BWCAWiki:To-do June 2006

From BWCAWiki

Editor BlueCanoe has come up with a great to-do list to help guide BWCAWiki efforts in the months ahead. If you are a new editor, please take a minute to read the BWCAWiki principles and guidelines.

• Info on specific lakes, portages, and trails. The entry point articles are a good beginning, and this is probably the most conducive type of article for newcomers to edit. Someone has been to Lake X, and eventually they'll discover the wiki and add something.

• How-to articles and information for new visitors, including articles addressing basic questions as "how should I pack for a canoe trip?", "how do permits work?", "do I have to worry about bears?", "what are conditions like at different times of the year?", "how do I avoid death by mosquitos?", "what are the objective hazards/dangers present during a canoe trip?", "should I organize my trip through an outfitter?" etc. Many of us have significant experience in the BWCAW, but these articles should be written with a novice audience in mind.

• Ecology / Natural Science. Miron Heinselman's book "The Boundary Waters Ecosystem" is an amazing resource, particularly with respect to forest ecology and the history of wildfire. Other interesting natural science topics include geology, limnology (lakes), aquatic ecosystems, invasive species, predator-prey relationships, extirpated species (such as woodland caribou or Canada lynx), climate and climate change, etc.

• History, including prehistoric peoples, the Ojibwe, French explorers, the Voyageurs and the fur trade, American settlement, early development, legal protections and political battles, and current management issues.

• Folklore & Culture. I don't know what all would fit in here, but some ideas would be Native American stories, legends, and myths that pertain to the BWCA region, perhaps more information on people including writers like Sigurd Olson, photographer Jim Brandenburg, or Dorothy Molter. Canoe races at Gunflint Lodge, etc.

• Miscellaneous lists or articles. I have some "geographical origin of visitors" statistics that the USFS emailed me last year that might be of interest to people.

• Information on Outfitters. These articles, while valuable information for potential visitors, should be carefully written so as to retain a neutral point of view (NPOV). In fitting with the non-commercial nature of the BWCAWiki, these articles should not read like advertisements. Contact information, location, list of services, and brief histories are all appropriate.

Please add to this list if you have more ideas!