Voyageurs National Park (Episode 60)

Guest: Kate Severson, Program Manager for Interpretation, Outreach, and Partnership

Grab your life jacket and your sense of adventure! In this episode, we head to Northern Minnesota to explore Voyageurs National Park, a landscape defined by its interconnected waterways, ancient geology, and the spirit of the French-Canadian fur traders who gave the park its name.

Host Missy Rentz sits down with Kate Severson to discuss the park’s unique 50-year history and why this "difficult to get to" destination is a must-visit for any national park enthusiast. We dive into the grueling daily life of the historical Voyageurs (who paddled up to 18 hours a day!), the delicate balance of wetland conservation, and the legacy of the artists and conservationists who fought to protect this wilderness.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The History of the Voyageurs: Why these "commercial truckers of the 1700s" had to be short, strong, and incredibly resilient.
• Indigenous Roots: How the knowledge and technology of the Ojibwe and Anishinaabe people made the fur trade possible.
• Conservation in Action: What "floating islands" of invasive cattails are and how the park uses fire and machinery to restore native marshes.
• Planning Your Visit: The difference between front country and backcountry camping (hint: they both require a boat!) and how to experience the park in the winter via its famous Ice Road.
• Hidden Gems: From the Ellsworth Rock Gardens to the photography of June Fujita.

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