Tuesday Group

This is one of our most beloved Tuesday Group traditions. In lieu of our regular programming wherein speakers present on a particular topic, we will hear from a handful of new Ely-area residents. We'll learn about how they came to select Ely as their new home, what they like to do for fun, and more. Additionally, this time around we'll meet some of the folks involved with the Ely Art Walk. (Can you believe it's already time to start thinking about February??).

The Tuesday Group presentation at the Grand Ely Lodge on October 29, 2024 was provided by Ozzie Reif, Steve Piragis, and Aaron Landon. The Ely Northwoods Chapter of the NCTA is celebrating its first anniversary, and would like to update the Ely community on all they've been up to. Come hear a recap of what the trail is, learn about some of our first-year achievements and future plans, and find out how you can become involved! Ozzie Reif has been volunteering with the North Country Trail Association for two years. He currently serves as the president of the Ely Northwoods Chapter of the NCTA, and has greatly enjoyed working with local volunteers and other entities to help promote, and create Ely’s section of this National Scenic Trail. When not out bushwhacking, he can be found running his small business, Ely Mitten Project, at the Ely Folk School, or in a canoe.

The Tuesday Group presentation at the Grand Ely Lodge on October 22, 2024 was provided Amy and Dave Freeman, authors of North American Odyssey. After a dogsledding wedding on White Iron Lake (and reception at Grand Ely Lodge), the Freemans set out on an unusual honeymoon: a three-year, 12,000-mile journey across North America. From Alaska’s Inside Passage to Florida’s Key West, they traverse the continent by kayak, canoe, dogsled, and skis, encountering wildlife, sublime landscapes, and harrowing challenges. Along the way, the Freemans also bear witness to environmental degradation and climate change—from plastic-covered beaches to forest fires to retreating glaciers. And as they engage with Native and rural communities most impacted by the changes resulting from modern industrial society and meet individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the natural world, their adventure deepens in ways they never imagined. From the white-knuckle rush of paddling white water to the wonderment of dogsledding across a frosted landscape where caribou and wolves roam, NORTH AMERICAN ODYSSEY is a celebration of our interconnectedness to the natural world and to each other. Beautifully written, engagingly told, and inspiring throughout, Amy and Dave Freeman’s story is a clarion call for change in the way we live. Amy and Dave Freeman have traveled over 50,000 miles through some of the world’s wildest places, from the Amazon to the Arctic. They were named Adventurers of the Year by National Geographic in 2014, and they are also the authors of A Year in the Wilderness, an award-winning book about the year they spent in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. When they aren’t on expeditions, their sailboat, or speaking tours, they are based in Ely-- working at Ely Outfitting Company, where Dave spends most of the summer guiding in the BWCAW and Amy is in the shop helping folks launch their BWCAW adventures.

The Tuesday Group presentation at the Grand Ely Lodge on October 15, 2024 was provided Jo Swanson, Executive Director of Northwoods Volunteer Connection. Learn about Northwoods Volunteer Connection (NVC), a nonprofit dedicated to stewardship of the Superior National Forest. Jo will talk about why the Superior National Forest is so special, why this work is important, what NVC has tackled this year, and exciting 2025 opportunities! Jo (she/her) has a background in nonprofit trail administration, most recently working for the Superior Hiking Trail Association where she loved meeting amazing volunteers and dedicated land-managing partners. She began her career accidentally, when she signed up to volunteer on a trail project and just kept coming back. She is a long-distance hiker, Wilderness area collector, and camps at least 52 nights per year. She is based out of Two Harbors and regularly explores the Superior National Forest.

The Tuesday Group presentation at the Grand Ely Lodge on October 8, 2024 was provided by DNR Forester Victoria Jari and Sonja Tosteson of the UMN Urban Forestry Outreach & Research. Come learn how to prepare your newly planted, young, and vulnerable trees for winter. We'll then deep-dive into how to prepare now for pruning smaller branches during the dormant season. This will include a brief overview of branch biology, helpful versus damaging cutting scenarios, and the three-cut method. Sonja Tosteson is the Volunteer & Partnerships Coordinator with the UMN Urban Forestry Outreach & Research (UFOR) Lab. She holds her MA in Environmental Conservation Education from NYU and BA from St. Olaf College in Environmental Studies.

The Tuesday Group presentation at the Grand Ely Lodge on September 24, 2024 was provided by master photographer Travis Novitsky. He explored human connection to the aurora, the Milky Way, and the wonder of the universe above us -- and his presentation was complete with gorgeous photographs. For millennia, humans have marveled at the night sky: the wonder of the aurora, the glory of the Milky Way, and the peace that comes with stargazing. In the remarkable book, Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, and Living Connections to the Cosmos, Novitsky’s photographs portray these marvels, while astrophysicist Annette S. Lee discusses how Western science and Indigenous knowledge can work together to provide a deeper understanding of our place in the universe. Travis Novitsky has been photographing the night sky for decades, and his vibrant images reflect and transmit the awe-inspiring scenes he has witnessed.

The Tuesday Group presentation on September 10, 2024 was provided by our friend and neighbor, Jess Kulik. Jess presented "Executive Functioning and Community: Ely's Hidden Inclusivity." Executive functioning skills are integral to our daily life. Ranging from planning, working memory, and organization to emotional regulation, everything you do utilizes these skills. Ely, and many small towns, have inherent executive functioning support built into the community. During this presentation, Jess will explain executive functioning skills, the different types of people who struggle with them, and how Ely is able to support executive functioning skill development. Jess Kulik is a former teacher, getting her PhD in developmental psychology studying executive functioning skills and their impact on relationships and social skills. While teaching, Jess taught 2-8th grade in Bilingual (Spanish), general education, and special education. During that time, she noticed the importance of executive functioning skills on academic success and on relationships between students. In the past, she has helped families create interventions and support in their home to promote student success.

The Tuesday Group presentation on August 20, 2024 was about Perpich: A Statewide Residential Arts High School with the school's Admissions Director Anne Johnson. Perpich Arts High School opened its doors in 1989 and graduated its first class in 1991. It is a tuition-free, public, residential high school for students in 11th and 12th grades. The school is part of Perpich Center for Arts Education, a state agency funded by the Minnesota legislature. Anne Johnson came to Perpich Arts High Schools after 12 years working in college and career planning, first at Wayzata High School, then with UW-Milwaukee. Prior to entering education, Anne worked in the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. She believes that there is joy and reward in any work we do, yet it’s really been in education with high school students that she has found her calling. Anne loves being mom to her three grown children with her husband, Jeff. Before settling down in Wayzata, their family was fortunate to live in many states across the country. Cooking is a passion, along with being outdoors as much as possible. The perfect combination for Anne is a good meal prepared over an open campfire at the end of a day hiking. “That’s when we can say that life is good!”

Enter the world of Sigurd Olson: Minnesota writer, conservationist, teacher and philosopher. The Tuesday Group presentation on August 13, 2024 was provided by Freja Alioth, the Executive Director of Listening Point Foundation. Freja's presentation provided background and insights into Olson’s philosophies, love of land, and preservation work. Freja Alioth began her journey with Listening Point Foundation (LPF) in 2020 as the Program Director, and has led over 100 tours and events for members of our community and beyond. When she’s not out in the woods with her two dogs, you can find her exploring breweries with her husband or hanging out at home with her 4 cats.