And how do I get invited?

I’m reading Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country by Louise Erdrich. Ernest Oberholtzer and his cabins and the 11,000 books on his Rainy Lake island are a big part of the book. I am familiar with Oberholtzer, and knew he was involved in establishing Boundary Waters, and had heard bits about his canoe trip to Hudson Bay, but I can’t get a copy of the book about the trip. I also knew of island but had not read a description before. The whole place sounds amazing.

Please share your story if you have been to Mallard Island. Bound for the Barrens, the account of the 1912 trip to Hudson Bay, is now on my wish list.

It's now an artist's retreat. You can discreetly visit by boat but they request to do so in ways that respect the quiet.
My brother lives on Rainy and we will visit the area every summer.

Oberholtzer was a visionary in what he worked for in the border country.
On another note, there are Oberholtzers in the Grand Marais/Lutsen area. Not sure if they descendants or not.

Do you have any carpentery skills? Know how to fix things? Or you are enthuastic and willing to learn? I have been going up there about twice a year at least for the last 12 years, for week long stays. Sometimes in winter. Mostly to fix things and keep those buildings standing. In fact, I am heading up there on Sunday.

Email me and I can direct you on how to apply.

Minnesotian: "
Do you have any carpentery skills? Know how to fix things? Or you are enthuastic and willing to learn? I have been going up there about twice a year at least for the last 12 years, for week long stays. Sometimes in winter. Mostly to fix things and keep those buildings standing. In fact, I am heading up there on Sunday.


Email me and I can direct you on how to apply. "

Had a buddy do the exact same thing spoken here about by Minnesotian.

Minnesotian: "
Do you have any carpentery skills? Know how to fix things? Or you are enthuastic and willing to learn? I have been going up there about twice a year at least for the last 12 years, for week long stays. Sometimes in winter. Mostly to fix things and keep those buildings standing. In fact, I am heading up there on Sunday.


Email me and I can direct you on how to apply. "

Alas, I am horrible at carpentry and fixing things. I’m mostly useful for simple things like cleaning gutters and mowing.

I finished the Erdrich book moments ago. The author returned to Mallard Island years later and comment how much work the volunteers accomplished between trips with renovating structures and planting.

Samsquatch:
Alas, I am horrible at carpentry and fixing things. I’m mostly useful for simple things like cleaning gutters and mowing.

I finished the Erdrich book moments ago. The author returned to Mallard Island years later and comment how much work the volunteers accomplished between trips with renovating structures and planting. "

Mallard Island always needs people with all levels and variety of skills. There are plenty of small maintenance things that need to happen up there all the time. Whenever my wife joins me, she is the window glazer. Never knew how to do glazing before Mallard, now she is an expert. During the flood years everyone became an expert on cleaning up mud, and disinfecting to prevent mold.

The work weeks only happen twice, maybe three times a year. And a gardening week (because Ober was also into landscape architecture so a lot of gardening beds) happens every spring as well. All the other weeks are what is called Programming Weeks, or weeks that are set aside for specific education, artistic pursuit, or classes. For example, this last year there was a week for Wild Writers led by Doug Wood, Stewards of the Wilderness, a week for young adults to study sustainability, climate change and multicultural perspectives, and a week for daily classes in story telling and song writing. I myself am looking at developing a week class focused on astronomy, astrophotography, but integrated with the Native American or First Nation's perspective on astronomy and their versions of constellations.
If you are interested, feel free to check out the website or to email me. Website here: https://eober.org/

Email sent.

I visited for the first time a couple weekends ago to help a close friend move off of the island after a 3 week stay as a caretaker. I knew all about it, had heard about it for years, had seen plenty of pictures and yet the place still blew me away. What a great place, what a great community and what a great mission! A mission that is especially important in 2026!!! Hats off to all of those that volunteer their time to carry on Ober's legacy.

I can't make it this fall but hopefully some year soon I'll be able to meet you at one of the carpentry weeks, Minnesotian. Have fun up there next week!

I'm really thinking about applying for a work week. At this point I can't make the work week this fall, but maybe this winter or spring if there are going to be any scheduled.