Great Lakes Partnership with Wilderness Inquiry

It was the fall of 2019 when local Minnesota clothing company Great Lakes Northern Outfitter reached out to Wilderness Inquiry for a partnership with their Freshwater Initiative, “…an ongoing and collaborative campaign to partner with various organizations tackling different issues that ultimately help preserve our beautiful lakes.” It didn’t take long for the two organizations to draw parallels between Wilderness Inquiry’s mission of outdoor equity and Great Lakes’ commitment to preserving Minnesota’s natural beauty.

Great Lakes x Wilderness Inquiry

The Freshwater Initiative seeks to help protect waterways in Midwest, and also what Great Lakes alludes to as the nostalgia of growing up lakeside – long summer days, time spent on the water, lakeshore picnics, roasting s’mores over campfires, and time spent in community in the outdoors. It’s no surprise their slogan is ‘Life is better at the lake.’ As a nonprofit that prides itself on its water recreation initiatives such as Canoemobile, the partnership was a perfect match. Many of the same activities Great Lakes embodies through its mission and clothing are the very things Wilderness Inquiry works to make accessible for all. Whether it’s a trip ‘up north’ to paddle the Boundary Waters, or a day spent riverside on the Mississippi, both organizations recognize the importance of connecting people to nature and waterways in Minnesota and beyond.

Working together through a challenging time

After the initial product collaboration, the unexpected happened – the beginning of the Great Lakes partnership coincided with the start of a worldwide pandemic. Undeterred, the partnership continued with a renewed focus on how being outside is beneficial for everyone, especially when factoring in the added mental and physical health benefits that became so important during the pandemic. Countless studies have shown the positive impact outdoor engagement has, especially for youth. While most studies were published in pre-pandemic times, the impact has reportedly multiplied exponentially during the pandemic.

Great Lakes partnership impact

By working together, Wilderness Inquiry and Great Lakes saw an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our respective communities. The partnership formed to create opportunities for people of all backgrounds and abilities to get outside, share nature, and experience the healing power of the outdoors.

In the two years since we first partnered through the Freshwater Initiative, Great Lakes has contributed over $11,000 to Wilderness Inquiry’s mission, and the impact has been felt across the organization. Here’s a snapshot of the partnership by the numbers:

• $11,417 total given to date – this helped provide over 500 youth with the opportunity to explore nature and bring learning to life outdoors.
• 2,500 – the number of new followers Great Lakes brought to Wilderness Inquiry’s Instagram account with a partner giveaway that highlighted our shared love of outdoor access, giving 2 people the opportunity to experience Wilderness Inquiry’s all-inclusive travel and mission in action.
• 8 amazing products – each product Great Lakes created helped highlight Wilderness Inquiry’s mission of making the outdoors a place where everyone belongs; whether through design choices or the use, each of the Freshwater Initiative items helped Wilderness Inquiry’s staff and supporters explore the outdoors in comfort and style – all while supporting our mission.
• Hundreds of in-kind gifts and gear items – Great Lakes provided gear and clothing donations that helped Wilderness Inquiry outfit youth on day trips and extended travel, providing kids with the clothing they needed to be safe and warm so they can focus on experiencing the outdoors!

Looking to the future

While the official partnership ended in December 2021, we’re grateful to Great Lakes Northern Outfitter for their support and look forward to continuing our collective missions to support equitable outdoor access and protect natural spaces in Minnesota and beyond. Thank you, Great Lakes – and we’ll see you out on the water!