Summer Camp 2009

Summer Camp 2009 is underway at Deep Portage! We have completed two weeks of Forkhorn I, and are currently hosting the Future Farmers of America leadership camp. Next week will start the Forkhorn II cycle. Below are images from camp over the past weeks. The trails are open, and you can call or check the website for details about the public programs offered in our Summer Naturalist Series. Happy Trails!

Steady shooters in the "prone" position at the DP range

Working on marksmanship from the benches

Another fence crossed safely during "Firearms in the Field"

Nice work with the .22, boys!

What is summer camp without a campfire -- Wilderness Survival Class

Atop the Tree-top Tower

Summer arrives at Deep Portage

The last week of the 2008-09 school year saw seven (yes, seven) different schools visit Deep Portage. St. Tim's, Lino Lakes, Washington Tech, Northland, J.W. Smith, Bemidji M.S., and Norman County made the week a wonderfully active experience. The photos below are from the past few weeks at Deep Portage. Summer staff training starts June 1st, and camps get going after that. Come out and see us for a summer naturalist series program! Details about summer programming can be found on our website, www.deep-portage.org.

Cass Lake Ecology Club

Longville-Remer playing Cat and Mouse

Happy students from Northland Schools

St. Tim's out birdwatching

Warm Weather Returns to the North Country

Bass Pond is open for canoeing, American Robins are building a nest under the deck, and Spring is in the air. Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School, Mary Queen of Peace School (Rogers), and The World Learners School (Chaska) have been enjoying a beautiful week at Deep Portage. A few late April showers did not dampen spirits, and plenty of sunshine returned quickly to dry us out. Below are images from the past week. Enjoy!

World Learners on the Archery Range

Setting a course for the beaver lodge

Sauk Rapids students survey the scene on "Trials of Life"

A sunny day at the Deep Portage bog

An intrepid pair of World Learners get set to take on Bass Pond

Deep Portage teachers Fabiana and Abby catch a few rays

T-shirt weather in April on the Bog Boardwalk

April at Deep Portage - Springtime!

The snow from our April 1st storm is officially melted, and Bass Pond is getting ready to open up. Bring on the water canaries! Robins, Sapsuckers, and Phoebes are back and singing up a storm, and the Wood Frogs are getting ready to wake up the nighttime forest. Challenger Elementary from Thief River Falls brought over 180 people last week, and Baxter Elementary followed them up by bringing 120! It's a great time to be out in the woods, so put away the snowshoes and warm up the hiking boots. The photos below are from Challenger Elementary School's visit. See you on the trail!

A breezy April day on the Tower

Challenger students getting ready for the campfire program

Orienteering Class

Checking out the beaver chew marks

Spring arrives at Deep Portage

Warm days and cool nights have started the sap running and the birds chirping, although the usual spring snow storm is brewing. We expect 8-12 inches today, so we may be back in snowshoes for the incoming schools. McLeod West (Brownton) is in, and Lincoln (Little Falls) and Central Minnesota Christian (Prinsburg) arrive on Wednesday. The photos below are from the last few weeks at Deep Portage. Happy Spring!

Plymouth students visit the bird observatory

E.D. Williams (Shoreview) poses for a group shot

Abby and Nate help Plymouth pack up for home

Plymouth Students await a tasty DP lunch

March at Deep Portage

A fresh 7 inches of powder on 3/10! The snow storm brought in temperatures of -20 this past week, but the students and staff at Deep Portage are bundled up and enjoying the late winter glory. Sandburg Middle School has been with us all week. Check out the photos below to see the kids in action.

Fire-building with Joanna

Taking the water temp on Bass Pond

drilling through two feet of ice on Bass Pond

the snowshoe sprint!

a proud group with their newly built shelter

hitting the deep snow near Bass Pond

testing out a new set of 'shoes

Late February at Deep Portage

A bit of new snow has restored the skiing conditions and the winter cheer. This week we have seen L'Etoile du Nord (St. Paul), Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, and Nettleton (Duluth). Below are photos of Walker students and staff enjoying Bass Pond in Winter.