging (carrying a canoe), navigating and route finding. Summer is not over, so numbers are not final, but we have roughly 180 kids registered for a trip in the BWCA with their school/community group. Your support helps make all of this possible.