Apostle Islands Course — August 23-28, 2026
Save $250 in our Early Bird/Winter Solstice Sale (sale ends Dec. 22)!
John & Ann Mahan, Instructors
Since 2002, John and Ann Mahan have been instructors for lifelong learning courses at Isle Royale and Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Beginning in 2025, John and Ann are offering a lifelong learning course in Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands — an archipelago of 22 islands at the tip of the Bayfield Peninsula. Twelve miles of mainland shoreline and 21 islands make up Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Eighty per cent of the national lakeshore is designated wilderness.
The Mahans have been exploring Apostle Islands since 1985, camping, hiking, and sea kayaking. This course will introduce you to some of the features that they love about the islands: sea caves, beach dunes and sandspits, lighthouses, bogs and lagoons. We hope to see eagles, loons, and sandhill cranes; bears are good at avoiding people, so sightings are rare but possible. The course will include multi-media presentations and talks on geology, island biogeography, ecology and history of the area. Other experts will also give talks.
Lodging and meals will be provided by Bayfield Inn on Lake Superior.
Double occupancy rooms are all Lakeside. Private rooms (additional cost) are limited, and some private rooms do not have water views.
Tentative Itinerary
(Itinerary subject to weather, Lake Superior wave height, & NPS policies.)
Sunday — 4:30PM Orientation, followed by Dinner and Multi-media presentation.
Monday — Sea kayaking to mainland sea caves (weather permitting), guided by trained instructors at Lost Creek Adventures; the alternate activity for anyone choosing not to kayak will be a guided hike above the sea caves. Dinner at Bayfield Inn, with evening program to follow.
Tuesday — Morning talks, followed by a 2:15PM boat cruise to Raspberry Island (weather permitting), where we can tour a lighthouse or hike to a sand spit. Evening program following dinner at Bayfield Inn.
Wednesday — Ferry ride to Madeline Island. After visiting the museum, we will have a picnic lunch and guided hikes at Big Bay State Park. Return to Bayfield Inn for dinner and evening program.
Thursday — Weather permitting, we will spend the day on Stockton Island, hiking to Julian Bay, with its expansive “singing sand” beach, bogs, lagoons, a variety of birds, beach dunes, and rocky Lake Superior shores. Return to Bayfield Inn for dinner.
Friday — Free time in the morning for packing and checking out of your room, then we will gather for a farewell luncheon and final ceremony.
Save $250 in our Early Bird/Winter Solstice Sale (sale ends Dec. 22)
Total course price = $3,411
Sale Price through Dec. 22 = $3,161
$400 non-refundable Deposit due at Enrollment
Price includes all lodging, meals (except alcoholic drinks), bus transportation during the course, entrance fees, lectures and programs, guided day hikes and sea kayaking, tours on Apostle Islands sightseeing boat, and Madeline Island Ferry. These are small groups — maximum 20 participants.
(We give a 40% discount on our book,
Lake Superior: Story and Spirit,
to participants in our courses. )
Final payment due 6/24/26 (60 days before course start date)
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation on or before July 24, 2026 (30 days or more prior to course start date) — all refunded except $400 non-refundable deposit
Cancellation July 25–August 12, 2026 (11-29 days prior to course start date) — 50% refunded
Cancellation August 13, 2026 or later (10 days or less prior to course start date) — no refund
To enroll: Enrollment Deposit
Do feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Reviews from Past Participants
“…the best guides ever! … My mind is still in the islands with all of you — a sure sign of a perfect vacation."
— Mary from MI, 2025
“The Apostle Islands program helped to ‘stretch’ us in ways we could not imagine doing on our own. Our first ever kayak experience was on Lake Superior exploring scenic caves under the watchful and experienced care of guides that prepped us fully for the adventure. There was a great blend of activity and education regarding the natural world, as well as the human experience from the first inhabitants to those who have more recently made their livings and their homes in the islands.…The presenters, including Ann and John were excellent. We were especially grateful to have spent time hearing from representatives of the Anishinaabe community. The meals at the resort were excellent. Being able to enjoy fresh fish from the lake - whitefish and trout, will also be a lasting memory. This program was an exceptional overview of the Apostle Islands that would have been impossible for us to do on our own.”
— Sue & Dennis from MI, 2025
Note: From 2002 to 2019, John and Ann were leaders/instructors for 40 "Isle Royale, Lake Superior, and the Keweenaw Peninsula" Road Scholar (Elderhostel) courses until the courses were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. John and Ann are now offering lifelong learning courses (Isle Royale, Apostle Islands, Sleeping Bear Dunes) through Sweetwater Visions. Please contact Sweetwater Visions to be put on a list for updates.