Wilderness Inquiry Offers Families of All Abilities Fun and Enriching Backcountry Summer Adventures.Lifestyle Editors/Travel Writers MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2003 Registration open for six backcountry back·coun·try n. A sparsely inhabited rural region. canoe trips in Maine, Yellowstone and northern Minnesota; prices start at $60 per youth and $120 per adult Wilderness Inquiry Wilderness Inquiry (WI) is a non-profit organization whose activities are based on the concepts of inclusion and social integration. WI conducts outdoor trips and programs for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, including those with physical and cognitive disabilities. , a non-profit organization A non-profit organization (abbreviated "NPO", also "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is a legally constituted organization whose primary objective is to support or to actively engage in activities of public or private interest without any commercial or monetary profit purposes. that brings together people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through worldwide wilderness adventures, is offering six summer trips for families that are fun and enriching alternatives to theme parks or road trips. Canoeing and camping trips are offered in Maine's Junior Lakes, Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park, 2,219,791 acres (899,015 hectares), the world's first national park (est. 1872), NW Wyo., extending into Montana and Idaho. It lies mainly on a broad plateau in the Rocky Mts., on the Continental Divide, c. and northern Minnesota throughout June, July and August. Prices start at $60 per youth and $120 per adult. "Wilderness Inquiry's summer trips are great alternatives for parents who want family vacations that offer the fun and excitement of a theme park, eliminate the task of planning and packing, and provide unforgettable experiences with life lessons that enrich each family member's life," said Greg Lais, executive director and founder of Wilderness Inquiry. "We bring parents and kids to new places, new activities and new people -- including people with disabilities. By sharing the adventure with a diverse group, everyone comes away with a new perspective on life. Best of all, the learning happens naturally as families canoe, fish, hike, swim and hang out together by the campfire." Wilderness Inquiry's family trips mix group and individual activities to meet the dynamic needs and interests of diverse families. Trained, professional staff guide all adventures, and no previous outdoors experience is required. Trip fees include all meals, equipment, gear, trip planning, permits and staff. Wilderness Inquiry also specializes in providing appropriate support so youth and adults with disabilities can fully participate. Maine's Junior Lakes Family Canoe; $375 per adult; $185 per youth Trip Dates: July 17-20; Aug. 13-16, four days total This trip is an excellent introduction to backcountry canoeing. Participants enjoy fabulous scenery, crystal-clear waters and abundant wildlife as they learn basic paddling and camping skills. Yellowstone National Park Family Adventure; $625 per adult; $310 per youth Trip Dates: July 14-19; July 28-Aug. 2; Aug. 11-16, six days total From base camp, participants hike to Norris Geyser geyser (gī`zər) [Icel.], hot spring from which water and steam are ejected periodically to heights ranging from a few to several hundred feet. Basin, visit Old Faithful Old Faithful, geyser: see Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful well-known geyser in Yellowstone Park; erupts every 64.5 minutes. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 3023] See : Punctuality , fish on Lewis Lake and canoe on Lake Yellowstone. The pace is relaxed yet structured and is accommodating to children of all ages. St. Croix River The St. Croix River may refer to several rivers in North America:
Trip Dates: June 27-29; Aug. 8-10; Aug. 22-24; Aug. 29-31, three days total The St. Croix River was a logger's highway during the last century. As participants paddle through this easy-flowing stretch of river, they may see ancient petroglyphs and sandstone cliffs or stop to hike to an old settler's cave. Voyageurs National Park Voyageurs National Park, 218,200 acres (88,340 hectares), N Minnesota. The park contains forested lake country noted for its sports fishing and glacial features. In the 18th cent. the region was a trade route for French-Canadian voyageurs (fur traders). Family Canoe, northern Minnesota; $445 per adult; $220 per youth Trip Dates: July 2-6; Aug. 6-10; Aug. 27-31, five days total Traveling in 24-foot cedar canoes that hold six to eight people, families follow the path of ancient fur traders who explored the area more than 200 years ago. Each day offers plenty of time for exploring waterfalls or swimming in hidden coves. Itasca State Park Itasca State Park is a state park in Minnesota, United States, and contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The park spans 32,690 acres (132 km²) of northern Minnesota, and is located about 21 miles (34 km) north of Park Rapids, Minnesota and Family Adventure, northern Minnesota; $120 per adult; $60 per youth Trip Dates: July 3-6; July 10-13; July 17-20; July 31-Aug. 3, four days total Canoeing, hiking and fishing are just a few of the activities available during this extended weekend at the Mississippi River Mississippi River River, central U.S. It rises at Lake Itasca in Minnesota and flows south, meeting its major tributaries, the Missouri and the Ohio rivers, about halfway along its journey to the Gulf of Mexico. . After a leisurely day of exploring, participants can enjoy long evenings filled with games and campfire stories. Superior National Forest Canoe, northern Minnesota; $475 per adult; $235 per youth Trip Dates: July 16-20; Aug. 20-24, five days total This adventure begins on Whitefish whitefish: see salmon. whitefish Any of several silvery food fishes (family Salmonidae, or Coregonidae), inhabiting cold northern lakes of Europe, Asia, and North America. Lake in Minnesota's Superior National Forest, which spans more than one million acres. Participants paddle past a forest of pines and birch to establish a base camp, then enjoy hiking, swimming and fishing in this spectacular wilderness. Wilderness Inquiry's summer family adventures are part of a series of canoe, kayak, raft, backpack and horsepack adventures the organization leads in the Americas, Australia and South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. . For more detailed information or to sign up for a trip, visit www.wildernessinquiry.org or call 612-676-9400 or 800-728-0719. About Wilderness Inquiry Wilderness Inquiry is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the oldest and most extensive integrated outdoor education organization in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . It is an internationally recognized leader in the design and implementation of wilderness adventure programs for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Wilderness Inquiry has found that participation in shared wilderness experiences is a "great equalizer," which breaks down social, racial and economic barriers. For more information, visit www.wildernessinquiry.org or call 612-676-9400. |
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