Arrive To: Arrival - Check in at the Education Hall from 3-4:30 PM. Participants will get a name tag and room key along with additional information.

Dinner: Social & Dinner - We will meet each other while enjoying local wine and snacks. This is normally an excellent time to do participant introductions. Dinner to follow at 5:30 PM.

Evening: Orientation - Participants will get an orientation to the facilities and an overview of the schedule.

Lodging: Lodge at Trees For Tomorrow

Meals Included: Dinner

Hike Anvil National Recreation Trail / Canoe Instruction and Paddle / Raptors presentation

Breakfast: Breakfast at 7:00 AM

Morning: Hike Anvil National Recreation Trail - This trail system was built with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and is one of Wisconsin's first National Recreation Trails, trails that have local and regional significance. There are many loops to select from in this 13-mile system. The forests range from an older sugar maple, yellow birch, eastern hemlock forest to red pine plantations.

Lunch: 12:00 Lunch at TFT

Afternoon: Canoe Instruction and Silver Lake Paddle - We will learn a few paddling strokes and then canoe around a local lake. Vilas County is home to over 1300 lakes, so canoeing is a great way to explore why so many people visit this location! This lake is also home to one of the symbols of the Northwoods, the common loon.

Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 PM

Evening: Raptors - We will learn about the amazing world of hawks, falcons, eagles, and owls. During the lecture portion, we will discuss the features that define raptors, examine some adaptations that help them survive, look at their biology, and discuss some conservation measures to help them out. Trees For Tomorrow is fortunate enough to have education birds for participants to see these features up close on a live raptor!

Lodging: Lodge at Trees For Tomorrow

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike Sylvania Wilderness / Bond Falls Waterfall Viewing / Bog Investigation

Breakfast: Breakfast at 7:00 AM

Morning: Hike Sylvania Wilderness - The pristine waters of Sylvania in combination with the old-growth forest is what led to the wilderness designation in 1987. Old growth forests are difficult to find in the cutover land (mid 1800s) of the Northwoods! We will have the chance to hike among 200 plus year old eastern hemlock, yellow birch, and sugar maple and see lakes without any shoreline development.

Lunch: Sack lunch on the shores of Clark Lake

Afternoon: Bond Falls Waterfall Viewing - Located a little further north into the upper peninsula of Michigan, Bond Falls is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the state. The backdrop of fall color provides spectacular photography and viewing opportunities. At some point during the day, we'll also stop at the Ottawa Visitor Center. They have excellent information on the Ottawa National Forest and Sylvania, along with exhibits and a gift shop.

Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 PM

Evening: Bog Investigation - Vilas County is home to over 1300 glacially created lakes. When conditions are right, certain plants begin to grow out into the lake. These plants form a dense root network that allow us to walk on them. The waterbed-like feel of a northern quaking bog is a memorable experience for many participants. While out there, we will examine the many unique plants that call this area home. The carnivorous pitcher plant, sphagnum moss, leatherleaf, labrador tea, black spruce and tamarack are some of the plants and trees we'll expect to see.

Lodging: Lodge at Trees For Tomorrow

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike Hidden Lakes Trail or Luna Lake and White Deer Lake Loop along with Franklin Nature Trail in the Nicolet National Forest / Lake paddling or staff choice program

Breakfast: Breakfast at 7:00 AM

Morning: Hike the Hidden Lakes Trail or Luna Lake and White Deer Lake Loop - We will spend the entire day in the beautiful and expansive Nicolet National Forest. The Hidden Lakes trail hike weaves through multiple habitats and rolling terrain. Participants will hike past many lakes including: White-Deer, Luna, McKinley, Three Johns, Butternut, Two Dutchmen's, and Franklin Lake. In addition to the large number of lakes, beautiful stands of hemlock, maple, and birch along with a wide array of ferns will be encountered. Many people consider this hike to be a true gem in that not many folks are found utilizing this scenic area. The point to point hike is about 6 miles long --- Or Hike Luna Lake and White Deer Loop - For those wanting an easier hike, there is a beautiful 4-mile loop that circumnavigates Luna and White-Deer Lake. This hike is also very beautiful!

Lunch: Sack Lunch at Franklin Lake. We'll have a chance to eat under an old Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed shelter that overlooks Franklin Lake.

Afternoon: Hike Franklin Nature Trail - This 1.5-mile nature stroll is on very flat terrain. The beauty of this hike is that it goes through nearly every habitat type in the Northwoods, with interpretative stops and information along the way. Glacial soil in this area is a bit richer in many places, allowing for plants and ferns we won't see on many of our other hikes. This place is a Trees For Tomorrow staff favorite!

Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 PM

Evening: Lake Paddling or Staff Choice Program - An evening paddle is one of the best ways to see wildlife at a time when the temperatures begin to fall and the winds die down. If the weather is poor or group energy level is low, we have a multitude of programs to chose from. Examples include: wolves, compass use, tree identification, logging history, archery, bats, bears, vertebrate biology, etc.

Lodging: Lodge at Trees For Tomorrow

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike the Escarpment Ridge or Big Carp River Trail along with the Union Mine Interpretative Trail in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Note: The 4.3-mile Escarpment Ridge Trail will be the most physically demanding hike of the week due to the hilly terrain and rocky hiking surface.

Breakfast: 6:30 AM Breakfast

Morning: Hike the Escarpment Ridge Trail or the Big Carp River Trail in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park - Many people consider the Escarpment to be one of the most difficult hikes in the area, but also the most beautiful. This 4.3-mile point to point hike will explore the amazing geology of the area and gives one a feel of hiking "out west" in the Midwest. For those still wanting amazing views, but an easier hike, we will have an alternate hike on the Big Carp River Trail which hikes along the same ridge but without as many climbs.

Lunch: Sack lunch at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Visitor Center. They have great displays, a well done informational video about the geology and ecology of the park, gift shop, and flush toilets!

Afternoon: Hike the Union Mine Interpretative Trail - The 1-mile hike features the Little Union gorge along with the well done interpretative signs that describe the history of the 1846 mine and living conditions in the area at that time. Copper mining was very important to this area and it is neat to see this history along such a scenic trail! Many participants have commented on how much they've enjoyed this hike. Well over half the trail is right next to 2 beautiful, small creeks.

Dinner: Dinner on your own. Enjoy one of the many great restaurants in the area!

Evening: Enjoy a relaxing evening!

Lodging: Lodge at Trees For Tomorrow

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hike Star and Fallison Lake trails in the Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest / Closing

Note: We will spend a good amount of time at Star Lake examining forest management history. While the Fallison Lake hike is not very long, it does have some hilly terrain with a fair number of stairs.

Breakfast: Breakfast at 7:00 AM

Morning: Hike Star Lake Trail - Along with Fallison Lake, Star Lake is located in the Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest. Initially established in 1925 to protect the headwaters of the Flambeau, Manitowish, and Wisconsin Rivers, this state forest is Wisconsin's largest. This is also the site of the first, and longest running red pine plantation study in Wisconsin. We'll try our hand at measuring trees to see what management technique best suits red pine growth. This 2.5-mile hike weaves in and out of the forest and a large part of it is right on the shores of Star Lake.

Lunch: Sack Lunch at Star or Crystal Lake. Both locations offer a lake view, have picnic tables, bathrooms, and offer an overhead shelter to get out of rain/sun.

Afternoon: Hike Fallison Lake Trail - This 2.5-mile trail goes around Fallison Lake and has some interpretative signs along the way; revealing historical details about the area, wildlife that are commonly found with neat facts, geological features, and plant information among other things. This rolling topography will provide a good last challenge for the group! For those wanting an easier hike, there are options for a shorter route.

Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 PM

Evening: Closing - The TFT Road Scholar Coordinator will present a slideshow containing pictures from the participants' experiences during the week. Participants will also get a CD and be able to download the pictures shown during the slideshow. Passports will also be stamped.

Lodging: Lodge at Trees For Tomorrow

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner