Winter arrives at Deep Portage

A warm November has given way to a chilly December in the north country. The change in weather has not dampened anyone's spirits, however, and visiting school groups are still having a blast. We've seen our final two groups of this year from Chaska Middle School East, and also had our second annual (week-long!) visit from the sixth grade at Milaca Elementary School. ENERGY UPDATE: The Deep Portage Wood Boilers have, to date, burned through 25 cords of locally harvested wood. That wood has replaced 5,500 gallons of propane, and saved Deep Portage over $5,000. Below are photos from the past few weeks at Deep Portage. Be sure to check our website for upcoming events, or email us at portage@uslink.net to get on our mailing list for monthly updates. See you on the trails!

Chaska students find their bearings on Landform III

A Black-capped Chickadee at the Bird Observatory

The Wonderful teachers from Milaca Elementary School

Braving the cold on Charlie to Base

a few fine examples from our wreath-making class on 12/12

What's up at Deep Portage

The past two weeks have been beautiful! Chaska Middle School West (Metallic Meteors and Crystal Comets) and Chaska Pioneer Ridge (Explorers and Pathfinders) have made their annual autumn trip to Deep Portage. They hit some of the best weather of the season, crisp mornings, sunny days, and starry nights. Below are photos from the Pathfinder's visit. DEEP PORTAGE GREEN ALERT: To date, our wood gasification boilers have burned through 12 cords of locally harvested wood. In doing so, they have replaced nearly 3,400 gallons of propane. Wow! Check back regularly for more info about our green energy projects. Happy Thanksgiving!

Scaling the Deep Portage Climbing Wall

a carefully executed pass on the balance beam

rope swing challenge on the low ropes course

November at Deep Portage

This month has started with some beautiful, warm weather. Quite a contrast to the relatively cold and wet October we had. This week we'll see the first of six groups from Chaska come for their annual fall visit. We have been heating the buildings with our new wood gasification boilers, and all is going well. Upcoming public programs include a Family Climbing Wall on 11/14, Map and Compass on 12/5, and Balsam Wreath Making on 12/12. Call Deep Portage for details. Below are photos from last week at Deep Portage. Happy Autumn!

Arne loads the Garn Wood Boiler

Another dreamcatcher completed by Lincoln Elementary (White Bear Lake)

Lincoln students mastering the orienteering course

October at Deep Portage

The north woods fairly sings in October, does it not? A freshening of the air, fall colors at their peak, the first dusting of snow, southward bird migration in full swing; truly a great time of year. The past few weeks have been very active at Deep Portage. We hosted our Board of Trustees Annual Meeting on the 10th, and officially dedicated our new wood gasification heating system. 10 schools from around the state have visited thus far in October. Groups from as far away as the Twin Cities and Lake of the Woods, and as close as Longville-Remer and Pine River. Upcoming weekend programs include "sight in your rifle" on the 24th, and our second annual Halloween Concert Series event on the 31st. This year the music will be provided by bluegrass legend Dick Kimmel, accompanied by the vocalist Jerilyn Kjellberg. Call Deep Portage for tickets and info. Happy Autumn!

Trustee Bud Smith cuts the ribbon on our new heating system

Longville-Remer students learn survival skills

DP teacher Casey Stanley helps with a cold-water rescue training

fall colors and the first snow on October 10th

September 2009

Deep Portage is back underway for the school 2009/10. Nicollet High School, Lowell Elementary, and Nevis Elementary are on the schedule for this week, and the teaching staff, new and veteran, are excited to get going. Three new teachers, Caitlin Shrestha, Brock Nedland, and Charlotte Henning, have joined the veteran crew of Casey Stanley, Fabiana Lima Verde, Joanna Wepking, Clare Croteau, and Abby Pifer. Also happening at Deep Portage is the construction of our new energy center. The new building will house two boilers that create heat via wood gasification. The new system will have both environmental and economic benefits, and we look forward to the completion of the project. Be sure to check our website for upcoming public programs. See you on the trail!

The 09/10 Teaching Staff on the tower

Learning new activities during Staff Training

Students from Nicollet H.S. on the Atlatl range

Aiming the old tomahawk

The new energy center as of August 6th

The new energy center as of September 19th

More from Deep Portage summer 2009

Last week was a busy one, with five different groups visiting Deep Portage. Everyone got along splendidly, and the weather cooperated (mostly). Aquatics Camp and Upland Bird Camp were busy all week long, as were the U of M Hydrogeologists that are here for their annual two-week field camp. Arriving at Deep Portage mid-week were two groups, one from the Twin Cities (the Science Museum Idea Cooperative) and one from Sebeka (Leap into Learning program). It was a blast! Below are photos from the various groups. See you on the trails!

The Science Museum Idea Cooperative crew

Expert instruction at the clays range

The Sebeka kids show off their frog shirts

Upland camp visits Pine Shadows Kennel in Brainerd

The Aquatics Crew on the Boy River canoe route

.....and at "The Bog"

Forkhorn II camps at Deep Portage

The first two weeks of July have been unusually cool and dry, perfect conditions for Forkhorn II camp. Forkhorn II focuses on bowhunting techniques and safety practices, but also allows time for a good introduction to muzzleloading and big-bore riflery. Below are images from Forkhorn II sessions 1 and 2.

climbing the overhang at the rock wall

shooting black powder rifles at the range

another successful survival fire

taking aim from the tree stand

good advice from rangemaster Larry

expert shelter-builders

heading in for dinner after a good day on the range

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