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.
We engage young people ages 18-40 through project management and social entrepreneurship. We meet the second Tuesday of every month, 7pm Grand Ely Lodge.
Tofte Lake Center (TLC) is a non-profit organization that provides residencies for artists who crave dedicated time to work on their projects, for creatives who seek individual growth through guided workshops or retreats, for arts organizations that want to make time to re/focus on their goals or mission, for arts leaders to gather to exchange ideas with colleagues in their field. TLC is on a pristine lake near Ely, Minnesota, and adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We also offer host arts events, workshops, and yoga classes to the broader public.
Visit our website for more information! https://www.toftelake.org/
Tofte Lake Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
The Ely Area Community Foundation is an IRS-approved 501(C)(3), non-profit foundation that provides an opportunity for people who know and love the Ely Area to join their charitable dollars for the common good of the community, thus enhancing the community development and quality of life.
The Ely Area Community Foundation receives donations from individuals, families, businesses, and charitable organizations. These funds are invested and managed by The Ely Area Community Foundation and the investment income is made available through a grant application process that responds to community needs and aspirations.
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.
Story Portage is a non-profit, centered in Ely, Minnesota, created to foster the art of personal narrative and to promote literacy and reading here in the Northwoods. Current and future projects include:
Ely, Minnesota Chapter of the League of Minnesota Poets
The Maud Hart Lovelace and Star of the North Children’s Choice Book Award Program
Random Acts of Poetry
VCC Visiting Writers Program
Visit our website and take a look at our current projects to learn more, and contact us if you’d like to be part of Story Portage’s future!
Story Portage
P.O. Box 286
Ely, MN 55731
Built by people who love bikes. Roadie, mountain, free-ride or just cruising with the kids. All cyclists are welcome here in Ely.
We have scenic road rides, a growing trail system and a fun group of locals that love their bikes. Come north and join us for a ride!
Never miss a ride. Follow us on Facebook and stay in the loop for all things cycling related in Ely, MN. You’ll get updates on group rides, races, special events and more.
Join us on Thursday nights for our weekly group ride. We leave town at 6:00 pm. See the community page for more details.
We’re building our first dedicated trail system for mountain biking in Ely, and we need your help! Please consider donating. Click here for more details.
Peruse our website for all things bike in Ely, MN.
The mission of the Ely Area Food Shelf is to provide a resource for people living in Ely, Minnesota, and the surrounding communities who have run out of options to alleviate hunger.
The food shelf is located at 15 West Conan Street and is open on the third Wednesday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
People who need assistance can shop between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Home delivery is available for people who are homebound and have no other options for receiving food, such as having a friend or relative shop for them. A volunteer will call to help you “shop by phone” and your food will be delivered. Call (218) 235-8527 to register for this program.
Emergency assistance is available during the month by calling (218) 235-8527.
Ely Community Resource…helping make Ely a great place to grow up!
Our mission is to foster positive youth development through activities designed to increase self-esteem, build a sense of community, and provide positive adult relationships that allow effective interventions.
Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Today, we stand with more than 550,000 members from K-Kids to Key Club to Kiwanis and many ages in between in 80 countries and geographic areas. Each community has different needs, and Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy and offering guidance.
Kiwanis clubs host nearly 150,000 service projects each year.
