Woods and Waters

A group of people sitting around a beach fire, enjoying the warmth and company under the starry night sky.

Iron County Forest Tour

Every week, Mercer middle school students participate in the Woods and Water Program. Zach Wilson from the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department partners with science teacher Sarah Engler to provide students with local, hands on learning experiences. 

On Tuesday, October 10, students participated in a tour of Iron County Forests. The first stop was Lake Evelyn, a 55 acre state wilderness area. Exploring the area, students learned about invasive species including earthworms. Students used a mustard powder solution to drive the earthworms to the surface where they were counted. They learned to spot worm castings and use those clues to locate the entrances to worm tunnels. In addition, we compared growth in the natural forest to areas that had undergone reforestation. 

A diverse group of friends standing in the woods, surrounded by tall trees and sunlight filtering through the leaves.

The next stop was Schomberg Park (maintained by Iron County Forestry and Parks), a popular destination for ATV and UTV enthusiasts, where students took a quick break and viewed the ATV washstation designed to prevent the spread of non-native species to other areas. After a short walk to Layman's Creek, the group traveled to Corrigan's Lookout. 

A group of people standing on a mountain top, enjoying the breathtaking view and feeling the sense of accomplishment.

They met Eric Peterson, Iron County Forest Administrator, in the parking lot before the 1/4 mile hike to Corrigan's Lookout. We learned about George Corrigan and his book Calked Boots and Cant Hooks that captures the history of logging in the area.

A group of people standing on a mountain top, enjoying the breathtaking view and feeling the sense of accomplishment.

The next stop on the forest tour was Saxon Harbor where students explored the shores of Lake Superior. Here are just a few amazing facts about Lake Superior: 

  • Lake Superior holds about 10% of the fresh water in the entire world!

  • Lake Superior is one of the cleanest and clearest freshwater lakes in the world with an average underwater visibility of 27 feet. 

  • The sun sets 35 minutes later on the western shore than it does on the Southeastern edge. 

  • Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area. 

  • If you were to spread the water contained in Lake Superior across North and South America, everyone would be in 1 foot of water. 

Students wrapped up the trip with a visit to Superior Falls before heading back to school. 

A woman in a plaid shirt and hat confidently holds a pickaxe, ready for some serious digging.

Funds from the Iron County Forestry Department help fund the Woods and Water project. Mercer students are fortunate to have Zach Wilson, a conservation specialist from the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department, provide authentic learning experiences on a weekly basis. What a great opportunity students have to learn about this amazing area we call home!