Explore the Northwoods and Learn New Skills Through Nicolet College’s Outdoor Adventure Program

With summer in full swing so is the Outdoor Adventure program at Nicolet College with numerous upcoming outdoor experiences on the docket now through early fall. 

“It’s been a great season so far with students learning a wide variety of new skills and enjoying all kinds of outdoor experiences,” said Terry Rutlin, Nicolet Outdoor Adventure coordinator. 

“And the best part is we have numerous classes coming up for a broad range of interests. These include everything from an island cookout on the Willow Flowage to wild mushroom hunting, Lake Superior photography, slacklining, paddleboarding, wild cranberry foraging, and much more.” 

Some classes last just an hour or two while others take place over the better part of a day. Each class also comes with an activity rating which ranges from one, which is easy, to four, which is challenging, Rutlin explained. 

For full class descriptions and registration information, visit nicoletcollege.edu/outdooradventure or call the college at (715) 365-4454. 

Upcoming classes include:  

Kayak Cookout on the Willow Flowage  

Not being in any hurry to get anywhere on this paddling adventure, we’ll cruise the waters, take in the scenery, and view the abundant wildlife of the Willow Flowage before making our way to a scenic island for an afternoon cookout featuring an abundance of tasty dishes prepared by individuals who have elevated paddling and picnicking into an art form. 

Martha Schouweiler, Dan Clausen, Terry Rutlin 
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Thursday, July 21 
Willow Dam Road boat landing north of Tomahawk 
$60 
$80 includes kayak rental 
Strenuosity Rating: 3 – Some physically demanding aspects. Requires some endurance.  

Next-Level Stand Up Paddleboarding  

Anyone who feels comfortable on their paddleboard and is looking to take their skills to the next level will get what they are looking for in this two-hour session on scenic Trout Lake. Designed to take beginning-level paddlers to the intermediate level, students will learn a new set of skills that will allow them to feel comfortable paddling in a wider range of conditions with greater confidence. 

Dan Clausen 
1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, July 16 
Trout Lake – North Boat Landing off of Hwy. M just south of Boulder Junction 
$30 
Activity Rating: 3 – Some physically demanding aspects. Requires some endurance.  

Making Natural Cordage 

Learn how to make natural “string” using natural fibers from the wild plants growing around us! Natural cordage and rope have many practical applications, including gear repair, tying bundles of sticks, basketry, necklaces and bracelets, survival traps and snares, fishing nets, and much more. Interested in creating fire by friction? Create a bow drill kit with your own cordage! 

Aimee Heavey and Kevin Schmitz 
10 a.m. to 11 a.m, Saturday, September 17 
Nicolet Campus – The Point picnic area behind the Red Oak Center 
$25 
Participants can take both the Fire Starting and Cordage classes for the discounted rate of $60 for both classes. 
Activity Rating: 1 – Not strenuous at all 

Primitive Fire Starting: Bow Drill and Flint Steel Methods 

By learning the ancient bushcraft skill of primitive fire starting, you’ll be able to quickly and effectively make a fire in any weather. We’ll cover various materials for preparing the best tinder and the proper technique and equipment used for fire-by-friction bow drill and the ferrocerium rod flint and steel fire starting method. And you’ll take your bow drill kit home to continue practicing your new skills. A flint steel fire starting tool for you to keep is also included in the registration fee. 

Andrew Warner and Aimee Heavey 
4:30 to 7:30 pm 
Friday, September 16 
Nicolet College Campus – The Point – Meet at the Red Oak Center entrance 
$45 
Participants can take both the Fire Starting and Cordage classes for the discounted rate of $60 for both classes. 

Fall Wild Cranberry Foraging  

Enjoy the experience of harvesting your own wild cranberries in this class which will teach you where to find this delicious fruit, how to identify it, and prepare and store your cranberries. We’ll venture to a sphagnum moss bog to search for and pick cranberries and also see and learn about other bog plants, including carnivorous sundew and pitcher plants. Note that natural sphagnum moss bogs are a moist environment with reasonably good footing and can be readily traversed with hiking boots or rubber boots, if you want to stay completely dry. 

Kevin Schmitz 
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 8 
Rhinelander-area Sphagnum Bog 
$30 
Activity Rating: 2 – Slightly strenuous but does not require prior physical conditioning.  

On the Hunt for Wild Mushrooms 

Dig into the secretive world of wild mushrooms as we take to the woods to hunt for the broad array of native mycelium that grow in the Northwoods. The focus will be on which mushrooms are absolutely scrumptious in culinary dishes and which ones need to be avoided. Along with venturing into the woods to collect wild mushrooms, the day will also include some indoor lab time to learn a little about mushroom biology and what habitat they like. 

Emilymae King and Sherry Behn 
Two Classes. Same content will be taught each day. 
9 am to 1 pm 
Saturday, August 6 
Saturday, August 13 
Nicolet College Campus – Northwoods Center 207-208 and College Trails 
$45 per day 
Activity rating: 2 – Slightly strenuous but does not require prior physical conditioning. 

Wild Rice Processing 

Wild rice, or manoomin in the Ojibwe language, is a fun grain to collect on our Northwoods waterways. Collecting it is the easy part, processing it is a real challenge. Kevin Schmitz and Mike Haasl will lead the group through the steps to process your bounty into finished wild rice that is ready to eat. We’ll use low-budget tactics and muscle power to parch, dehull, and winnow the rice. Everyone will go home with a portion of the finished rice Kevin and Mike will have harvested and processed. 

Kevin Schmitz and Mike Haasl 
1 to 3:30 pm 
Saturday, September 24 
Nicolet College Campus – Northwoods Community Garden 
$45 
Activity Rating: 1 – Not strenuous at all. 

Permaculture Site Assessment: New Projects  

Take your desire for edible landscapes and sustainability into the field with permaculturists Mike Haasl and Aimee Heavey. We’ll assess and analyze the important design considerations of a home site with no existing permaculture features, including water, slope, aspect, soil, and existing plants. Use an A-frame to determine contour lines, dig into the soil to learn its characteristics, and explore other helpful techniques you can use. 

Mike Haasl and Aimee Heavey 
9 a.m.to 11 a.m., Saturday, August 6 Rhinelander area residence. Participants will receive directions after registering. 
$40. Discounted rate of $70 if you make a day of it and register for both New and Existing Permaculture Projects classes. 
Activity Rating: 1-2 – Slightly strenuous but does not require prior physical conditioning.   

Permaculture Site Assessment: Existing Projects and Tour  

Make your dream of an off-grid sustainable life a reality! How will you improve your gardens to incorporate permaculture features? Join Mike Haasl and Aimee Heavey on a field assessment and tour of an existing permaculture site. See the owners’ creation of a lush edible landscape with “permie plants,” and other features on the homestead site. Assess the current site design, potential improvements, and discuss the lessons learned as the project has evolved. You’ll leave with a good idea of what a maturing permaculture project looks like and how to avoid common mistakes. 

Mike Haasl and Aimee Heavey 
1 to 3 pm 
Saturday, August 6 
Rhinelander area residence. Participants will receive directions after registering. 
$40. Discounted rate of $70 if you make a day of it and register for both New and Existing Permaculture Projects classes. 
Activity Rating: 1-2 – Slightly strenuous but does not require prior physical conditioning.   

Fly Fishing: Introduction to Fly Tying 

Learn about the basic equipment, materials, and techniques needed to tie your own fly fishing flies. Along with tying at least four different, common kinds of flies, each using different tying techniques, you will be given many other tips and suggested resources that will expand your tying skills. Materials and tools will be provided. 

Bob Paine 
1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Two consecutive Saturdays, October 15 and 22. 
The Gentleperson’s Sport Studio (Instructor’s Residence), N9415 Wilderness Drive, Tomahawk 
$55 
Activity Rating: 1 – Not strenuous at all. A stationary experience. 

How to Find and Hunt Ruffed Grouse  

The ruffed grouse is one of the most challenging game birds to hunt in the Northwoods, but you can stack the odds in your favor with the field-tested tips and techniques presented in this two-hour session. Topics will cover the best places to find grouse; what to look for in grouse habitat, including where to find online habitat maps; hunting with and without a dog; and staying safe in the woods. Gun handling; gun, shot, and choke selection; and shooting techniques will also be covered as we prepare to hunt these birds that can literally launch from 0 to 25 mph in the blink of an eye. Ruffed grouse season opens Saturday, September 17, in the Northwoods.  

Terry Rutlin and Scott Biscobing 
9 to 11 am 
Saturday, September 10 
Nicolet College Campus – Northwoods Center 207-208 
$30 
Activity Rating: 1 – Not strenuous at all. A stationary experience.  

Wild Game Cooking  

Savor in the delights of learning exquisite wild game cooking techniques from three individuals who excel in this culinary arena almost as much as they do out hunting in the field. See what it takes to make outstanding dishes with everything from goose to wild turkey and venison to pheasant. And perhaps the best part is after we’ve learned to make these delectable, gourmet-level dishes, we’ll get to sample each and every one. If you are looking to up your culinary game, this class is for you! 

Todd and Veronica Berg and Joe Hein 
Noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, September 10 
Nicolet College Campus – Culinary Arts Kitchen, Northwoods Center 
$75 – includes food tasting of a variety of dishes. 
Activity Rating: 1 – Not strenuous at all. Mostly a stationary experience.   

Intro to Slacklining 

A keen sense of balance is vital to many recreational and daily activities. Without it, we tip over. You can hone and sharpen your balance skills – and have a great deal of fun along the way – with this introductory slacklining class on the shores of picturesque Buck Lake. This introductory course will cover all the techniques, tips, and equipment you’ll need to learn how to slackline quickly and easily, one step at a time.  

Andrew Warner 
Noon to 2 p.m. 
Saturday, September 17 
Almon Park, Buck Lake Beach Area, just south of Rhinelander 
$30 
Activity Rating: 2-3 – Some physically demanding aspects Requires some endurance  

Jewels on the Water: Photography in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore with Jeff Rennicke 

They are the “jewels on the water” – the constellation of 21 islands and the 12 miles of stunning Lake Superior shoreline that make up Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Discover these jewels and how to use your camera to develop a deeper sense of place in nature with renowned Lake Superior photographer and storyteller Jeff Rennicke, author of the book Jewels on the Water: Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands, and Executive Director of Friends of the Apostle Islands. In this unique half-day photography tour, we will be offered an introduction to the national lakeshore and Jeff will provide tips for creating inspiring landscape photography, the importance of capturing details, and other tips for creative shots to maximize your photography along the mainland lakeshore or anywhere in nature. We’ll also tour a historic Lake Superior fish tug and the interpretive displays of the new Little Sand Bay visitor center, walk the sandy beach at Little Sand Bay, and photograph the blue waters of Lake Superior. As of this writing, COVID protocols are in place in federal buildings and on federal properties so please come prepared with a mask and to follow social distancing requirements  

Jeff Rennicke 
2 to 6 pm 
Saturday, August 20 
$60 
Meet at the Little Sand Bay Visitor Center, 32660 Little Sand Bay Rd, 13 miles north of Bayfield 

Introduction to Fall Photography  

The splendor of Fall in the Northwoods will come into sharp focus in this class designed for beginning outdoor photographers looking to master the basics. The morning will start with about an hour in the classroom. We’ll cover camera settings, how these settings interact with each other, principles of composition, how to read light, and what settings work best for the outdoors. Then we’ll head outside and tour several locations on Nicolet’s scenic Lake Julia Campus to refine our outdoor photography skills. Ample one-on-one instruction will be available. It is recommended that students bring a Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. 

Jack Flint 
9 am to noon 
Saturday, October 8 
Nicolet College Campus – Red Oak Center Fireside Room 
$35