Since 1976, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness has been the voice for clean water and wilderness.
Our vision for the future of this national treasure lies at the intersection of people, communities and wilderness.
Visit our website to discover more about this national treasure, from how to plan your next (or first) visit to how you can help preserve the wilderness for future generations.
Well Being Development is a 501(c)3 organization located in Ely, Minnesota. The Northern Lights Clubhouse is the main program of Well Being Development.
Well Being Development is also the fiscal agent of the Ely Behavioral Health Network and the Ely Community Wellness Fund.
Our Vision
All people achieve their potential and are respected as friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers
Our Mission
To inspire and foster activities that develop and enhance the mental well being of residents in and around Babbitt, Ely, Embarrass, Soudan, Tower, and Winton, Minnesota
Visit our website for more.
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 714
Ely, Minnesota 55731
The Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club was organized in 1960 and became the first club of its kind in the USA. The Ely Igloos were also one of the founding members of the International Snowmobile Association (ISA), which later became known as today’s Minnesota United Snowmobile Association (MnUSA).
Members of the club have developed trails in the Ely area, and each year in preparation for the upcoming snowmobile season, numerous club members volunteer their time to clear the trails of trees and branches.
An important mission of the Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club has been, from the very beginning, training of young snowmobile riders with a Snowmobile Safety Class taught each year. These classes teach boys and girls of at least 11 years of age about the proper etiquette of snowmobiling and the rules of the trail.
In recent years, the Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club has taken on the task of grooming the Ely area trails. The club receives funding from the state to maintain and groom the grant-in-aid Tomahawk Trail. Other local trails like the Bianchi Trail (off the Taconite Trail), the Ely/Winton Railroad Grade, and the 13 Corners Trail are also groomed by our club.
In addition, our club has taken on the task of staking and grooming numerous lake trails including Shagawa Lake/Fall Lake Trail, Burntside Lake Trail, Bass Lake Trail, White Iron Lake/Birch Lakes Trail, Little Long Lake Trail, Fall Lake/Cedar Lake Trail, Grassy Lake Trails and the Mud Lake Trail to Lake Vermilion.
The Spiritwood “Forget Me Not” Foundation is Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease Through The Arts as a Non-Profit 501(c)(3)
In 2004 I lost my dad to Alzheimer’s following a very ‘long goodbye.’ We formed the Spiritwood Foundation to help others on a similar journey. Our mission is to raise not only awareness regarding Alzheimer’s Disease, but also critical funds that support community organizations, programs, and facilities working with victims and families dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The Foundation has many different fund-raising tools. One of them is a musical ‘happening’ we wrote called Remember When – The Songs Of the 60s and 70s. We perform this show in communities around the country involving local performers and musicians. Our Foundation then gifts the profits to the community for its specific Alzheimer’s needs.
P.O. Box 179
Ely, MN 55731
The purpose of Incredible Ely is to revitalize Ely’s downtown and support innovative growth in the Ely area by connecting businesses, people, knowledge, ideas, and resources. IE’s vision is a dynamic, innovative, and distinctive community with a diversified and seasonally-balanced economic base.
Explore our projects and join our beautification efforts while supporting innovative growth.
Like many rural communities, the Ely area has struggled to maintain a vibrant economy in the wake of the 2007-08 economic recession. Empty storefronts are a visible reminder of the challenges we face in attracting and retaining young people and ensuring that they have employment opportunities throughout the year – not just during the summer tourist season. Yet there are signs of an Ely renaissance — in the re-opening of Wintergreen Northern Wear, in the expansion of Steger Mukluks, with the opening of the Folk School, and especially in the property developments being undertaken by the Ely Economic Development Authority.
The Ely area has no shortage of talent, and it’s many volunteer organizations are enthusiastically adding to Ely’s offerings in the arts, recreation, and tourist attractions. Incredible Ely (IE) in conjunction with the City and the Chamber of Commerce is part of the community-wide effort to make the area a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
10 DAYS OF CELEBRATING WINTER!
The Ely Winter Festival is 10 days in February celebrating winter. Activities include the amazing snow carvings in the Park, along with the Ely ArtWalk and other events.
Our Headquarters is Northern Grounds at Central Ave and Sheridan St in Ely where you can purchase Festival pins and T-shirts.
The Festival hotline is (218)365-7669 (365-SNOW)
The Ely Winter Festival is made possible by donations from people like you. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit and deeply appreciate your gifts!
Unlike the average vacationer’s resort, Veterans on the Lake has a unique historic background for why it was founded.
In 1982, Disabled Veterans Recreation, Inc. was organized by a group of northeastern Minnesota citizens passionate about finding adequate recreational resources for veterans. Originally the Disabled Veterans Recreation, Inc., Veterans on the Lake was started for the sole purpose of creating a recreational facility for disabled veterans to enjoy vacations. As a non-profit facility, this recreational location was designed to and currently serves the needs of disabled veterans, able bodied veterans, active duty military, their families, and friends.
Camp du Nord is a getaway destination for families, groups and individuals. Deep in the serene beauty of the north woods, we offer a natural setting that promotes relaxation, exploration and community. Camp is situated on Burntside Lake near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and offers miles of hiking and skiing trails, as well as family and group programming throughout the year.
The North American Bear Center is the only black bear and wildlife educational facility of its kind. Dedicated to replacing old myths with facts, it lets people learn from the bears themselves about bear behavior, ecology, and their relations with humans.
Great things await you inside! Whether you visit us in Ely or here on our website, we hope your time with us gives you a better understanding of the world of black bears.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit that relies entirely on the support of visitors, merchandise sales and people like you. We do not receive any state or federal funding. Help support our mission.
From the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota, Widji is uniquely situated to provide access to some of the finest wilderness areas in North America. Four generations of young lives, spanning over eighty years, have been transformed by a Widjiwagan experience. Through wilderness travel and environmental learning experiences, they have built leadership skills, gained confidence and explored extraordinary listings.
Camp Widjiwagan offers programming for teens, ages 11–18.
