Events Articles

Read about special events for Friends of the Apostle Islands.

Friends cruise guests experience the magic of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Friends cruise guests experience the magic of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

It was a magical night for guests on the sold-out Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore cruise. Magical because Canadian wildfire smoke that had shrouded northern Wisconsin for weeks disappeared just in time. Magical because nearly glass-calm conditions made it easy to dine on catered delicacies and home-made treats. Magical because many guests were able to cool off by wading in the clear waters of Julian Bay, then cap off the evening with a beautiful sunset. And magical because a shared love of the Lakeshore brought all of these like-minded people together for an evening of fun...

Silent auction of “Sunrise in Quiet Cove” watercolor painting ends – congratulations to the winning bidder

Silent auction of “Sunrise in Quiet Cove” watercolor painting ends – congratulations to the winning bidder

Update: Thanks to our friends who bid on "Sunrise in Quiet Cove" during our recent silent auction. Bidding is now closed. Read about the winning bid here.Thanks to the generosity of local watercolorist Dale Whittaker, you may now bid on this original 11.5 x 14.5 inch painting in an 18 x 22 inch frame, "Sunrise in Quiet Cove." Dale's painting depicts the brownstone cliffs, pines, and clear water of Lake Superior in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. He created this work while he was on the water with Friends Executive Director Jeff Rennicke. Jeff captured the moment and talked with Dale...

Rainbows and gratitude: Friends gather for annual August cruise

Rainbows and gratitude: Friends gather for annual August cruise

Gratitude was the theme of the evening for the 2024 Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore annual cruise. Sixty Friends supporters and park lovers boarded the Superior Princess in Bayfield for an evening of engaging conversation, fine food and a few surprises in the park we love. Boarding the Superior Princess - Bob Jauch photoCaptain Sherman Edwards - Bob Jauch photoThe original plan was to visit Stockton Island for a program in the accessible amphitheater and a hike to Julian Bay, but as we all know "the lake is the boss." So, when strong westerly winds and waves made that...

Under the Big Top: celebrating Sigurd Olson

Under the Big Top: celebrating Sigurd Olson

How do you celebrate a life lived close to nature? How do you honor a life that has inspired millions to seek their own wild places? Perhaps it is through music, poetry, wilderness photographs, and asking the audience to howl like wolves in the wild. That was the scene under the Big Top on the evening of July 26th when Friends of the Apostle Islands and Wisconsin Green Fire cosponsored “Song For Wild,” a multimedia concert celebrating the legacy of one of the greatest conservationists of the 20th century, Sigurd Olson.The show featured the writings of Sigurd Olson set to music by Warren...

Join us for “Song for the Wild” July 26th at Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield!

Join us for “Song for the Wild” July 26th at Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield!

Sigurd Olson heard the music of the wild places. He paddled, camped, hiked, and listened. Then he put what he heard into the words and stories of his lyrical and well-loved books like The Singing Wilderness and Listening Point.Images courtesy Big Top ChautauquaOn July 26th, Friends of the Apostle Islands is proud to join with the Big Top Chautauqua and Wisconsin Greenfire to present "Song for the Wild," a multimedia concert celebrating the legacy of one of the greatest conservationists of the 20th century, Sigurd Olson. The show features the writings of Sigurd Olson set to music by Warren...

Sign up now for the 2024 Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore annual cruise

Sign up now for the 2024 Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore annual cruise

We hope you'll join us for this year's Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore cruise on August 8th. New this year, cruise Artist in Residence Dale Whittaker will join us to talk about his work and capture some Apostle Islands magic. Read more about Dale here. Enjoy some food and drink, a brief program, a stroll along the beach at Julian Bay with some of your Friends and hopefully, a beautiful sunset on the way back to Bayfield  -- weather permitting, of course.

Canoecopia 2024 includes presentations on protecting our Starry Skies, paddling the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Canoecopia 2024 includes presentations on protecting our Starry Skies, paddling the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

If paddling the spectacular sea caves in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is on your bucket list, we invite you to see us at Canoecopia in Madison, Wisconsin, March 8-10, 2024. This annual event includes more than 100 educational presentations and clinics on kayaking, canoeing and related topics, including presentations by Friends Executive Director Jeff Rennicke and Ranger Steve Ballou of the National Park Service. You'll also be able to learn from the experts what gear you need to safely explore the islands.Alliant Energy Center1919 Alliant Energy WayEvent host Rutabaga Paddlesports...

Northern lights celebrated during 6th annual Aurora Summit at Red Cliff

Northern lights celebrated during 6th annual Aurora Summit at Red Cliff

The weekend of November 3-5th saw one of North America’s largest displays of aurora borealis (northern lights) this year, visible as far south as Colorado. While clouds obscured the display in the Apostle Islands, even cloudy skies could not dampen the enthusiasm of the several hundred skywatchers gathered at the Legendary Waters Resort in Red Cliff for Aurora Summit 23.“The Aurora Chasers knocked it out of this world over the weekend at Aurora Summit 23,” said Melissa Kaelin, co-founder of the Aurora Summit, and author of Below the 45th Parallel: The Beginners Guide to Chasing the Aurora in...

Sold Out! Annual Friends Cruise planned for August 10th

Sold Out! Annual Friends Cruise planned for August 10th

It is the highlight of the season at Friends of the Apostle Islands: a time to gather with friends, members, supporters, new faces, and enjoy the very place we all work so hard to protect. This year, our Annual Cruise is slated for Thursday, August 10th. We will board the Superior Princess of the Apostle Island Cruise Service at the Bayfield City Dock at 5pm and cruise Lake Superior passing Basswood Island, Hermit, Oak, and others. Along the way we will enjoy a buffet and drinks, stories of the islands, watch the scenery slip by and our destination – Stockton Island – looming on the...

An eye for helping: Photographer couple targets Friends with April 22nd fundraiser

An eye for helping: Photographer couple targets Friends with April 22nd fundraiser

From the Galapagos to Africa, from Iceland to Hawaii, the husband-and-wife photography team of Carol and Roy Toepke have an eye for nature and a deep-seated desire to help protect it. This April 22nd, they are targeting the Access for All initiative of Friends with a fundraising effort to help one of their favorite places on earth: the Apostle Islands.Carol and Roy Toepke“We're big fans of the Apostle Islands,” says Carol. “We have explored the lighthouses, ventured out to the mainland and Devils Island sea caves and trekked to the ice caves twice.” And they have captured it all in...