Isle
of Pines Environmental Retreat Center
Green Certified
Not available for rental
or use by the general public. For use by affiliation with the Live Green,
Live Smart Institute only.
Topics:
Mission
To provide a limited number of individuals
a unique and memorable learning experience and to bring individuals
into harmony and balance with their environment through a better understanding
of sustainability and their impact on the planet.
What we firmly believe
We do not inherit this earth from our
ancestors; we borrow it from our children
The Retreat Center
It is located on Northern Wisconsin’s
oldest private island (yes, it is an island and very private and peaceful).
It is on the pristine, wilderness Lake Little Sissabagama.
The Retreat Center, which began life
as a private resort over 100 years ago, has been faithfully restored.
It features a century old Adirondack style lodge, three new cabins,
one of which is designed to be the most energy efficient cabin in Wisconsin,
a boathouse, two swimming beaches, walking trails, horseshoe pits, canoes,
kayaks, water bikes, a sailboat, pontoon and fishing boats.
The grounds have fire pits, Adirondack
Chair, docks with benches, swimming platforms, century old pines too
large for two people to wrap their arms around, wildflowers and wild
grasses, and magnificent sunsets.
The history of the island and lake are
steeped with legend and lore. The island is the location where
Raggedy Ann and the Lucky Pennies
was written; in its hay day it played host to politicians, bootleggers,
boxers and businessmen.
The Hayward Area
The area around the lake is heavily forested
and is noted for Wisconsin’s logging history and prohibition gangsters.
It is also known for its lakes, streams and rivers full of trout, beaver,
musky, bass and northern pike which are prolific here as are the eagles,
osprey, hawks and songbirds. The area has numerous hiking trials like
the Ice Age trail and is wonderful for X-country skiing, snowshoeing
and ice-skating and other winter and summer sports. Fishing, biking,
and water sports are the common draw for summer guests.
The Center is located in Northwest Wisconsin
just off of Hwy 70 by Stone Lake, Wisconsin. It is a scenic 2.75-hour
drive from the Minneapolis and St. Paul Airport, 2 hours from the Duluth,
MN Airport and 30 minutes from private airports in Hayward or Rice Lake
Wisconsin. Transportation can be provided upon request.
The Lake
Lake and Island Views,
which sits in an old glacial depression at the top of a series of hills
and surrounded by giant pines has been designate as a wilderness lake
by the State of Wisconsin due to its unique features, plants and life
forms. It is over 325 plus acres of crystal clear water and sugar
sand and boulder clustered shores. The lake is made up of numerous
bays and islands. One of islands directly across form the Isle
of Pines is a 30-acre natural area that still harbors an ancient forest
and is home to rare and select plants and birds. The lake is a
class A musky lake and a great place to fly fish or just read a book
and watch the sun set. The lake has been protected over these
last hundred years since it has few cabins and no public watercraft
landing.
The Buildings at the Center (view the photo gallery to
see the buildings)
The
Old Lodge
The Old Lodge is over 100 years old and restored in 2004,
it is surrounded with large windows that look at the lake from every
view. The lodge, in true Adirondack style has no bedrooms and is made
up of a wonderful commercial kitchen and breakfast eating area.
The kitchen is a delightful place to have a steaming hot cup of coffee,
oatmeal pancakes hot off the grill and fresh eggs and cinnamon coffee
cake and watch the sun come up. The main lodge room is divided
into two sections; a dining area with a table that seats up to 14 people
and a meeting and seating area with a large stone fireplace. Outside
is an old steam train bell to ring people to meals and a wonderful stone
grill for cooking. The building is stocked with books, antiques and
memories from over 100 years. The lodge has a phone; the only Internet
connection is via a wireless card. A level access for disabled
individuals is available on the west side of the building.
Summer
Place Cabin
Summer Place Cabin, which is two years old and a re-creation of
the old well house and caretakers cabin, sleeps 2 adults and 1 child
and features a local knotty pine interior, shower and bathroom. It has
a screened porch and also an outdoor shower for after those beach activities.
The shelves are filled with books and antique bottles. This delightful
cabin is the perfect place to view a summer rain or read a book on a
hot summer day. Built by local craftsmen it is just a short walk to
the Old Lodge and has a view of the back beach and bocce or croquet
lawn. Summer Place has a phone and can be supplied with a TV and DVD
player upon request. Summer Place also has a rear ramp entrance.
Beach
Side Cabin
Beachside Cabin is a small but stunning log cabin built in 2005.
It sits close to the waters edge in a pinewood. The interior is
made of local knotty pine and it was crafted by local Mennonites to
blend with the environment. It sleeps 3 to 4, has a bathroom and
an outdoor shower. Beach side has no phone. It can be provided
with a TV and DVD player upon request.
Canoe
Bay Lodge
The Canoe Bay Lodge, which sits on a point
at the Southeast part of the island is surrounded by tall pines, it
has stunning views of the lake from three sides, a giant wrap around
porch, fireplace and woodstove, deck and library. Local craftsmen
built it to very specific specifications it in 2000. It was designed
to be highly energy and resource efficient and is Certified as a Green
Building. Made of mostly of local wood and utilizing passive solar
criteria it is one of the States most efficient cabins. It is
a certified green building and had LEED for Home ® been available at
the time it would have rated a Gold level certification. Canoe Bay can
sleep up to 8 adults and 2 children. It has three bedrooms, a porch
bunk and sleeping loft. Canoe Bay also has dialup or wireless card Internet
connections, fax, satellite TV and phones. Canoe Bay is also has ramps
and can accompany some individuals with disabilities. Please inquire
about special access and requirements for disabled individuals.
The
Boathouse
The Boathouse is used as storage for
the island boats, lifejackets, paddles and safety equipment
Buildings
Disability Access
The Center has no paved walkways, paths
are primary grass or wood chips, and most of the buildings have ramps
or level access. Please inquire about special needs for disabled
individuals.
What you find with each cabin and
lodge
Fresh linens, towels, access to canoes,
fishing boats, kayaks, a sailboat, a water bike, games, books, and if
you like a chef and depending on the retreat session specialized trainers.
The Old Lodge has available a projector for Power Points, flip charts
and a white board. In addition the outside meeting area at the South
Beach has a picnic table and can seat up to 20 individuals. Tents can
be provided upon request.
Activities
Fishing: The topography and diversity
of the lake, islands and surrounding area offers a diverse opportunity
for anyone and any activity. Little Sissabagama is still one of
the few areas where you can catch pan fish for the kids and land a world
class musky for yourself. The lack of public landings has allowed the
lake to maintain this fishing haven for locals. Little Siss is not stocked
and traditional bait and lure fishing is the most prevalent form of
fishing on the lake. Fly-fishing bass and northern
on Little Siss is fun and challenging. Bass make a great game
fish for the aggressive fly fisherman. The Stone Lake and Hayward
areas are also excellent trout fishing havens. The local rivers
and streams are well stocked and offer a variety of trout. Going
north you also have access to the trout runs from the great lakes each
fall. Ice Fishing is not as popular on Little Siss as it
is on Big Siss, Deep Lake and other surrounding lakes. Fishing
is rated as: ABOVE AVERAGE for Little Siss to EXCELLENT, when considering
the entire area.
Hiking: The Lake offers a variety
of islands that are excellent for roaming and hiking. Frank Stout
Island, a protected nature preserve, offers over 40 acres of old growth
forest and some excellent exploration. The island still holds
secrets to discover. Hiking the surrounding area is diverse, extensive
and absolutely wonderful. There are few spots in the Northwood’s
that have such a broad selection of both summer and winter trails, all
within easy driving distance. Hiking is rated as EXCELLENT.
Swimming is still a big part of
the lake recreation. The water is clear; much of the bottom is
sandy. It is not uncommon to see swimmers crossing the lake and
bays during the hot summer months on long-distance swims. Boaters
are urged to watch for swimmers both close to shore and even in the
middle of the lake during the season. The lake has remained free
of invading species so far and has not had swimmers itch recorded.
Boat traffic is light and except for the key holidays, most bays are
free for the swimmer to enjoy. The biggest issue swimmers may have is
the periodic, harmless nibble of smaller fish, which cluster around
swimming floats, as they tend to “groom” each other and maybe you.
Little Sissabagama is rate for swimming as: EXCELLENT.
Canoeing and Kayaking: The calm
waters, many bays, large tracks of undeveloped shoreline and frequent
sightings of wildlife, from otters to loons, make the lake a truly wonderful
place for canoe and kayak activities. The lake also connects to
smaller bays and a couple of little waterways that offer the more adventuresome,
great exploration. The lake is rated as: EXCELLENT and well above
the majority of similar lakes
Sailing: A number of small sailboats
are on the lake and can be seen during the height of the summer.
The two largest bays offer reasonable sailing for smaller craft when
the wind is good. The lake’s high bluffs and many islands create
a lot of wind shadows however, and make sailing more challenging for
the novice. The lack of other boat traffic is a great benefit to sailors
providing smooth water most of the day. The size of the lake limits
the size of sailboats and requires lots of come abouts. Sailing
is rated: BELOW AVERAGE.
Boating: The size of the lake
means the boats are smaller. Pontoons dot the lake and make this
style of boat a good choice for those families that want to see the
lake at a leisurely pace. A collection of classic wooden boats
is ever present and of course fishing boats are easily spotted in the
early mornings and late in the afternoon and evenings. Boating
is a big part of the lake. The best part of Little Sissabagama
is the desire by lakeshore owners to keep the boats and motor sizes
smaller. The periodic visitor may bring an oversized ski boat
to the lake or that 100 hp fishing boat, which is however, the exception.
Lakeshore owners are encouraged to purchase the newer 4 stroke and 2stroke
high-efficiency motors for their boats. DNR rules require boats
to stay 50 feet from shore when producing a wake. Because the
lake is smaller, the ability to speed around is limited and may not
be suitable for everyone. Deep draft boats will find the sandbars
and bolder bars real prop benders. The large number of bays makes
the lake a great slow boating experience. Small boats and pontoons for
the lake are rated as: ABOVE AVERAGE
Personal Watercraft, Jet Skis, Jet
Boats: Not permitted on the lake
Water skiing, Wakeboards, Water
Toys (water bikes), etc.: The lake offers a large enough spaces
for all of these sports, but larger waters make these sports more attractive,
however the water is smooth and the boat traffic low enough for everyone
to be able to share in these sports and not feel disappointed.
At the present time only a few families do participate in these sports
and the lake association and DNR post specific times for these sports.
Most water skiing and wakeboarding is focused on the two large bays.
No wake provisions are enforced on small bays and near shoreline.
Rating: BELOW AVERAGE
Winter Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice Skating:
The Lake and surrounding area offers significant opportunities for X-Country
skiing. Groomed trails are all within easy driving distance. One
of the world’s largest cross-country ski races (the Berkebiner)
is held each year in Hayward, Wisconsin in February. The lake and immediate
surrounding property is excellent for Nordic X-Skiing, but offers no
groomed trails. The nearest groomed trails are just several miles west
of Stone Lake, at the Nordic Ski Area. Snowshoeing during the best snowy
winters is always fun, with lots of areas to explore. Small metal snowshoes
are recommended. Downhill skiing is available in a few local resorts;
the hills are not challenging and very short. The closet quality downhill
skiing is two hours north. Ice Skating is great if you don’t mind
shoveling. It is not uncommon to see a skating rink outside of
a winter cabin. Winter Sports are rated as: ABOVE AVERAGE to EXCELLENT
Biking, Running, Walking: The
Lake has few roads; many are still gravel and the periodic truck and
car may not be aware of you, take caution. Biking in the area
is great when you are on the blacktop and there are plenty of those,
but not so good on the gravel. Runners and walkers find the area
enjoyable but remote. The local area does have bike trails, walking
and running trails. Rated: ABOVE AVERAGE
Bird and Wildlife Observation:
During migration periods the area boasts a large number of bird species.
Osprey, Eagles, Owls, Loons, Geese, Ducks and Hawks are common daily
sightings. Finches are plentiful as are woodpeckers, Robbins and
Hummingbirds to name a few. Any bird feeder will be filled with birds
within hours of a filling. If you enjoy wildlife, this lake offers an
ever-amazing variety of species to view on a regular basis. Rating:
ABOVE AVERAGE
Photography and Arts: There is
something for everyone on this lake. Wilderness abounds, beauty
is ever present, and there is a picture perfect moment at every cabin,
on every island and in each bay. Artist for years have found this
lake a very special place. From the works of the Gerlach-Barklow
Company of the 30’s to our lake artist of today, the lake is a perfect
spot for drawing and painting. Rated: ABOVE AVERAGE
Events, Festivals, Holiday Celebrations:
Although you might not consider it a recreational activity many locals
and visitors consider eating, observing and shopping at the dozens and
dozens of local festivals just that. Festivals and events (like
fishing tournaments and Rutabaga Fests) range from the bizarre to the
mundane, but all are a true slice of Northern Wisconsin life, missing
one could mean the difference between a very dull life and one filled
with quizzical delight. Festival Rating: OUTSTANDING IN EVERY SENSE
OF THE WORD
Nature Talks and Walks / Stout Island:
Nature walks on Frank Stout Island at the Lake are available with advance
notice. This island is an excellent example of a pristine Wisconsin
forest with a very diverse collection of plants and animals.
Environmental Considerations
The cabins and Old Lodge feature a new
state-of-the-art septic system to protect and enhance the island and
lake waters. Food waste is composted. Cans, bottles and paper
are recycled. The number of people that use the island during
the retreat months is carefully monitored and limited to reduce the
impact on the land. Retreats are limited to eight per year, 2 or 3-day
sessions per year. The shoreline has been restored with native
plants and rebuilding of the banks has occurred. Plants that are
being introduced are drought tolerant, no pesticides are used.
Most boats including the classic wooden boats are rowed or have electric
motors. The pontoon and logic fishing boat have been outfitted
with the E-Tec (most environmentally friendly motor).
The island is very peaceful and very
quiet (no jet skis on the lake). We avoid light and sound pollution
and respect the residents of the lake, so no loud parties and no jet
skis or personal motorboats are allowed (you can bring your canoe or
kayak or scuba or snorkeling gear). Note: Other families use parts of
the island during the summer months. We plan our sessions to give you
the greatest privacy, but you may see other individuals from time to
time doing maintenance working on the island or using their private
cabins.
Safety, Limited Liability, Weather
The Retreat is contemporary in many respects,
it has been left with unpaved paths and the historic buildings lack
some of the modern conveniences of a hotel. This is an environmental
center and is designed to keep nature close at hand. There are a few
bugs at dusk and little critters that may scamper by (chipmunks) and
up the logs into the trees, but nothing to be concerned about. We don’t
have poison ivy, poison snakes, bears, poison oak or nettles to be concerned
with. The Canoe Bay Lodge has a storm shelter area and storm alert monitors.
Fires on the island are carefully monitored and fires may be banned
in some months. You are still on a wooded island in the middle
of a lake and there are no outdoor lights (except the moon and stars
and northern lights) so bring a good flashlight.
Anyone using a watercraft must wear a
life jacket. On the pontoon lifejackets are available for each
individual. No individual swimming is allowed unless a second
person is available to aid in a rescue. Alcoholic beverages are
not provided, you must bring your own. Children are not allowed at the
swimming beaches unless supervised. The retreat has an AED and first
aid kits. The community has a 911 emergency response system; you
are still up to one-half hour from a hospital. Anyone staying
on the island will be asked to sign a wavier before they can use any
watercraft or if they have a serious medical condition. Individuals
with serious medical conditions should carefully consider attending
training or retreats on the island. No smoking is allowed in any
building. Smoking is only allowed by the fire pit on the back
beach.
All buildings have CO2, smoke and fire
detectors. Candles are not allowed in any buildings
By staying with us or using the retreat
or boats you agree to indemnify and hold harmless us and all owners
of the property against any and all liabilities and you assume all risks
associated with your stay or use of the property or equipment. Please
read the Legal section of this web site.
The weather starts getting warm in late
May and stays warm thru early September. Bring a sweater, raincoat
and also shorts and tee shirt and swimming suit during the summer months.
Parking and getting out to the island
The center is located 30 minutes from
Hayward Wisconsin (Northwest Wisconsin), just outside the town of Stone
Lake on Hwy. 70. You will be given directions at the time of registration
Parking is very limited at the Isle of
Pines Landing, please carpool. Call ahead for a pickup by pontoon boat
we will give you the number at registration or use the communication
system at the landing. You will be provided with directions and phone
numbers when you register.
Register for a class or retreat
Call Peter at: 952-473-3831. Classes
are held: May, June, July, August, September, October, January and February
(weather permitting and size of class is limited during October, January
and February)
Other Accommodations
Additional accommodations are locally
available for larger groups, individuals with special needs and individuals
that require more privacy. Let us know your needs so we can help
you better.
What to pack
Flashlight (this is a must), light coat
or windbreaker in the spring thru fall and winter coat in late fall
and winter, hiking boots or shoes that are comfortable for walking,
umbrella, or rain coat, sweater, shorts, swim wear, sun glasses and
sun screen, insect repellant, t-shirt or light cotton shirt, please
do not bring perfume,
shampoo and soap, shade hat or in the winter a good warm hat, in the
winter long underwear, gloves, if you have any sports you like and want
to bring a fishing pole or other items do so. Book or magazine, games,
camera, binoculars. If you plan to fish in Wisconsin waters you must
get a license (the DNR is very good about checking this lake on a regular
basis), if you have children be sure they have infant life jackets (by
law they must wear these when in a boat). Do not forget any medications,
contact lenses or personal hygiene items (the closest store is 20 minutes
away). Although this is not like going to camp do come prepared.
Other than clothing you don’t need much. Also consider packing less
and remember whatever you bring in you take back out so try to limit
soda cans and lots of items that require individual packaging.