For the love of the Boundary Waters

I’m fundraising for the Love of the Boundary Waters. Boundary Waters is on the top of my bucket list and I want it to still be there when my family can afford to visit.

I had someone (who I actually thought highly of) tell me they didn’t want a tree planted in their rental yard because it wasn’t their yard and they wouldn’t get to see it grow. It really shook me because I didn’t expect something like that from this person. Isn’t that the problem with everything? We only seek to what we deem will benefit us personally, rather than protecting everything and doing little bits when we  can for anything, whether we’ll benefit or not personally. In the end, we all benefit.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a 1.1 million-acre haven of lakes, rivers, and forests along the Minnesota-Canada border — one of the most critical regions for climate resiliency. Protected for over a century, it holds 20% of all the freshwater in the National Forest System. With 1,100 lakes and 237 miles of hiking trails, it’s a place where millions reconnect with nature, from paddling to hiking to just soaking in the quiet. Home to wildlife like wolves, moose, and loons, the Boundary Waters is one of the last truly wild places left — and it needs protection now more than ever.

Toxic sulfide-ore copper mining has been proposed just upstream of the Boundary Waters. This type of mining is known as one of the most polluting industries in the U.S., and if it’s allowed to happen here, it could permanently harm the clean water, wildlife, and sense of wild we all treasure. Once the damage is done, there’s no going back.

That’s why I’m raising money to help protect the Boundary Waters — not just for me, but for everyone who loves it now and in the future. The funds I raise will support legal action, advocacy, and grassroots organizing to fight back against mining threats and push for permanent protections.

If you’ve ever dipped a paddle in this place, heard the echo of a loon call, or just believe in protecting our public lands — I hope you’ll consider making a donation.

Let’s keep the Boundary Waters wild, for the love of the Boundary Waters.