The Wilderness Wind paddle-a-thon is a two day event in
northern Minnesota. On the first day, participants paddle
from 30-70 miles
(their choice) within the Minnesota Boundary Waters and/or the Canadian Quetico.
The second day of the event includes play, celebration and
rejuvenation. The 2011 paddle-a-thon will be taking place on
August 6th-7th.
The main purpose of the event is to raise funds for Wilderness Wind
operations, but of course we intend to have a memorable and enjoyable
time doing it. In addition, we seek to make the event faithful to our
mission, meaning that we
seek to nurture our relationship with God and creation through
wilderness living, which promotes spirituality, cooperation and
environmental sustainability.
Where does the money go?
The Paddle-a-Thon was created to raise funds for Wilderness Wind
operational expenses. In an attempt to make wilderness experiences
accessible to people of diverse economic backgrounds, Wilderness Wind's
fees do not cover the entire expenses of Boundary Waters canoe trips. Instead, our fees cover only two-thirds of all program expenses.
Additionally, we desire to be a positive influence on our local
community, so we have agreed to tithe a portion of the event's proceeds
to the betterment of the Ely community.
In total, the funds raised by the Paddle-a-Thon support:
summer staff stipends
camper scholarships
equipment replacement
introducing additional sustainability practices and equipment into Wilderness Wind's daily functions
Wilderness Wind's endowment fund (10%)
ecological and community programs in Ely, MN (10%)
How can you be involved?
Be a Paddler (Inquiry
Letter) *Follow links at the bottom of this section for
required paddler forms*
Contribute by mail - send your tax-deductible donation to: Wilderness Wind Paddle-a-thon
2945 Hwy 169
Ely, MN 55731
Though the Paddle-a-Thon means a full day of canoeing for some, they
are few when compared with all of the people involved. We have thought
of a few ways you could become a part of the event, but feel free to
use your imagination and let us know how you will participate. We love
to hear the ideas of people thinking outside the box! You could join with other people in your community:
several people in the Goshen area planned a breakfast and short paddle
to publicize the later event and raise funds within that community.
Several of our board members are wearing their green paddle-a-thon
shirts to special events and telling others about the event. Be
imaginative!
The Wilderness Wind paddle-a-thon is a two day event in
northern Minnesota. On the first day, participants paddle
from 30-70 miles
(their choice) within the Minnesota Boundary Waters and/or the Canadian Quetico.
The second day of the event includes play, celebration and
rejuvenation. The 2011 paddle-a-thon will be taking place on
August 6th-7th. 
