Immersive Healing in the North Woods—A Family Trip to Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands

Jamie was a recipient of our “Live Your Big” scholarship program in 2025!

Jamie used her award to take a family trip to Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands. Below are Jamie’s post-adventure reflections.

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It's hard not to fixate on the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of a traumatic brain injury, or in my case, a craniotomy to remove a rare pituitary brain tumor—one that notoriously slips through the cracks of benign and malignant, with permanent, life-altering impacts. As an outdoor lover, my abilities now are very different from what they were pre-brain trauma. Discovering a new way to connect to the outdoors that sustains me while actively grieving and healing from the loss of my former self is challenging at best. However, the good news is that when my life as a ‘survivor,’ a mom, a partner, a friend, and an employee feels overwhelming and unsteady, nature is my constant, and I trust it. 

In early fall of this year, with the support of Outdoor Mindset, I put my healing journey into practice on a road trip north through Wisconsin to Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands, accompanied by my husband, Travis, and our three-year-old son, Farren. 

On our way, we drove through rolling hills, large metros and picturesque farmlands with bright red barns and old silos, along the eastern edge of the driftless region, and deep into the woods of the northern forest—until we came to a vast clearing; crisp, cool air filling our lungs and a feeling of humility and awe—the powerful Lake Superior.

Exploring the Shoreline

We arrived at our cabin for the weekend in Cornucopia, or “Corny” as the locals call it, a little town northwest of Bayfield, which is the launching point for Apostle Islands adventures. When we arrived, it was just shy of sunset on a drizzly, foggy evening. We were eager to stretch our legs, so we quickly unloaded the car, put on our rain boots, jackets, grabbed a flashlight, and set out for a nature hike down to the shoreline. 

We passed by other cabins on the way down this community trail through a mixed-species forest. We came across an apple tree and picked a couple of apples for a trail snack, and investigated big, spongy mushrooms (aka Farren poking them with sticks).

The sound of the waves crashing grew louder, and when we arrived at the shore, each of us was overcome by the endless lake surrounding us, peaceful and turbulent at the same time. Farren’s excitement, stomping in the puddles left behind by the waves, and Travis’s hunt for good skipping stones immediately put me at ease. We were all craving this uncomplicated joy. I ended up with plenty of water in my boots, but I didn’t mind. This was my new version of ‘Type 2’ fun that I didn’t realize I needed, and it made me laugh out loud. 

We continued wandering along the beach toward a small fish shack restaurant for dinner, where everything on the menu was caught that day. Along the way, we came across an artesian well, and we took turns drinking from it…so fresh, pure, and icy cold. We saw historic fishing boats wedged into the sand, and arrived at a large, dock-like platform over the bay, where sailboats and active fishing boats were tied up. We reached the restaurant and huddled inside for a well-earned, super-fresh meal of white fish sandwiches and stew.

Sea Caves and a Giant Waterslide

The next day, it was time to divide and conquer. This area of northern Wisconsin is well-known for its harrowing, majestic sea caves, which can be explored via kayak and canoe in the summer, and as an ice-climbing area in the winter. With a small kiddo in tow, I knew we would not pull off a full-on sea cave adventure. But I was determined that at least one of us would get a good look at them. Travis is an avid runner; that is his way of sustenance, and I had heard about a great five-mile out-and-back trail that ends with cliffside views of the sea caves. I knew this would be our collective chance to get a glimpse, and I’ve become quite skilled at living vicariously through others, so I insisted he go.

Meanwhile, Farren and I took a shorter route, equally as breathtaking, to Siskiwit Falls, which flows north and empties into Siskiwit Bay in Lake Superior. We had been told that in the summer, locals and tourists alike would bring their inner tubes and floaties and slide down these low-angle falls, as if it were a giant waterslide. With plenty of snack breaks along the way, Farren and I clambered down there and confirmed it was the coolest natural water park we had ever seen.

Madeline Island

Another of my favorite adventures on this trip was a visit to Madeline Island by Ferry, where I spent time out on the vast lake, watching the ships and sailboats go by, and exploring Big Bay State Park. While Madeline Island is walkable and bikeable near the port, it was well worth driving to Big Bay (we drove our car on board the ferry with us) to explore the boardwalk trails, along rocky beaches, and through a bog, lagoon, and a coniferous swamp. It was a truly unique experience, nearly all our own, with just a couple of others we saw on this hike - pure joy and peace, running and playing hide and seek in the trees, with my boys.

An Unexpected Gem

One final adventure worth noting was our time spent at Copper Falls State Park. We wanted to experience as much as we could (within reason) on this trip, including a detour on the road home to this very special place, just south of the Bad River Reservation. 

We knew there were waterfalls and a family-friendly trail to see some highlights, but we had no idea how profound these features would be. It was the perfect final stop to stretch our legs and immerse ourselves in the senses, through a mixed conifer and deciduous forest, to see the deep gorges and waterfalls, and wander over bridges that traverse the complex river-landscape system. And it was no surprise that Farren totally rocked it, hiking the whole way up and down the spectacular loop trail.

Alive

The experiences of this trip gave me a familiar feeling of freedom I hadn’t realized I was missing. Since my surgery, and really, before that in my post-partum bubble, I had been quite risk-averse (for good reason). Getting out of my comfort zone was something I sought out like I used to. I had forgotten the feeling: something new, not knowing what was ahead (in a good way), letting myself feel small amidst mountains, oceans, endless landscapes, and wild climates. This adventure brought me home to myself, and in many moments since, I've sought out my new low-key version of ‘Type 2’ fun - mini adventures that are just enough to challenge me and make me laugh, helping me heal and feel whole again.

-Jamie McDevitt-Galles

Wonder + Wildlife: A Trip to the Rocky Mountains

Daniel was a recipient of our “Live Your Big” scholarship program in 2025!

Daniel used his award to take his first trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. Below are Daniel’s post-adventure reflections.

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“The gift shop’s out this way, yeah?” an older, rugged-looking man asked me as we walked past one another, at the very top of Trail Ridge Road, around Marmot Point. “Yeah, right up that-a-ways a bit, if you see the donut shop, you’ve gone too far!” I responded, garnering a chuckle from my new mountain friend. Walking back to the car, I took a moment to stop and take in my surroundings.

This was one of many instances where I did such a thing to truly understand, examine, analyze, and appreciate the absolute beauty before me. Throughout the entirety of the trip, these moments became important for me to recall because I knew that this was going to be a trip to remember, and it certainly was.

Staying not far from Rocky Mountain National Park in Grand Lake, Colorado, I was able to get an excellent idea of the topography of the area, seeing the differences between my lakeside retreat and the intimidating, yet strangely beautiful mountain landscapes that millions have been privileged enough to see, myself now included in those numbers. Most fondly, I will always remember this trip because of all of the wildlife I was able to see. 

A female moose, meandering through the treeline at the base of the Rocky Mountains, elk freely eating tasty green leaves from bushes and trees right off the main street in Estes Park, and of course, the group of longhorn sheep that I befriended while trying to take a picture from a distance, only to be surprised at how quickly those sheep ran from me, not wanting to be photographed! That’s okay, plenty of time to make friends some other time. Well, their loss! From Sky Pond, the Ute Trail, the Timber Creek campground, Coyote Valley Trail, Colorado River Trailhead, among many other places within the park, there is so much to talk about.

I was, and continue to be, grateful, gracious, and eternally thankful to the folks at Outdoor Mindset, who helped put all of this together for me, and allowed someone such as myself the opportunity to really get to explore one of the most spectacular National Parks that the United States of America has to offer. Perhaps what I loved most about the trip to Rocky Mountain National Park was the fact that, even though I was able to get a long list of activities and spots checked off and explored, there is still so much more of that park to return to see.

I believe that Outdoor Mindset knows this about Rocky Mountain National Park, and they intentionally get you to go to these amazing places of natural wonder and beauty, only to get you addicted to how awesome nature is, how important green, open spaces are—not only to cognitively challenged individuals like myself, but for everyone, making you dependent and hopelessly addicted to nature, and to those America the Beautiful Park Passes. I’m onto you, Outdoor Mindset! Lovely trip, amazing experience, 11/10, would do it again.

This is a reminder to never underestimate the importance of getting outside, making ever increasing strides to increase your outdoor time, understand that the world is your oyster, and that you, ultimately, are in charge of how you feel each and every day—so why not let the wondrous beauty of Colorado’s magnificent outdoor landscape take you to new places, experiences and show you what you’ve been missing? I love each and every single one of you at Outdoor Mindset—thank you so much for markedly improving my life with this opportunity, and please, let’s do that again!

Sincerely,
T. Daniel Guzio

Introducing the OM Adventure Scholarship!

Happy New Year!

The year end gives us time to reflect on the year, and take a big breath to settle the mind and return to a positive state of being; whether we experienced something tragic, enlightening, or downright dull. 



With the New Year, comes the view of the horizon. It’s time to look forward to a better future and plan to take action.
 


At OM we look at the New Year as an opportunity to reengage, reignite, and re-imagine the future.
 


To start, I and the Executive and Advisory Boards will be having a retreat on MLK weekend. We will be reflecting on our accomplishments, examining our current state, and planning for a big future! These are exciting times at OM! And in the spirit of reigniting the spirit, I am excited to introduce a brand new program:
 


Introducing the Outdoor Mindset Adventure Scholarship

!


The power of the outdoors to lift our spirits, to clear our thoughts and center our state of being, in history, was a gift that only gods could give. For many of us, the time we spend outside and in nature defines our character and how we view the world. We may dream of climbing that special peak, travelling to that amazing place and living that once in a lifetime experience. These experiences bring strangers together and friends closer, with memories and feelings that will be shared for the rest of their lives. It is at these precise moments when you take a deep breath and say, “this is what life is all about”!
 


Outdoor Mindset thrives on those moments and understands that the impact these extraordinary experiences have on our health and wellbeing is priceless! OM never intends to compete with the gods, but perhaps we can help provide the funding for you and a friend to get closer to experiencing a special peak, an amazing place and a once in a lifetime experience – an item on your bucket list that you have always wanted to complete.
 


Our goal with the

new Adventure Scholarship

is to help support OM’s mission to enhance the quality of life of our members, engage our members and encourage our community to connect with one another and get outside and live big!
 


El Chalten, Patagonia. Put it on your Adventure Scholarship

bucket list!

OM will be awarding at least one Adventure Scholarship per quarter. We will be awarding

at least $500

per Adventure Scholarship! Applications will be accepted starting today, and applicants will be given u

ntil February 12th

, to submit. Applicants must be an OM member, and the Adventure Scholarship must be used for an outdoor activity with at least one other OM member. Keep in mind, anyone can become an OM member and it’s FREE! And most importantly, the Adventure Scholarship awardee must have a great time!!!
 


Please click here to view the official rules and apply. Good luck!

 

Don’t forget to Participate, Engage and Promote! 
 


I can’t wait to see you outside and look forward to sharing more exciting news in the coming months!


~Sean