Wisconsin

Explore Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Program No. 12512RJ
Discover the Apostle Islands’ many charms as you enjoy local culture, see a presentation on shipwrecks, learn about the region’s ecology and hear tales of early settlers.

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5 days
4 nights
12 meals
4B 4L 4D
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At a Glance

Discover the remote Apostle Islands, 22 Lake Superior isles (only one of them inhabited) off the northern tip of Wisconsin. Learn about the history of shipwrecks in this area and board a boat to discover the historic lighthouses that guide ships and boats safely through the sometimes-rough waters. In Bayfield, the small fishing town where this program is based, a National Park Service Ranger tells you more about the environment of this area including which wildflowers are in bloom.
Activity Level
Easy Going
Walking a few blocks on sidewalks; some moderate hills.

What You'll Learn

  • Ride the ferry to Madeline Island to explore Big Bay State Park with its pristine barrier beach and boardwalk.
  • Delve into the history of shipwrecks near the Apostle Islands in an expert presentation by the retired director of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center.
  • Hear some great tales of how the locals survived in the early years in this beautiful but sometimes harsh environment.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Bob Mackreth
Historian Bob Mackreth retired from the National Park Service in 2005 after a 32-year career as a park ranger. His assignments took him from the Atlantic coast to California's Sierra Nevadas. Bob's final position with the NPS was Park Historian at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. In this role, he conducted research into the stories of the men and women who lived on the remote islands in Lake Superior. Since his retirement, Bob has concentrated on research and writing, and remains committed to historic preservation.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Bob Mackreth
Bob Mackreth View biography
Historian Bob Mackreth retired from the National Park Service in 2005 after a 32-year career as a park ranger. His assignments took him from the Atlantic coast to California's Sierra Nevadas. Bob's final position with the NPS was Park Historian at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. In this role, he conducted research into the stories of the men and women who lived on the remote islands in Lake Superior. Since his retirement, Bob has concentrated on research and writing, and remains committed to historic preservation.
Profile Image of Sherman Edwards
Sherman Edwards View biography
Sherman Edward’s life has always been either on or under the water. His grandfather, Olaf, was a fisherman and a builder of fishing tugs. Sherman’s father tried his hand at fishing but made his career on the ore boats. Sherman’s career started on the ore boats in the summers when he went to college. He eventually started working for the local sports fishermen and eventually captained his own boat. He worked for the Madeline Island Ferry Line, retiring from there in 2013 after 33 years.
Profile Image of Thom Holden
Thom Holden View biography
Thom retired in 2013 from the Corps of Engineers’ Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth, Minnesota after 36 years, the last 10 of which he served as its director. At the University of Wisconsin, he earned degrees in mechanical engineering and graduate degrees in environmental journalism and recreational resources management. He developed his interest in Lake Superior shipwrecks and lighthouses as a youngster, doing his first research project on Isle Royale National Park’s shipwrecks when he was 11 years old.
Profile Image of Geof Wendorf
Geof Wendorf View biography
Geoffrey “Geof” Wendorf has a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a Master’s in Endocrinology/Reproductive Physiology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He served as a Professor in Community Development for 25 years with the University of Wisconsin Extension System. Geof then took a position with the University of Wisconsin Superior as an Outreach Specialist. He has since served as the Director of the Leadership Superior/Douglas County Program and in 2010 became Director of the Road Scholar Programs at the University of Wisconsin Superior.
Profile Image of Neil Howk
Neil Howk View biography
Neil Howk retired in 2017 as the Assistant Chief of Interpretation at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, having served more than 35 years with the National Park Service. He worked for the National Park Service at Colorado National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Gates of the Arctic National Park, and from 1983 to 2017 at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Neil and his wife operated a B&B in Bayfield from 1986 to 2018.
Profile Image of Katrina Werchouski
Katrina Werchouski View biography
Dr. Katrina “Kat” Werchouski is a proud member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. She serves as an equity and inclusion education and training specialist for the Minnesota Department of Human Services in the Office for Equity and Inclusion, and as senior partner and senior consultant for Peak Perspectives LLC. She earned her B.S. in environmental studies and B.A. in Native American studies from Northland College, M.S. in environmental studies from Green Mountain College, and Ed.D. from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Profile Image of Mary Tripp
Mary Tripp View biography
Dr. Mary Tripp spent more than 20 years teaching marketing, nonprofit leadership, business management, and communications courses for multiple colleges and universities. Prior to teaching full-time, she was a marketing coordinator at the Essentia Health System for six years. Her past experiences include retail, food service, event planning, and supporting non-profit organizations. Tripp was the University of Wisconsin-Superior recipient of the “Excellence in Teaching” performance award in 2009. In her free time, Mary enjoys traveling, golfing, exploring national parks, reading, and spending time with friends.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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5 days
4 nights
12 meals
4 B 4 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Bayfield, Wisconsin
D
Bayfield Inn

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.

Dinner: At the inn.

Evening: Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach [or bus] unless noted otherwise. We will have meals at the inn unless otherwise specified. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Bayfield Area History, National Park Service
Bayfield, Wisconsin
B,L,D
Bayfield Inn

Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; periods of standing up to 1 hour at the Coast Guard Station.

Breakfast: In the inn’s meeting room with a gorgeous view of the public pier on Lake Superior, Madeline Island, and the sunrise.

Morning: A retired National Park Service historian will join us at the hotel to present the history of the Apostle Islands and the Bayfield area including the early encounters between Native Americans, explorers, missionaries, and fur trappers. After a short break, we’ll gather for a second lecture, this time on the construction of the famed Apostle Islands lighthouses.

Lunch: At the inn, we’ll have a light lunch.

Afternoon: Next, we will hear about the various types of natural life found in the Apostle Islands. There are many significant aspects to the Apostle Islands, but one thing that makes them important is that the islands are shaped and isolated by Lake Superior, and they sustain rare communities, habitats, and species of plants and animals… everything from A to Z. This presentation provides an overview of the Apostle Islands' natural resources. We will then take a walk up the hill to see the town with our Group Leader and visit the historic National Park Service Building. The rest of the afternoon will be free for independent exploration of this quaint lakeside town.

Dinner: At the inn.

Evening: Tonight we will hear a lecture from the director of the Indigenous Cultures Center on the Native Americans in the Apostle Islands area.

DAY
3
Apostle Islands Study Cruise
Bayfield, Wisconsin
B,L,D
Bayfield Inn

Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; sidewalks and flat terrain. Getting on/off a boat; ride is about 2.5 hours.

Breakfast: At the inn.

Morning: We will begin with a short walk to the nearby dock where we will set out on a study cruise narrated by the captain of the boat. As we see historic lighthouses and get close-up views of the sea caves, we will learn about their history, legendary shipwrecks that happened in the area, and that native marine wildlife. Twenty-two islands make up the Apostle Islands, and it is host to one of the four National Lakeshores in the United States.

Lunch: At the inn, we’ll have a light lunch.

Afternoon: At the inn, a retired director of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center/Army Corps of Engineers in Duluth, Minnesota will give a presentation about shipwrecks among the Apostle Islands. We will see images and hear stories about some of the many ships that went down in and around the Apostle Islands, further emphasizing the importance of the Coast Guard.

Dinner: At the inn.

Evening: We will make our way on foot to the Bayfield Heritage Museum for a private experience.

DAY
4
Madeline Island
Bayfield, Wisconsin
B,L,D
Bayfield Inn

Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; periods of standing up to 1 hour each. Getting on/off the ferry; ride is about 1/2 hour. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles roundtrip; approximately 2 hours.

Breakfast: Inn buffet.

Morning: We will transfer via motorcoach to take the ferry to Madeline Island and, once on the island, we will visit the Madeline Island Museum for a presentation on the fur trade given by a local expert. The rustic museum, an amalgamation of several different structures, includes the only remaining building from the American Fur Company. It tells the story of the Ojibwe people who lived in this area for centuries, and exhibits explorer and fur trade artifacts. From there, we will head out on foot to Big Bay City Park where we will walk along the pristine sandy barrier beach.

Lunch: At Big Bay City Park, we will have boxed lunches.

Afternoon: On a narrated field trip by motorcoach around the island, we will learn from a local expert about the renowned extreme winter weather in this area of Wisconsin on Lake Superior. We’ll talk about how the folks who live here get along when it’s so cold, and how they enjoy the mild summers. As we go, we’ll make various stops including visits to an artisan shop and a church. We’ll then catch the ferry and return to the inn.

Dinner: At the inn. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: We’ll then have a special presentation at the inn given by a local expert about “The House That Sank.” A comical story stemming from a can-do attitude in the very cold winter of 1977, “The House That Sank” received attention from everyone – including the LA Times and folk singers alike – after it (and the truck hauling it) broke through the ice on the way across Lake Superior. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
5
Program Concludes
Bayfield, Wisconsin
B,L

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the inn.

Morning: Our final session of the program will wrap up with two short lectures on the ways in which the people of the Apostle Islands and surrounding region made their living in the challenging Lake Superior environment – fishing, logging, farming, and more – followed by a closer examination of women’s lives on the islands.

Lunch: Before departure, we will have boxed lunches available to take with us. This concludes our program.

Afternoon: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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