Experience your environment.
Join Osprey Wilds for our 9th Annual Fundraiser!
Benefit Week
October 24 – November 2, 2025
Afternoon Social
Sunday, November 2nd, 2025
at Urban Growler Brewing Company, St. Paul MN
2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Drop by for a drink and bite with us as we celebrate the culmination our 8th annual Benefit Week fundraiser!
Meet with members of our organization by visiting the Education Table, Information Table, and Gift Shop Table that will be set up around the venue.
Enter to win free drinks, Osprey Wilds merch, and other prizes in a raffle going on all afternoon!
Guest speaker Abby Cichocki, one of the Hudson Bay Girls, will be speaking at 4 PM. Learn more below.
Conclude the afternoon with drinks, OW trivia, and information on how to further support Osprey Wilds.
Teachers get a FREE pint on us!
Abby learned to canoe through various summer camps, but was truly bit by the paddling bug in 2022 when she went on a five day canoe trip in the BWCA with her girl scout troop. Abby has since completed two seasons as a professional canoe guide for both the girl scout and boy scout canoe bases and led canoe trips for the UW-Madison Hoofers outing club. She has canoed over 1000 backcountry miles on both lakes and rivers.
Guest Speaker: Abby Cichocki
Abby Cichocki, a member of the Hudson Bay Girls, will share about her journey this summer and how youth outdoor programs shaped the trajectory of her life. Abby embarked on an 80 day, 1,300 mile canoe expedition this summer, where she paddled from Lake Superior to the Arctic Ocean. The Hudson Bay Girls are the first publicly documented all female crew to complete this full route, inspired by indigenous and French-Canadian fur trade routes. She is focused on inspiring future generations of adventurers to follow their outdoor dreams and encourage women to reclaim space in paddlesports—an arena where female participation has historically been underrepresented.
Online Auction
Our online auction will be live on Friday, October 24th. Use the link below to browse and bid on auction items. Bidding will close on Friday, October 31st at 3 pm CT. There are over 50 items to bid on and more will be added throughout the week!
We are accepting donations to our Bids for Kids online auction. Donate an auction item here.
Virtual Content
Stay tuned for a week of videos from October 27th through the 31st. Online content will highlight various aspects of Osprey Wilds, so tune in to hear from guest speakers and learn more about what’s new around campus!
Follow us on our social media channels to get the latest updates.
During Benefit Week we focus especially on our programs that serve children and young people. The average US child spends only 7-10 minutes outside daily, while spending 7-10 hours on a screen each day. You can help correct that imbalance with your gift to Osprey Wilds. Thousands of kids will connect with nature at Osprey Wilds this year through our K-12 outdoor school program and day and overnight summer youth camps. Your contribution will help us keep our costs low and provide financial assistance to those who need it.
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Osprey Wilds is an accredited nonprofit outdoor school and conference and retreat center. Our pristine 780 acre campus is situated on picturesque Grindstone Lake in east-Central Minnesota.
- Year-round experiential environmental Outdoor School programming
- School field trips and nature immersion learning experiences
- Youth and family camps
- Programs and events for all ages
- College courses
- Adult learning experiences
- Day tours and programs
- Wildlife outreach programs
- Comfortable lodging for 162+ people plus rustic and camping options
- Wonderful, scratch-based meal service
- Conference & retreat center rentals
Upcoming Events:
Benefit Week 2025
Join Osprey Wilds for our 9th Annual Fundraiser! Benefit Week October 24 – November 2, 2025 Donate Now Days Hours Minutes Seconds Afternoon Social Sunday, November
Family Explore Days – Nature
Family Explore Days Nature Saturday, November 1 Learn about nature, engage with your environment, and enjoy a meal on our campus. Choose from any of our program
Turkey Feast To-Go 2025
Turkey Feast To-Go 2025 Pick up a free holiday meal! Thursday, November 27th 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Join Osprey Wilds for our 6th Annual Free
Camp Grindstone 2025 – Adult Camp
Camp Grindstone December 5 – 7, 2025 A Sleepaway Camp for Adults Register now! Do you miss going to camp or never got to go? Now
Homeschool Camp – December Session 1
Homeschool Camp Session 1: December 8 – 10 Spend quality time with your family and experience your environment with our Homeschool Camp! Homeschool Families are welcome
Homeschool Camp – December Session 2
Homeschool Camp Session 2: December 10 – 12 Spend quality time with your family and experience your environment with our Homeschool Camp! Homeschool Families are welcome
Our Mission & Vision
Mission
To instill a connection and commitment to the environment in people of all communities through experiential learning
Vision
A healthy planet where all people live in balance with the Earth
Awards and Certifications
History of Osprey Wilds
Learn about our rich history - from the days when the Ojibwe occupied this land through the farming of the property by Schwyzer family, the establishment of the Audubon Center of the North Woods and how Osprey Wilds came to be.
Stewardship
We've made it a top priority to ‘walk the walk’ and have implemented a wide variety of renewable energy sources and energy conservation measures. Learn about the earth-friendly green initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint.
Our Property
At Osprey Wilds, you will be surrounded only by the soothing sounds and sights of nature. Our property includes old growth pine forest, deciduous forest, managed woodlands, wetlands, and restored prairie. Learn more about our facilities and land.
Charter School Authorizer
Our Charter School Division (CSD) in Minneapolis authorizes charter schools that have recognized the importance of experiential and environmental education as a means to advance our mission.
Support Osprey Wilds
You can help us achieve our mission of instilling a connection and commitment to the environment in people of all communities through experiential learning. Contributions support our wide array of programs, keeping costs affordable for the scores of schools that take advantage of our environmental learning offerings, as well as for participants in camps, family and adult programs, and community activities. Learn more here.