Events
Upcoming events.
We host monthly local meetups with the intention of making outdoor recreation more approachable and accessible. These free events include entry-level outdoor recreation activities like hiking, climbing, and paddling. In addition to these meetups, we occasionally offer a guided retreat to somewhere local in the driftless region or further away, like the Wind River Range. We aim to deliver an experience that deepens your connection to the outdoors.
Wilderness Weekends with Emily Gorman
Wilderness Weekends is a program led by environmental educator Emily Gorman, designed to explore and educate participants about the diverse ecosystems and environmental treasures surrounding Winona County, Minnesota. This program offers an exciting opportunity for nature enthusiasts, students, families, and anyone passionate about environmental education to engage with the natural world through immersive activities that invite us to dive deeper into our understanding of nature.
Bigger Hearts Adaptive and Therapeutic Recreation Program
The Bigger Hearts Adaptive and Therapeutic Recreation Program will serve youth ages 8 - 17 with physical disabilities or adaptive equipment needs. Youth with adaptive needs are currently an underserved population in Winona County for recreation programming. This program will empower youth participants to find their confidence and strength through outdoor programming. Bigger Heart will also support increased access to outdoor recreation, which promotes overall well-being through nature's mental and physical health benefits.
Rock Climbing Retreat at Devil's Lake State Park
Are you drawn to adventures up high? What about challenging yourself, both physically and mentally, while exploring in the Great Outdoors? Or are you a geologist nerd at heart who loves to get close up with incredible rock formations? Devil’s Lake State Park, located just outside of Baraboo, Wisconsin, is home to some of the most incredible recreation the Midwest has to offer. With over 1,600 climbing routes, 29 miles of hiking trails, and some of the most scenic views of the beautiful Driftless Region, there’s something here for everyone!
Join the Winona Outdoor Collaborative on a climbing retreat at Devil’s Lake State Park. For the weekend warriors in us all, we’ll explore the park for two full days by rock climbing, camping, and hiking. Enjoy nights spent around the fire, connecting with others, while surrounded by the beauty that is Southcentral Wisconsin.o.
Cost: $291, but you can start with a 20% deposit of $58.20 and pay the remaining $232.80 within a month of the event!
If you’d like to put down a 20% deposit of $58.20, use code RETREATDEPOSIT when registering. We’ll follow up for the remainder of the payment, $232.80, which is due one full month prior to the departure date of the trip, by 11:59 PM. Failure to make payment in full may result in the loss of your spot on the guided retreat.
Pricing Plans are available upon request. To request a pricing plan, please email Alexa Shapiro at alexa@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com
Inclusions: Guided instruction, equipment, and all food (including dinner Friday night, all three meals and snacks on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday). Snacks will be provided throughout the trip and coffee and tea will be available each morning.
Exclusions: Personal camping equipment like headlamps, camp pillows, utensils and plates, and transportation. We might be able to arrange some carpooling!
What are the lodging details? Tent camping at Devil’s Lake State Park.
Are there any adaptations for equipment needed to accommodate participants? We cannot provide adaptive equipment for this event
Parking Instructions: Participants must have a valid WI state park pass for parking. To purchase a pass, head to Visitor Center upon arrival or go to the WI State Park website: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/admission
Are there bathrooms available? Yes
What is the Cancellation Policy? As a nonprofit organization, our retreats are important to our annual operations because they help cover the fees associated with our free or reduced-cost programming, which is provided to our community in order to achieve our mission of increasing accessibility to the outdoors. We have a stringent refund and cancellation policy, which we’ve linked here for your reference.
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional questions or use the information below to contact our trip leaders! If you’re curious about our policies around climbing, visit the Local Experiences page.
Registration is REQUIRED for this event and will close on Saturday, September 9.
Please complete a waiver/photo release - the link is provided below.
Event Coordinator | Main Contact
Alexa Shapiro (she/her)
Credentials: Wilderness First Responder and Masters in Recreation Management (M.R.M.)
(760) 274-7493
alexa@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com
Trip Leader | Secondary Contact
Sydney Bockelman (she/her)
Wilderness First Responder, Single Pitch Climbing Instructor
sydney@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com
Mindfulness & Movement in the Northwoods Retreat
Join the Winona Outdoor Collaborative with Muddy Waters Yoga Studio for five days of Mindfulness & Movement in the Northwoods from July 26 - 30.
With plenty of opportunities to pause and reflect, this retreat is intended to be the perfect recharge during a busy summer. You deserve time to be alone with your thoughts or to connect with others who share similar values, and this retreat will provide you with just that. Each day will be spent walking among the beautiful landscape of the Northwoods and participating in an array of recreation that is intended to challenge ourselves and provide a new perspective.
Whether it's paddling, long distance biking, hiking, yoga and meditation, or even a single overnight backpacking trip along Lake Itasca and the North Country National Scenic Trail; this retreat is sure to have something for everyone.
Each night, we'll gather in the group lodging to enjoy a communal meal and connection with one another, followed by an optional evening yoga and meditation session guided by the phenomenal instructors at Muddy Waters Yoga Studio.
Cost: $880
If you’d like to put down a 20% deposit instead of paying in full, use code RETREATDEPOSIT when registering. We’ll follow up for the remainder of the payment, which is due one full month prior to the departure date of the trip, by 11:59 PM. Failure to make payment in full may result in the loss of your spot on the guided retreat.
Pricing Plans are available upon request. To request a pricing plan, please email Alexa Shapiro at alexa@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com
Inclusions: Lodging, food (including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and coffee and tea), guided instruction and equipment for all activities, packing list, optional workshops and educational classes, some surprises along the way!
Exclusions: Personal equipment like pillows, headlamps, and eating utensils/bowls, transportation to and from city of origin to Lake Itasca SP.
What are the lodging details? For one night, we’ll be in a tent, and the rest, in a cabin. Each night, we'll reconvene at our group lodging, the beautiful and historic Clubhouse at Itasca State Park. Built in 1913, this two story lodge is the perfect space for us to unwind at the end of the day. With plenty of space to spread out, participants will always have the chance to take time for themselves or connect with others around the indoor or outdoor fireplaces or gathering spaces.
What is the Cancellation Policy? As a nonprofit organization, our retreats are important to our annual operations because they help cover the fees associated with our free or reduced-cost programming, which is provided to our community in order to achieve our mission of increasing accessibility to the outdoors. We have a stringent refund and cancellation policy, which we’ve linked here for your reference.
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional questions or use the information below to contact our trip leaders!
Registration is REQUIRED for this event and will open on Wednesday, February 15th. This trip will run with a minimum of eight participants and a maximum of twelve.
Please complete a waiver/photo release - the link is provided below.
Registration will close on Thursday, June 1st, unless full beforehand.
Trip Leader | Contact Information
Alexa Shapiro, Director of Trailblazing
Credentials: Wilderness First Responder and Masters in Recreation Management (M.R.M.)
(760) 274-7493
alexa@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com
Trip Leader | Contact Information
Miranda Maurer, Director of Flow
Wilderness First Responder and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
(507) 858-4185
Outdoor Climbing Retreat at Devil’s Lake
Climbing can be a fun, exciting way to explore beyond your comfort zone while testing your body both physically and mentally. The Driftless Region is one of the greatest places to explore up high - dramatic views of the bluffs and river valleys create a landscape that’s simply mesmerizing. Have you been curious about the world of rock climbing, or are craving an adventure with other adventurous folks? Join the Winona Outdoor Collaborative for one of their two Rock Climbing at Devil’s Lake Retreats!
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The outdoors offers a great opportunity to explore the natural world, sometimes that means exploring it in less-than-ideal conditions. With few exceptions, WOC programs operate rain or shine. This gives us the opportunity to challenge ourselves to do hard things and advance our capacity to “survive” in the wilderness regardless of weather. Programs will be canceled if the weather makes it unsafe to recreate outside or if local ordinances limit access to trails or facilities. This can include seasonal considerations for tread impact on trails during the spring or lightning storms.
-
WOC programs are intended to be inclusive of all experience levels. Each program has the opportunity to “level up” based on your past experience and existing fitness levels. If you are unsure if you will be able to comfortably participate in a program due to your fitness level, we highly recommend reaching out to program staff at info@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com to ask questions or to make requests for how the WOC can adapt the program to be inclusive of your needs.
-
For paddling events, the weight limit is 625 lbs. For climbing events, the weight limit is dependent upon the rope but is over 1,000 lbs, at a minimum, for the ropes the WOC utilizes.
-
There are no age limits for any WOC programs, however some adaptations may be necessary depending on the form of recreation. For example, school aged youth may not fit in small climbing harnesses and instead require a full body harness. For all WOC programs, any adaptations will be listed on the program event page on the website for younger participants.
-
Programs are always hosted in outdoor spaces, meaning bathroom availability may be limited. When a program is hosted at a City of Winona property, like Holzinger/Bluffside Trail or Sugarloaf, portable bathrooms are available at the trailhead. For programs hosted at non City of Winona properties, bathrooms may not be available. For these programs, we recommend that participants bring their favorite form of reusable toilet paper OR a ditty bag and toilet paper, and utilize the great outdoors for bathroom use following Leave No Trace practices. For more information about how to go in the woods, click here.
-
Cancellation policies vary depending on the program. Contracted Guiding, Retreat Guiding, Local Experience Guiding, and Workshops are all events that require a payment. (Click on the word to see the policy). Meet-ups do not have a cancellation policy, however we appreciate participants letting us know if they can no longer make it to a program that requires registration. The cancel registration for a meet-up, email the WOC at info@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com
-
GREAT! Here at the WOC, we firmly believe that anyone can do something new and challenging in the outdoors, regardless of their experience. We provide the tools to try something new, including instruction, equipment, and support. We encourage everyone to participate in programs, regardless of their experience level. If you have concerns about your ability to participate in a program, we encourage you to reach out to the program coordinator at info@winonaoutdoorcollaborative.com.
-
WOC provides equipment for most programs, with few exceptions. For retreats or guided services (contracted or local), participants may be asked to bring specific personal items like headlamps, camp pillows, or camp chairs. These lists are provided to participants upon registration. At times, the WOC may be able to provide some of this equipment to select participants based on needs. When you register for a retreat or guided service, you will be put in contact with our retreat coordinator, who can discuss this with you in full. For all additional programs, including meet-ups and workshops, the WOC will provide all equipment needs unless otherwise noted on our website.