Experience the Apostle Islands for yourself. Apostle Island School is an environmental education program aimed at providing regional youth with an outdoor experience to increase students’ awareness of both the regional history and the wide array of local resources of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Lake Superior.

Island School runs each May and is held on various islands in the Apostle Islands archipelago. Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute started developing this unique learning experience in 1985 in cooperation with the Northland College Outdoor Education Department and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. For 19 years, the program curriculum and instruction has been lead by outdoor education students at Northland College as part of their senior capstone. The Apostle Island School program works in collaboration with the Northland College Outdoor Education Department, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and the Apostle Island Cruise Service.

The Apostle Island School host two different outdoor educational experiences:

Day trips

Available for both fifth and sixth-grade students, the day is spent on Madeline Island in search of the island's history, natural ecosystems, geological formation, and growth/development of the historic town of La Pointe. The day includes a ferry ride, visitation of the Madeline Island Historical Museum or Big Bay State Park, Grant's Point Beach, a tour of La Pointe, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Residential trips

Available to sixth-grade students, the two-and-a-half day excursion begins by boarding an Apostle Islands Cruise Service boat in Bayfield, bound for Stockton Island, home of base camp for the next two nights. During the course of the trip, students will work on developing cooperative skills, participate in group cooking, explore Lake Superior, discover the natural history of the region, learn about the geological formation of the region, and participate in a multitude of fun-filled games.

Here's what past teachers, students, and chaperones have had to say about their experience: 

• “Overall, program was incredible. The kids love it and we see a transformation and bonding among them.”
• “Really really liked the large cultural component of the program-kids really connected with these characters.”
• “It was fabulous to see some of these 6th graders come out of their shell and take the program to heart.”
• “This has been a good time for the kids to bond with one another and connect to the islands and lake.”
• “The way all of you [Northland students] treated the students [participants] was just fantastic! Your energy and enthusiasm was amazing! You all will make great teachers. Thank you for a wonderful three days!”
• “You made this an experience the children will always remember”
• “This was the best nature/outdoor program for kids that I’ve ever participated in”
• “I liked when we went in the forest and learned about the moss”
• "I liked the game on the beach because you learned while you have fun”
• “I liked the one on the beach the most, because I learned what a tombolo was”- Hayley
• “Because of what I learned, I will improve my efforts to save the earth” -Marissa
• “I learned to not take so much of the environment”-Kassie
• “The most important thing I learned is to treat stuff like you want to be treated”-Julie
• “I learned about ecology and what it has to do with our life”
• “…Life is worth living because life is beautiful…all life is special and we need to preserve it.”

Prospective teachers 

Participation in environmental education experiences, like Apostle Island School, is continuously growing as a form for effective implementation of curriculum standards across the nation. These experiences in nature leave lasting imprints on how students relate to their environment, peer work, and self-confidence. Envisioned by Erica Peterson, Grant Herman and Terry Daulton who were working at Northland College in 1985, Apostle Island School has developed into a successful and enjoyable experiential educational program. Designed to educate adolescents about their regional ecosystems and cultural history, the program is taught by junior and senior Outdoor Education- Natural History students of Northland College . This experience in teaching is made possible by the collaboration of many educational professionals and local agencies.

Curious about lessons that are taught at Apostle Island School? The links below are lesson plans that were developed and taught by Northland students in the past.

Prospective Northland students 

The Outdoor Education-Natural History major is for students who are interested in pursuing careers of environmental education and interpretation in such places like: environmental learning centers, natural history museums, living history programs, national, state, and local parks, and interpretive agencies. The course work completed here at Northland College will include the development of a firm background in natural history, practice in experiential education, and interpretive teaching strategies. Completion of the program occurs after the student develops and completes his or her senior capstone. Teaching children for the month of May about natural ecosystems and culture components of the lake superior region with fellow peers at Apostle Island School will fulfill capstone requirements and provide great experience working with children before graduating into the workforce.

"The Island school program is perfect for proving ground for aspiring young educators. You have a wonderfully pristine setting, willing and eager participants, energetic and creative outdoor education students –all of the prerequisites for a memorable and effective environmental education program. We are able to work in partnership with the National Park Service, local schools and businesses and each other. The Island School is the perfect culmination of a Northland education. In addition to all of this you get to see hundreds of returning warblers."

-Clayton Russell, Associate Professor of Environmental Education and Outdoor Education

For more information about Apostle Island School, contact the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at (715) 682-1223, or soei@northland.edu.