By the time I get this posted, we will have already completed our third week of working. I'm dividing the "job" posts into two because our orientation and training deserves a post of its own, and our VC isn't quite yet open fully, so I want to wait in order to include more of that specific duty later.
Our training began in Bayfield, an adorable waterfront town about 20 miles north of where we're living and working. It is where the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (APIS) HQ is located, and where our direct supervisors/coordinators work. As I mentioned in the previous post, the NGLVC (and many other NPS facilities) is managed by multiple federal agencies, most commonly the USFS, DNR, USFW, as well as local organizations. We are volunteering with the NPS, specifically. It's complex and probably a snooze-fest to read, thus I won't get too far into the weeds on it.
HQ is housed in an historic brownstone, and that is where we had our first day-long classroom orientation with many of the seasonal staff, most of whom we will only see occasionally, if at all, over the summer. That is because the work posts vary greatly and are spread out widely. When we originally looked into working here, we had the choice of a couple different positions/locations, and we chose the VC since this job was supposed to follow our more remote one in New Mexico. We didn't want to be working out on one of the islands, only coming in once a week for supplies and civilization, as majorly cool as those assignments are, and as I'm about to show you.
HQ is housed in an historic brownstone, and that is where we had our first day-long classroom orientation with many of the seasonal staff, most of whom we will only see occasionally, if at all, over the summer. That is because the work posts vary greatly and are spread out widely. When we originally looked into working here, we had the choice of a couple different positions/locations, and we chose the VC since this job was supposed to follow our more remote one in New Mexico. We didn't want to be working out on one of the islands, only coming in once a week for supplies and civilization, as majorly cool as those assignments are, and as I'm about to show you.
Day Two of orientation involved NPS staff taking us all out in their park boats to visit a couple of the islands. Snore. HA, totally NOT snore!
This is training? How will we stay awake?
Our first stop was Michigan Island, which has two lightstations why are there two? a small exhibit hall, pit toilets, and the lightstation quarters where volunteers will be living this summer. This island charmed my socks off, and I thought it would make an idyllic location to spend a summer if you were writing a novel.
I should take a minute to explain that the only way to access any of the APIS islands is by watercraft, whether it be personal or commercial. Wildlife, such as black bears and deer, swim between them, but that's not really recommended for the human species. Visitors will come to this island, though, and that is why it is staffed with volunteers. We were allowed to tour the residence and climb up in the tallest lightstation.
After departing Michigan, we headed over to Stockton Island, the largest of the APIS islands, but second-largest of all the Apostles. There was much more activity taking place on Stockton with park employees working on replacing some pit toilets and others constructing the new amphitheater. We assembled at one of the campsites for a presentation about the Ojibwa (Chippewa) people and their current and historical lives in this area and then hiked out about a mile to the edge of their most recent prescribed burn to learn the significance of it both geologically and spiritually.
We were going to have one more stop before heading in, but the weather was turning on us, and the decision was made to beat it back to port. The ride back was extremely jouncy, and we were airborne more than a few times when the surface of the water dropped out from under us between swells. When the rain came, it was like being in a drive-thru car wash. We all had to hold tight to prevent some head-knocks. We weren't scared, and no one got sea-sick, but both of us were sore (his hip, my lower back) the next few days from our butts slamming into the hard seats repeatedly.
Gitche Gumee don't mess around!
Despite the rocky finish to our day and a hitchhiking tick I picked up, it was an incredible way to spend training time, and we're hoping to be able to have more exploratory visits to the islands over the next few months.
We had the day off after our island-hopping, then the next three days were spent at the NGLVC. On the first, everyone came down to us for training here, then during the following two, TBG and I spent doing what we'll be doing for the rest of the summer. Those details I will save for Part 2.
We fit in a hiking excursion on our only day off to Morgan Creek Falls and St. Peter's Dome. When we arrived, we were the only car in the big lot, and we didn't encounter any other people until near the end of our hike. Superb!
Back to training for us the next day in the form of CPR/FA. It wasn't the most exciting, but now we're refreshed and re-certified in both. Safety is our middle name.
The last day of training didn't seem like training at all because it consisted of getting to take the Apostle Island Cruise! We were all taken on the tour because the captain's narration covers an extensive amount of history and geology. Coincidentally, it happened to fall on our 23rd anniversary.
The stars of this show were the sea caves, battered into the island's sandstone shorelines by the mighty Superior. There are much larger sea caves on the mainland, and our experience with them should be Coming Soon to a Blog Near You!
We were very happy to have been treated to the cruise, especially on our anniversary, because it's not something we would probably have done, otherwise.
We had most of the day still left to fill, and our restaurant of choice wouldn't be open until the following night, so on a coworker's recommendation, we headed to Long Lake to find the blooming Pink Lady's Slipper orchids.
Happy anniversary! Very much looking forward to more posts about where you are staying/working.
Thank you very much!
Tough summer gig, eh! 😁 Lucky you to have visited a few of the Apostle Islands and the lighthouses. Love that shoreline with all the caves. We took the cruise on an unusually calm and beautiful day a couple of years ago. Lake Superior can be a fickle gal demanding respect. Keep sharing your wonderful explorations.
BTW … this has been the WORST tick season we’ve ever experienced in all our years visiting this part of the country.
That recon mission you did for us up here a few years ago paid off. Thanks again.
I know, how will we make it through the whole summer 😀 There are a lot of ticks out and about, for sure, but we keep our stuff treated and do daily/nightly checks. So far, so good, but I don’t know if I’d want to deal with it every summer!
Your writing is so entertaining and photos are spectacular. Keep sharing!!! We love it!!!!
Thank you for the nice words, Tessa!
This sounds like a place that really knows how to treat its volunteers right. I hope your experience over the rest of the summer is just as pleasant. It’s particularly handy to be able to take a nice cruise to celebrate an important date!
So far, we feel very welcome and valued. Wasn’t that a nice coincidence that the cruise landed on our anniversary? Ya gotta love when good plans get made with no effort!
Happy Anniversary! We’ve booked a kayak trip already. I’m making a note of all the hiking available.
Thanks! Only a few short weeks, and we’ll be hiking together 😀
Truly, you guys scored an awesome summer gig! Very cool that you get to experience the boat trips and islands as part of your training. I still can’t believe the color of that water. I really need to see it for myself! I hope you are going to kayak into the sea caves so that you can tell us all about it. I am busily taking notes for our trip next summer. 🙂 Oh, and even though I already wished you a happy anniversary, we want to wish you many, many more years of wonderful adventures together. OXOX
Our “boss” says we’ll be able to get on more boats and islands, and I hope that’s true. Of course, we can pony up the dough for other water transport, and we will probably do that at least once in some form. The water really is the color(s) our photos show, and you DO need to see it for yourself. Thanks for the anniversary wishes — hugs and smoochies right back at ya!
It looks like you found a really great gig for the summer. I can appreciate your desire not to be as isolated as in the Gila. You both have a great time and come see me some time (I’m at Capulin Volcano again this summer). Take care.
Bernie!! There you are! So good to hear from you. I guess you really like the Capulin Volcano gig to be stationed there again. If/when we are through there, we most certainly WILL stop and see you. We’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights while we’re up here, and all things sky remind us of you 🙂
How incredible to see the weather change so quickly. Glad you made it back safely – even if a little bruised and battered. It definitely sounds like you found a fantastic gig and you’ll have plenty to keep you busy on your days off. Love the lighthouse and shoreline pictures! Oh, and Happy Anniversary!
The weather here is extremely changeable, though we’re firmly into ‘summer’ now (meaning it shouldn’t freeze anymore this season.) But an 80+ day will suddenly drop 15 degrees right in the middle of the afternoon for no discernible reason and then warm back up like nothing ever happened. Plus it seems to always be quite breezy, except when you really want a puff of air. These are not terrible problems to have, of course 😀 So many good photo ops up here, for sure. And thank you!
Cheers to a Happy Anniversary, and you are in a fantastic place to celebrate!
Well, it looks like this will be a summer to remember, and the ticks will sure make you remember them.
Beautiful place, beautifully captured and a Im a bit a jealous of where you are. Looking forward to hearing more of your summer gig. And thanks TBG for the pretty Pink Lady’s Slipper orchids photo.
Thank you! The ticks are just lying in wait to attack, and all I can say is that permethrin is a miracle and has been keeping us safe. It doesn’t eliminate the need for daily tick-checks, but those keep 23 years feeling fresh 😀 Hopefully we’ll have many more pretty flowers to feature in the months to come!
Spectacular place to spend your summer. Free training cruise was just the perfect anniversary gift. Happy Anniversary! Wishing you many more years.
We’re pretty happy with our choice here so far. It definitely started with some spectacular stuff, so our challenge now is to see if we can keep up the pace. HA, things will settle, but hopefully not get too dull. If we run out of cool stuff to see/do, it’ll be because we’re not trying very hard! Thanks for the anniversary wishes. Most days, we hope so, too 😀
Happy Anniversary you two! What a fun way to spend the day celebrating your lives together in a way that you spend your lives together…on adventures! Tick checks do have their advantages 🤭😏.
Thank you! It *was* a fun way to spend the day, mostly because it was so different from anything we would’ve chosen on our own. It’s good to try new things after 23 years. 😀 My motto: The couple who tick-checks together, stays together!