Author’s Note: Below is a short excerpt from my new book, The God of Wild Places: Rediscovering the Divine in the Untamed Outdoors. The book tracks my journey out of the church – I used to be a pastor – and into the woods. As the passage below hints, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has been an important part of my healing, which is why I so fervently support the mission of Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters. If you love the BWCA as much as I do, I hope you’ll find some resonance in the words below, and in the book as a whole.
Updates
Your Guide To The BWCA Permit Season
For anyone interested in exploring the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness this year between May 1st and September 30th, it’s time to start thinking about making reservations through the US Forest Service. The process can seem daunting, but it’s relatively simple to get you and your group ready for an incredible journey in America's most visited wilderness area. In this article, we’ll break down that process and some important considerations when booking your Boundary Waters trip.
2023 Was A Big Year
2023 was highlighted by the Biden Administration's decision to withdraw sensitive BWCA federal lands from mineral leasing for 20 years. SFBW is incredibly thankful to all who helped secure this landmark decision!
Winner Announcement: Kaarin Birch Wins “Raffle For The Boundary Waters” & Custom Sanborn Canoe
Congratulations to Kaarin Birch as the lucky winner of the custom Sanborn, Trampled by Turtles, and SFBW canoe raffle!
The Sportsman’s Pack: A Minnesota Collaboration
The partnership brings together three iconic Minnesota-based entities to create a functional and reliable pack that caters to outdoor enthusiasts and music lovers alike. Combining Frost River's expertise in crafting rugged and durable outdoor gear, SFBW's commitment to conservation, and Trampled By Turtles' passion for the great outdoors, the Sportsman’s Pack is a testament to the shared love for nature and adventure.
Minnesota DNR’s decision puts spotlight on action for BWCA state legislation
A decision by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources adds uncertainty to regulators’ role in deciding the future of copper-nickel mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters. Now, the state legislature has the power to change the underlying laws that protect the BWCA.
Release: Historic Protections Announced For The Boundary Waters
Department of the Interior orders 20-year mineral withdrawal in the Rainy River Watershed of Northeast Minnesota
It’s time to double down for the BWCA
As federal agencies complete another environmental review of proposed actions in the watershed of the BWCA, it's more important now than ever that supporters of the Boundary Waters let their members of Congress know: Now is the time to permanently protect America's most visited Wilderness.
Release: Boundary Waters Conservation Advanced by Administration Action
Hunters and anglers applauded a proposal Thursday from federal agencies that would protect the nation’s most visited wilderness, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota. A long-awaited analysis from the U.S. Forest Service shows that copper-nickel mining poses a major risk to the BWCA, and the USFS draft environmental assessment proposes a 20-year ban on copper-nickel mining on federal lands in the watershed.
Federal Agencies Release Environmental Assessment of BWCA Watershed – Comment Period Announced
On June 23, 2022, federal agencies announced a 30-day public comment period for an Environmental Assessment (EA), or a proposed study on the impacts of withdrawing hardrock mining leases upstream of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. In the newly released study, federal agencies proposed a moratorium on the development of any mineral leases in approximately 225,504 acres of Superior National Forest lands within the watershed of the Boundary Waters for up to 20 years.
